Chinese Medicine

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Chinese Remedies by ailment

Oriental Medicine is a term with many variations of a general meaning. Among the majority of American practitioners it refers to a system of medicine which originated approximately 4000 years ago in in far east Asia. This area included what are now China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Vietnam.

In this website you will find a mix of many different methods of healing and you will see that they all overlap and have much in common.

Balancing and healing the whole body is common to many healing systems such as yoga and homeopathy.  For this reason all of remedies, tips and advice are listed by ailment not type of healing.

Chinese medicine is an ancient health-care system based on the notion that the best doctors cure illness before it occurs. To accomplish this, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine are attentive to changes in Qi, or the body's natural energy flow, which are said to precede biological changes. Practitioners seek to reverse energy imbalance and strengthen the body's natural healing faculties. Traditional Chinese medicine is heavily reliant on methods such as acupuncture and herbal therapy.

As the basis of Acupuncture, Shen Nung theorized that the body had an energy force running throughout it. This energy force is known as Qi (roughly pronounced Chee). The Qi consists of all essential life activities which include the spiritual, emotional, mental and the physical aspects of life. A person's health is influenced by the flow of Qi in the body, in combination with the universal forces of Yin and Yang . (I will discuss Yin and Yang a little later). If the flow of Qi is insufficient, unbalanced or interrupted, Yin and Yang become unbalanced, and illness may occur. Qi travels throughout the body along "Meridians" or special pathways.

The Meridians, (or Channels), are the same on both sides of the body (paired). There are fourteen main meridians running vertically up and down the surface of the body. Out of these, there are twelve organ Meridians in each half of the body (remember they are in pairs). There are also two unpaired midline Meridians. There will be a diagram of Acupuncture points for treating diseases of the Meridians at the end of the digestive system paper. The acupuncture points are specific locations where the Meridians come to the surface of the skin, and are easily accessible by "needling," Moxibustion, and Acupressure. The connections between them ensure that there is an even circulation of Qi, a balance between Yin and Yang.

Energy constantly flows up and down these pathways. When pathways become obstructed, deficient, excessive, or just unbalanced, Yin and Yang are said to be thrown out of balance. This causes illness. Acupuncture is said to restore the balance.

Yin and Yang is an important theory in the discussion of Acupuncture treatment, in relation to the Chinese theory of body systems. As stated earlier Qi is an energy force that runs throughout the body. In addition, Qi is also prevalent throughout nature as well. Qi is comprised of two parts, Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposite forces, that when balanced, work together. Any upset in the balance will result in natural calamities, in nature; and disease in humans. Yin is signified by female attributes, passive, dark, cold, moist, that which moves medially, and deficient of Yang. Yang is signified by male attributes, light, active, warm, dry, that which moves laterally, and deficient of Yin. Nothing is completely Yin or Yang. The most striking example of this is man himself. A man is the combination of his mother (Yin) and and his father (Yang). He contains qualities of both: This is the universal symbol describing the constant flow of yin and yang forces. You'll notice that within yin, there is Yang, and within Yang, there is the genesis of Yin. Whether or not you believe in Taoist philosophy, (which all this is based on), one thing is indisputable: Acupuncture works.

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Resources for Chinese Medicine

Journal of Chinese Medicine English language journal dedicated to professional and student level information on the entire field of Chinese medicine.

Chinese Herbal Medicine  Center for Natural Wellness: Chinese Medicine Clinic and Herbal Pharmacy. Chinese medicine focuses on the opportunity for sustaining health

Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine This site provides information about the Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, a dynamic organisation promoting wider access to acupuncture