What is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years. TCM practitioners use various psychological and/or physical approaches (such as acupuncture and tai chi) as well as herbal products to address health problems.
What is the best TCM brand in China?
It is one of the most well-known TCM brands in China, and has always been honored as “the treasure of China”. Yunnan Baiyao is a Class-1 protected traditional medicine in China.
What do we know about the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine?
What Do We Know About the Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine? Some psychological and/or physical approaches used in traditional Chinese medicine practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, may help improve quality of life and certain pain conditions.
Can traditional Chinese medicine help depressive disorders?
Depression is a multigenetic or multifactorial syndrome. The central neuron system (CNS)-orientated, single target, and conventional antidepressants are insufficient and far from ideal. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has historically been used to treat depression up till today, particularly in Asia.
Is TCM popular in China?
It is primarily used as a complementary alternative medicine approach. TCM is widely used in China and it is also used in the West.
What methods of therapy were used in ancient China?
Chinese Medicine: 5 Ancient Therapy TechniquesACUPUNCTURE, 针灸 (ZHĒN JIǓ) Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into the body at specific points for a period of time. ... CUPPING, 拔罐 (BÁ GUÀN) ... GUA SHA, 刮痧 (GUĀ SHĀ) ... TUI NA, 推拿 (TUĪ NÁ) ... EAR CANDLING, 耳烛 (ĚR ZHÚ)
Is Western medicine popular in China?
Yet the dominant form of medicine in China today is Western medicine (xiyi), and TCM as practiced in China has adopted many concepts and therapies from biomedicine.
What are the three primary methods of traditional Chinese healing?
Moxibustion (the burning of herbal leaves on or near the body) Cupping (the use of warmed glass jars to create suction on certain points of the body) Massage. Herbal remedies.
Is Chinese medicine better than Western medicine?
a. Chinese medicine can have effects or changes in the overall immune system, so it can prevent future issues or reoccurrence of an illness that Western medicine is unable to address. Thus, Chinese medicine addresses the root cause of the disease whereas Western medicine sometimes can only address the symptoms.
What is the original Chinese massage technique?
The basic techniques of traditional Chinese massage might include: Compression – Motions like pressing, nipping, stepping, and twisting apply direct pressure. For example, the movement of pressing back and forth with fingertips along the tendons is used to alleviate muscle spasm.
Is traditional Chinese medicine used in China?
TCM is an ancient system of health and wellness that's been used in China for thousands of years. Western medicine focuses mainly on treating disease. But TCM looks at your entire well-being.
Can you mix Chinese and Western medicine?
Can I receive TCM treatment while taking western medicine? For most conditions, it is alright to receive both TCM treatment and western treatment simultaneously. You are advised to keep a 1-2 hours gap between the consumption of herbal medication and western medication.
Why do people prefer Western medicine?
An advantage of western medicine is that it is made effective quickly. Injured patients can go to an emergency room and find the cause of their medical problem along with the solution within a few hours thanks to the use of laboratories, X-Rays and other procedures.
What is Chinese alternative medicine?
Chinese herbal medicine is part of a larger healing system called traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which also includes acupuncture, massage dietary advice and exercise. TCM is a popular method of treatment, with nearly three million Australians visiting TCM practitioners every year.
What are the 6 traditional Chinese medicine techniques?
6 Traditional Chinese Medicine TechniquesAcupuncture. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles at particular acupuncture points and manipulating them. ... Moxibustion. ... Tui Na Massage. ... Cupping/Scraping. ... Chinese Herbs. ... Chinese Nutrition.
What traditional Chinese therapy is used in the treatment of back pain?
Acupuncture. National Institutes of Health shares that studies suggest acupuncture may ease types of pain that are often chronic such as neck pain, low back pain, and joint pain. [9] It may also help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches.
What are some traditional Chinese medicine practices?
Some psychological and/or physical approaches used in traditional Chinese medicine practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, may help improve quality of life and certain pain conditions. Studies of Chinese herbal products used in traditional Chinese medicine for a range of medical conditions have had mixed results.
What is TCM in medical terms?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years. TCM practitioners use various psychological and/or physical approaches (such as acupuncture and tai chi) as well as herbal products to address health problems.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body, usually by inserting thin needles through the skin. Studies suggest that acupuncture stimulates the release of the body’s natural painkillers and affects areas in the brain involved in processing pain; however, some trials suggest that real acupuncture and sham acupuncture are equally effective, indicating a placebo effect. Results from a number of studies, however, suggest real acupuncture may help ease types of pain that are often chronic, such as low-back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis/knee pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. It also may help reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches. For more information, see NCCIH’s acupuncture fact sheet.
What to do if you are pregnant with TCM?
If you are pregnant or nursing, or are thinking of using TCM to treat a child, be especially sure to consult your (or the child’s) health care provider. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health.
Does Tai Chi help with Parkinson's?
Research findings suggest that practicing tai chi may improve balance and stability in older people and those with Parkinson’s disease, reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis, help people cope with fibromyalgia and back pain, and promote quality of life and improve mood in people with heart failure.
What are the health problems of Chinese herbal products?
Chinese herbal products have been studied for many medical problems, including stroke, heart disease, mental disorders , and respiratory diseases (such as bronchitis and the common cold), and a national survey showed that about one in five Americans use them.
Is tai chi a good alternative to cardiac rehab?
NCCIH is supporting studies to determine if: TCM can treat fibromyalgia. Acupuncture can ease joint pain caused by medical treatments for breast cancer. A tai chi program can be a feasible alternative to traditional cardiac rehabilitation programs in selected people.
What is TCM in Chinese medicine?
A Brief Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医 or zhōngyī in pinyin ), also called “TCM,” is an ancient system of traditional medicine developed in China over thousands of years . Although seeking TCM treatment is still somewhat uncommon in the West, it’s hard to spend much time in China without realizing ...
What is TCM medicine?
Herbal medicines. Chinese herbal medicines (中药 or zhōngyào) are widely prescribed by TCM doctors. In most cases, patients are prescribed a mixture of various herbs which are boiled in water to make a tea-like brew. Thousands of different plant and animal species are used in TCM.
What is the most important concept in TCM?
One of the most important concepts in TCM is qi (气 or qì ). Qi is a vital energy that circulates throughout the body, flowing through pathways called meridians (经络 or jīngluò ). In healthy people, qi circulates unimpeded, but health problems can result if the flow of qi is blocked or if it is too strong or too weak.
What is cupping therapy?
Cupping therapy (拔罐 or báguàn, also commonly referred to as 拔火罐 or báhuǒguàn) involves placing inverted rounded cups onto the skin to enhance the flow of qi. Before placing the cups, practitioners usually burn a flammable substance inside them to create a vacuum effect, allowing the cups to stick tightly to the skin.
Is TCM a global trend?
As a result of President Xi’s strong support and Traditional Chinese Medicine’s recent inclusion in the WHO’s influential ICD document, TCM is likely to grow in global popularity.
Is TCM still popular in China?
Although seeking TCM treatment is still somewhat uncommon in the West, it’s hard to spend much time in China without realizing that TCM still enjoys a booming popularity there. Walk down any street and you’re likely to bump into several pharmacies selling traditional Chinese herbal medicines.
When was Chinese medicine invented?
Originally said to have been invented by the legendary Yellow Emperor and the Emperor Shennong, there is oracle bone evidence of traditional Chinese medical practices dating back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC).
What is TCM in Chinese medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an incredibly complex system used to balance health. Focused on consuming foods that keep the body’s humors in check, it uses ingredients including herbs, fruits, and pulses that have some great health benefits. Here’s our pick of the top 11.
Why is a tcm herb tonic used?
Due to its sweetness, it’s also often used in TCM herb tonics to ease bitterness and to help ‘harmonize’ the harshness of their flavors – basically to help the medicine go down! It has also been depression, cold, flu, cough, heartburn and many more.
What is the Chinese medicine system?
Rooted in a philosophy known as Taoism, traditional Chinese medicine is based on the theory that all of the body’s organs mutually support one another. Therefore, in order to be healthy, an individual’s organ functions must be in balance. This balance is attained, in part, by harmonizing yin and yang, two opposing but complementary energies that are thought to affect all life.
How to assess your health with TCM?
Next is a simple pulse assessment, and a general physical exam. The exam would identify any Imbalances or qi blockages.
What is TCM medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) encompasses a variety of herbal medicines and mind-body practices, such as acupuncture. While popular in China and in many other countries as a primary or complementary health approach, its efficacy has not been investigated. However, existing research does suggest that many herbal remedies are effective to treat conditions such as constipation and fever.
What is TCM used for?
A certain herbal medicine that has traditionally been used in TCM to treat thirst and general weakness has recently been prescribed to deal with the fatigue associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
How old is traditional Chinese medicine?
How is traditional Chinese medicine used? TCM is estimated to be around 2,500 years old. In a 2018 milestone, the World Health Organization formally recognized traditional Chinese medicine in its global medical compendium. TCM was estimated to serve around 1 million patients in the USA in 1997, and it is estimated that this figure has increased ...
Is TCM mislabeled?
However, criticisms of TCM are not uncommon. Studies have found that ingredients in herbal remedies are sometimes mislabeled and can contain extracts from endangered animals or toxic plants in place of the advertised ingredients.
Is TCM more invasive than western medicine?
The difference appears to tie to TCM’s use of the menstrual cycle quality as a diagnostic tool. Furthermore, TCM is often less invasive than western medicine approaches, which can be important when considering conditions such as infertility. One of the patented Chinese traditional medicines is an antipyretic oral liquid, ...
Does scientific research on TCM concern the efficacy of TCM?
Scientific research on TCM generally does not concern these aspects of TCM, but rather focuses on the efficacy or possible danger of the medical practices involved. Practitioner making traditional Chinese remedy. Image Credit: Dragon Images / Shutterstock.
Is TCM the same between people?
TCM is personalized to each individual and is therefore seldom the same between any two people, whereas doctors and scientists trained in Western countries tend to prefer evidence gained from randomized clinical trials that generalize guidelines for treating patients with the same condition alike.
