Chinese Medicine is a centuries-old health and fitness management system. It originated in ancient China and offered a comprehensive, well-rounded path to medicine. It focuses on the treatment and prevention of health problems. To date, it has been used in the world as a complementary method of treating medical issues. Chinese medicine involves a variety of practices, from acupuncture to Tai Chi.
For ex-pats, It may feel like a brand new world of medicine with so much to explore and the ability to better your health. If you want to check it out, here’s a breakdown of everything we think you should know about Chinese medicine.
What Is the History of Chinese Medicine?
The first writings on Chinese medicine date back to 200 BCE. Herbal medicine and acupuncture, including theory, practice, diagnosis, and treatment, have been recorded in Chinese classical texts and refined over many centuries.
The science of Chinese medicine has remained in Asia for decades. Chinese immigrants have been practising Chinese medicine in the United States since the mid-19th century. But their presence remained unknown to most Americans until 1971. That year, New York Times reporter James Reston, who was in China reporting former President Nixon’s journey, had to have an emergency appendix operation. After the operation, he received acupuncture for suffering. His stories about this experience of Chinese medicine fascinated the media. Since then, Chinese medicine has become a popular alternative medicine used all over the world.
How Does Chinese Medicine Work?
Disease, changes in qi’s normal flow, are believed to have three main causes:
- External or environmental influences
- Internal emotions
- Behavioural factors, such as diet
Chinese medicine stimulates the body’s own healing processes by using its healing modalities. Practices used in Chinese medicine shall include:
- Acupuncture and acupressure
- Moxibustion, burning a herb near the skin.
- Herbal medicine
- Nutrition
- Chinese massage called tui na
- Exercise, such as tai chi and qi gong, combining movement with meditation
In Chinese medicine, the body’s internal organs are considered to be individual structures and complex networks. According to Chinese medicine, qi runs through the organ systems, the kidneys, the heart, the spleen, the liver, the lung, the gallbladder, the small intestine, and the large intestine through meridians. Despite their specific names, these five systems correspond to more than individual parts of the body. For example, the kidney represents the whole urinary system, and the adrenal glands are located at the kidneys. In the meantime, the heart represents both the heart and the brain.
Health Benefits of Chinese Medicines
Traditional Chinese medicine may also fulfil the following conditions:
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
- Back pain
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Eczema, hives, acne, psoriasis, and other skin problems
- Fertility
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Menopause symptoms
- Obesity
- Parkinson’s disease
In standard treatment in modern medicine is based on a diagnosis. But, treatment would depend on the diagnosis of imbalance in Chinese medicine. For example, a person with insomnia may have trouble sleeping due to imbalances such as kidney yin deficiency, rising liver yang, or blood deficiency.
Treatment Methods
Many different therapeutic methods are used in traditional Chinese medicine. The most common of them is acupuncture. As traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes individualized care, healing methods vary widely from patient to patient. These methods also include:
- Acupuncture: While the roots of acupuncture lie in Chinese medicine, it is used as a western technique for various health concerns. Finger pressure is applied to acupuncture points and meridians.
- Diet and nutrition: Food is believed to have heating/cooling properties and is said to have specific healing properties.
- Herbal medicine: Herbs and herbal teas can be suggested.
- Moxibustion: A procedure including burning herb near the skin to warm the region over acupuncture points.
- Tuina: A type of bodywork that combines massage with acupressure. Exercises such as tai chi and qi gong.
Who Should Use It?
This is a personal decision. People use Chinese medicine for everything from carpal tunnel syndrome to stress relief. They use it sometimes, along with Western medicine. It may be a good choice if you:
- Have a lot of different symptoms and no clear cause
- Need to treat the side effects of medications
- Have tried Western medicine but don’t get the results
- Want to prevent disease
Who Should Avoid Chinese Medicine?
In general, doctors recommend that you not use it to completely replace Western medicine, especially if you have a medical condition such as cancer or liver disease.
They also call for caution, especially with herbs, if you are:
- Elderly
- Pregnant or breast-feeding
- Schedule for surgery (some herbs could lead to bleeding problems or prevent drugs used during surgery from working)
- Take other medicines as well
- Treating an infant
What the Science Says About the Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine
A variety of safety concerns has been reported in the reports and studies of herbal products used in Chinese medicine.
- Certain Chinese herbal products are contaminated with unreported plant or animal material:
- Medicines (such as blood-thinner warfarin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent diclofenac)
- Heavy metals (such as arsenic, lead and cadmium)
- Pesticides or compounds called sulfites that can trigger asthma or serious allergic reactions
- Incorrect herbs, some of which have also induced organ damage
- Relatively few complications with the use of acupuncture have been reported. Difficulties, however, developed from the use of nonsterile needles and the improper delivery of treatments. When not correctly delivered, acupuncture can cause severe adverse reactions, including infections, punctured organs, collapsed lungs, and central nervous system damages.
- Tai chi and a similar technique called qi gong appear to be healthy practices. Although it is unlikely that tai chi will result in severe damage, it can be associated with minor discomfort and pain. Women who are pregnant should talk to their doctors before beginning a tai chi, qi gong, or some other fitness regimen.
Is That Safe?
Experts agree that if you go to someone who knows what they’re doing, it’s safe. This is especially true to acupuncture, tai chi, and moxibustion.
Herbs may be a little trickier. They’re not going to the same FDA process as drugs. That means there isn’t as much research on them. So, it can be hard to know exactly what’s in them. Plus, herbs may have side effects or may influence other medicines you are taking. Again it is vital to go to someone who understands their work. And please consult first with your doctor.
The Bottom Line
For some people, Chinese medicine can have a unique perspective on lifestyle factors that can affect your health. Few high-quality clinical trials have shown that Chinese medicine can cure illness. So, it is necessary not to treat or use Chinese medicine in place of standard care.
If you consider trying traditional Chinese medicine, seek a trained practitioner, and contact your doctor to weigh the treatment’s pros and cons and discuss whether it is suitable for you.
