Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a comprehensive system of health care that has been developed in China over three thousand years. It is based on the concept of balancing the body’s vital energy, known as Qi (pronounced “chee”), which flows through channels called meridians. TCM seeks to restore balance between the body, mind, and environment, emphasizing a holistic approach to health and wellness.

 

The core belief is that health is maintained by the balance of Yin and Yang, two opposite but complementary forces, and the harmonious interaction between the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water). When Qi is blocked, deficient, or excessive, it leads to illness, and TCM therapies aim to correct these imbalances.

How Do Acupuncturists Diagnose a patient?

Licensed Acupuncturists use both Pulse and Tongue Diagnosis to assess your health.

Pulse diagnosis is a key diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including acupuncture. Practitioners use it to assess the state of a patient’s internal organs and overall health. It involves feeling the radial pulse on both wrists, with different positions and depths reflecting the health of specific organs and systems in the body.

1.   Position: The pulse is felt at three locations on each wrist (close to the hand, in the middle, and further up the arm), representing different organs.

          •   Right wrist: Upper (Cun) = Lung, Middle (Guan) = Spleen/Stomach, Lower (Chi) = Kidney (Yang aspect)

          •   Left wrist: Upper (Cun) = Heart, Middle (Guan) = Liver, Lower (Chi) = Kidney (Yin aspect)

      2.   Depth: The pulse is felt at three depths (superficial, middle, deep), which can indicate whether the condition is more on the surface (exterior) or deeper inside (interior) the body.

      3.   Strength: The pulse’s force indicates how well the body’s energy (Qi) is functioning. A strong pulse might indicate excess, while a weak pulse might point to deficiency.

      4.   Quality: This is the most detailed aspect, and there are many pulse qualities that TCM practitioners look for, such as slippery, wiry, rapid, slow or weak.

Through pulse diagnosis, an acupuncturist can gain insight into the underlying imbalances that may be contributing to a patient’s health issues. They use this information, alongside other diagnostic tools like tongue diagnosis and the patient’s history, to create a treatment plan tailored to the individual’s unique constitution and condition.

 

It is a complex art, requiring years of practice to master, as pulse qualities can be subtle and may vary widely depending on each patient’s constitution and current health status.

Tongue diagnosis is another essential diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), used alongside pulse diagnosis to assess a patient’s health and internal organ functions. The tongue is believed to reflect the state of the body’s organs, fluids, and energy (Qi) flow, and it provides clues about both acute and chronic conditions. When examining the tongue, a TCM practitioner looks at several key aspects:

1. Tongue Body Color: Pale, Red, Purple or bluish tongue specific meanings 

2. Tongue Shape: Swollen, Thing, Cracked and Teeth Marks indicate specific deficiencies in the body. 

3. Tongue Coating: Thin or Thick White Coating, Yellow Coating, Greasy or Sticky Coating OR No Coating indicates specific long term health issues. 

4. Tongue Moisture: Too Dry, Too Wet, Sticky or Greasy are other appearances that acupuncturist take into account when diagnosing. 

5. Tongue Body Areas: Different sections of the tongue correspond to specific organs: 

6. Tongue Movement: May suggest an imbalance in the internal organs
 

In TCM, including acupuncture, the tongue is a visual map of internal organ health. The color, shape, coating, and other factors give acupuncturists insight into underlying imbalances of Qi, blood, yin, yang, and fluids. This information is then combined with other diagnostic tools, like pulse diagnosis and patient history, to create a treatment strategy.

 

The goal is to identify patterns of disharmony (such as excess heat, dampness, or deficiency of yin or Qi) and select acupuncture points to balance and restore the flow of energy. Tongue diagnosis helps guide the treatment, especially when symptoms may be vague or overlapping.

Types of Therapies in Chinese Medicine:

  1.  Acupuncture: Involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the flow of Qi along the meridians. It is used to relieve pain, reduce stress, and treat various physical and mental conditions.

  2. Herbal Medicine: The use of medicinal plants and minerals to treat health issues. TCM herbs are typically combined into formulas tailored to each patient’s condition, with common forms including teas, powders, or pills.

  3. Tui Na (Massage Therapy): A form of therapeutic massage that manipulates the muscles and acupuncture points to promote the smooth flow of Qi and address musculoskeletal pain and stiffness.

  4. Cupping: The practice of placing heated cups on the skin to create suction. This is believed to help with circulation, muscle relaxation, and detoxification, as well as to relieve pain.

  5. Moxibustion: Involves burning dried mugwort (moxa) near or on specific acupuncture points to warm and stimulate the flow of Qi, and strengthen the blood. It is often used for cold or stagnant conditions.

  6. Qi Gong: A mind-body practice that combines meditation, controlled breathing, and movement to cultivate and balance Qi. Qi Gong is often practiced to improve overall health, reduce stress, and enhance longevity.

  7. Dietary Therapy: In TCM, food is considered medicine, and dietary recommendations are made based on an individual’s constitution and health conditions. Certain foods are classified as warming, cooling, or neutral and are prescribed to restore balance.

  8. Gua Sha: A technique that involves scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to improve circulation and relieve muscle tension and pain.

Together, these therapies are used to treat a wide variety of conditions, from chronic illnesses and pain to emotional and mental health concerns. TCM emphasizes personalized treatment, aiming to restore balance and harmony in the body, mind, and environment.