Chinese Medicine is the original traditional medicine system of the Chinese people which has developed over the last five thousand years. Within China it has equal status with conventional western medicine and both are practised in an integrated way, whilst still retaining their respective unique medical approaches.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) encompasses the therapies of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Moxibustion, Cupping, Physical Therapy (Tui Na), Massage (An Mo) Therapeutic Exercises (Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong) and Nutrition.
Central to Chinese Medicine is the idea of Qi and how it moves and flows and interpenetrates the tissues and organs of the body. Good health depends on the free harmonious movement of this Qi throughout the body. When this flow is obstructed or is out of harmony – pain, illness or lack of vitality can result. Chinese Medicine focuses on promoting and rebalancing the flow of Qi throughout the body to return it to health.
Unlike conventional medicine, which tends to see disease in terms of the component part of the body which presents symptoms, Chinese Medicine emphasizes a holistic systemic approach that treats the organism – the whole person.
This site is focused on the herbal aspect of TCM – if you would like more information specifically on acupuncture please see www.acupuncturecouncilofireland.com
TCM has a long history! – this picture shows a cave stone carving from about 2000 years ago depicting the first ‘famous’ acupuncturist who was known as ‘Wayfaring Magpie’. He lived about 200 years before the carving was done and was known to have traveled China widely treating people with acupuncture. The Magpie term is a reference to ‘good luck’ or ‘good health’ which he was regarded as having spread by giving his acupuncture treatments.
Many other stone carvings and old books show how Chinese Medicine developed and refined it’s methods over several thousand years into what it is today – a complete system of healthcare which has a valid place in modern society.
There is a growing body of research which indicates that traditional uses of plant remedies and the known pharmacological activity of plant constituents often coincide. However, herbal medicine is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is far less likely to cause side-effects.
Secondly, because herbs are typically prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy which increases efficacy and enhances safety. Thirdly, herbal medicine seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than to treat symptoms alone, and therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage this self-healing process.
