Chinese Medicine: A very brief description
Chinese medicine has been in existence for a very long time. Acupuncture meridians were mapped out thousands of years before Harvey discovered circulation of blood and herbal medicine has been in use, in China and elsewhere, for longer than anyone knows.Ancient sages in China theorized that since humans are beings of nature, the same dynamic forces observable in nature must also be at play in the human body and experience. Humans are said to embody both heaven and earth.
Chinese medicine consists of five branches: Acupuncture-moxibustion, qi gong, Chinese herbs, dietetics, and tui na (qi massage). Chinese medicine, whether working with needles, herbs, or diet/lifestyle choices, is all about qi.
Qi is described as breath, or energy, or movement. Life is said to be “qi transforming into qi” and the concept of qi encompasses the entire spectrum from thought to emotion to physical matter.
Acupuncture-moxibustion: To rectify the flow of qi in the meridians, acupuncture and sometimes moxibustion (burning an herb called moxa) are used. When qi flows smoothly, all systems work harmoniously and healing occurs peacefully.
Qi gong means “qi practice” and there are various forms. I often give my patients qi gong homework, to move qi and to strengthen and cleanse organs and systems.
Chinese Herbs are classified according to the organs/meridians they benefit, their taste and temperature, and the actions they exert at the different levels of qi, blood, yin/yang, etc. They are best prescribed as individualized formulas.
Dietetics: Foods are considered the most powerful medicine, because they are taken daily, and over the long term have the strongest effect on health. Foods are classified into various categories in the same way as Chinese herbs, so can be recommended (or recommended to be avoided) for various conditions.
Tui Na: Chinese massage does not focus on relaxing muscles and tissues, but on moving qi through the body so that all organs, tissues and systems function properly.
| Judith Hughes L.Ac. | (707) 882-2855 | jhughes@intendhealth.com |
