Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM
is a system of diagnosis and healthcare approach based
on the concept of the universe on the sipritual insight
of Daoism that produces a highly sophisticated set practised
designed to cure illness and to maintain health and well-being.
The philosophy of TCM, first observes the general chracteristic
of the patient and discern a relationship between symptoms
that cause pattern of disharmony then treatment is aimed
at restoring harmony and bringing the body into balance.
There are several theories which can use to determine
the pattern of disharmony:
a) Yin & Yang()
b) Five Elements()
c) Qi, Blood & Body Fluids(,,
)
In short, Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic
medical system which combines the use of acupuncture,
Chinese herbs, nutrition, massage, and Qi Gong to bring
the body into balance.
Origin and development
of TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a history dating
back more than 5,000 years. The emperor "Shen
Nung" ()
that dated 2737BC
was recognise as the father of Chinese hebal Medicine.
During that time , most of his findings were handed down
verbally. The first written documentation on traditional
Chinese medicine is the Yellow Emperor"Hung-Di
Nei-Jing" ().
Hung-Di Nei-Jing is the oldest medical textbook in the
world. Yellow Emperor lays a primary foundation for the
theories of Chinese medicine which extensively summarizes
and systematizes the previous experience of treatment
and theories of medicine, such as the meridian theory,
as well as many other issues, including, physiology, pathology,
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, acupuncture and moxibustion,
tuina, etc.
Today the traditional Chinese medicine with its many branches
has spread far and wide, gaining popularity in all parts
of the world.
Features of TCM
TCM includes diagnostic, pharmacology, and use of herbs
should be tailored to individual patient . The principle,"
treatment based on differential diagnosis and an overall
analysis of syndromes", is the basic feature of TCM.
This principle are also applicable to dietotheraphy
Generally, measurements of TCM are in qian(),
liang()
and jin()
. Below are the Chinese measurement conversation:
a) 1 qian = 3.75 grams
b) 1 liang = 37.5 grams
c) 1 liang = 10 qian
d) 1 jin = 600 grams
e) 1 kilogram(kg) = 2 jin (32 liang)
How western and
Chinese medicine differ
TCM looks at the body as a integrated whole. Each symptom
is looked in a relationship to all other presenting
symptoms that cause disorder or disharmony. The goal
of the threatment is to bring the body into balance
and restore harmony. In Chinese, this defined as "".
As symptom improve, individual progress being the yardstick.
Whereas Western medicine looks closely at a symptom
and tries to find an underlying cause. Western medicine
often control symptoms, but not alter the disease process.
For instance, antibiotic eliminate bacteria but do not
improve a person's resistance to infection. In chinese,
this defined as "".
Sometimes Western medicine has nothing to offer for
nagging chronic compalints that Chinese medicine can
help. They two are not a substitute for each other.
They are often complementary. Whereas Western medicine
may heroically rescue us, Chinese medicine can protect
and peserve our health day to day.
TCM at a glance
In overall, treatment with TCM involves looking the
whole body system by traditional diagnosis - "inspection,
listening & smelling, Inquiring and Palpation"(,
,
,
)
that refers to assess a person's health and body type
by observing the colour and form of face, tongue &
body and by feeling the pulsation at each wrist. This
information is interepreted in the contest of a patient's
present and past complaints, work, living habits, physical
environment, family health history and emotional life.
TCM ability to view signs and symptoms from more that
just one perpective via theory of Yin
& Yang, Five
Elements, 5 Vital
Organs and Qi, Blood
& body Fluids. With the discern symptoms
and signs of disorder, treatment may incorporate herbal
medicine & diet, excercise, acupuncture, massage,
etc. The patient's internal balance of yin and yang
is taken into account when the herbs and food are selected
as TCM lays great stress on the nature and flavour of
materia medica.
The Natures of Food can be classified as - Cold,
Cool, Neutral Warm and Hot (,
,
,
,
).
Cold and Cool are under catergorized of Yin, whereas
Warm and Hot are refer to principle Yang. Knowing your
body's constitution and nature of foods are neccessary
to eat right for your type. For instance, people with
cold consitution can take heat excess food without getting
sick as it balance out the effects and vice versa. Whereas,
the Five Flavours
- Sweet, Sour, Bitter£¬Pungent
and salty (,,,,)
each has direct influence on a specific Vital
Organ. For instance, Sweet goes direct to
spleen, Sour acts on liver, bitter acts on heart and
salty food acts on kidney.When each taste is consumed
in moderation, it benefits the corresponding. Over-indulgence
in any flavours harms the orgon and creates imbalance
among the five vitals organ systems.
)
)
,
,
)
)
that dated 2737BC
was recognise as the father of Chinese hebal Medicine.
During that time , most of his findings were handed down
verbally. The first written documentation on traditional
Chinese medicine is the Yellow Emperor "Hung-Di
Nei-Jing" (
).
Hung-Di Nei-Jing is the oldest medical textbook in the
world. Yellow Emperor lays a primary foundation for the
theories of Chinese medicine which extensively summarizes
and systematizes the previous experience of treatment
and theories of medicine, such as the meridian theory,
as well as many other issues, including, physiology, pathology,
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, acupuncture and moxibustion,
tuina, etc. 
),
liang(
)
and jin(
)
. Below are the Chinese measurement conversation:
".
As symptom improve, individual progress being the yardstick.
".
,
,
,
)
that refers to assess a person's health and body type
by observing the colour and form of face, tongue &
body and by feeling the pulsation at each wrist. This
information is interepreted in the contest of a patient's
present and past complaints, work, living habits, physical
environment, family health history and emotional life.
,
,
,
,
).
Cold and Cool are under catergorized of Yin, whereas
Warm and Hot are refer to principle Yang. Knowing your
body's constitution and nature of foods are neccessary
to eat right for your type. For instance, people with
cold consitution can take heat excess food without getting
sick as it balance out the effects and vice versa. Whereas,
the 
,
,
,
,
)
each has direct influence on a specific Vital
Organ. For instance, Sweet goes direct to
spleen, Sour acts on liver, bitter acts on heart and
salty food acts on kidney.When each taste is consumed
in moderation, it benefits the corresponding. Over-indulgence
in any flavours harms the orgon and creates imbalance
among the five vitals organ systems.
