Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine involves more than 2,000 years of history.
Chinese medicine contains knowledge of six climatic and seven emotional factors.
These are patterns of the pulse, tongue, and symptomatic indications, meridians
and acupuncture points, including how to select and stimulate them, recognizing
herbs and being able to combine them to match the diagnosis.
There are the three god-like figures of ancient times in Chinese medicine:
Fu Xi, whose gift was writing, divination, yin-yang and five element concepts, and acupuncture;
Shen Nong, whose gift was the plow and agriculture as well as herbal medicine; and
Huang Di, whose gifts were technology, music and medical theories.
Today these ancient god-like figures are seen as mythological beings rather than
divine historical individuals. They form the basis of all Chinese Medicine:
acupuncture, herbalism, and essential medical theories, respectively.
Chinese medicine emphasizes the study of opposing pairs and focuses
on yin/yang, cold/hot, interior/exterior, deficiency/excess.
Chinese medicine has many paths to wholeness. A system of evaluation and diagnosis
depends on observation and questioning. With Tao, diagnosis consists of perceiving
signs and symptoms and relating them to one another to reveal how they form patterns
of harmony or disharmony, relating to the whole of mind, body and spirit.
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The Tao plays a key role in Chinese medicine therapy, such as acupuncture or herbal remedies.
Chinese medicine has four basic healing techniques: acupuncture and moxibustion, herbal
therapy, dietary therapy, and Qi Gong exercise/meditation.
Chinese medicine includes dietary therapy that uses foods to strengthen digestion, increase
energy and balance the body's energy.
Acupuncture is the art of inserting fine, sterile, metal filiform needles into certain points
along the channels to control the flow of the Qi. Today electro-stimulation of the needles is
also used, along with lasers and ultrasound to stimulate the points.
Acupuncture is effective as a painkiller and in altering the flow of the Qi so the body can heal
itself from disharmony. Acupressure and massage also stem from acupuncture.
Moxibustion, the burning of the herb moxa (Chinese mugwort) over certain acupuncture points of
the body, is useful in warming, tonifying, stimulating, and strengthening.
Chinese medicine includes herbal medicine. Although most medicinal substances come from plants,
some are derived from minerals and animals. They are used to balance the mind/body/spirit as well
as to reverse disease processes.
Qi Gong, the Chinese art of exercise/meditation, uses dynamic movements and still postures in
combination with mental and spiritual concentration to influence the flow of Qi. It is a powerful
preventive therapy and can help remedy disharmony.
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