Traditional Chinese medicine

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

TCM is “holistic” and “natural” because it stimulates the body’s own healing mechanisms and considers all aspects of the patient’s life, not just a few obvious signs or symptoms.

TCM practitioners see the body not as separate systems or organs, but as a complex network of interconnected parts (part of a larger concept called Qi). According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments aim to correct imbalances in the body and work primarily in three main ways:

1. Treatment of the patient’s external factors and environment.
2. Helping patients to have a healthier relationship with their inner emotions, including managing stress.
3. Improving lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise.

TCM treatments particularly focus on the kidneys, heart, spleen, liver, lungs, gall bladder, small intestine, and large intestine. Depending on the type, the benefits of TCM therapies range widely. The most common health problems treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies include:

• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Fatigue
• Infertility
• Liver disease
• Headache
• Indigestion
• Hormonal imbalance
• Hypertension
• PMS or menopause symptoms
• Cancer treatment or chemotherapy

The tenets and beliefs of TCM

TCM was mainly practiced in Asia and was not widely known or studied in the United States until the 1970s. As Eastern practices such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, and acupuncture began to gain prominence in the media during this period, hundreds of studies examined the health effects of such practices. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the belief that Qi (which roughly means “life energy” and is pronounced “chee”) is fundamental to overall health.

• Qi is said to circulate throughout the body along pathways called meridians, and adequate Qi is necessary to keep all systems in balance.
• Meridians are used in many TCM practices, including acupuncture and acupressure, which focus on treating specific meridian points located anywhere in the body from our head to our feet.
• Meridians are believed to be associated with certain organ systems and therefore focusing on certain meridians helps to resolve certain symptoms. Restoring Qi can be beneficial in preventing disease and treating existing inflammation, injury, pain or illness.

Another fundamental concept of traditional Chinese medicine is yin and yang, which are defined as opposite but complementary energies. You may be familiar with the yin-yang symbol (a half white and half black circle with smaller circles inside), which is used to represent all the opposing forces of the earth, including cold and heat, winter and summer, energy and stillness. Like Qi, yin and yang have a negative effect on health when they are out of balance and one force is more dominant than the other, so the primary goal of TCM treatment is to restore their balancing relationship.

Chinese Herbal Medicines

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Chinese herbal therapy is one of the most important parts of traditional Chinese medicine … it has been used for centuries in China, where herbs are considered essential therapies for many acute and chronic conditions.” Chinese herbal therapy is rooted in a traditional medical text called “Materia Medica”. This text lists thousands of different herbs, minerals, teas, tinctures, and other extracts that are used by trained herbalists based on a patient’s specific symptoms.

Who are Chinese herbal medicines most useful for?

• Chinese herbs focus on correcting certain organ dysfunctions and unhealthy body patterns. The goal of herbal therapy is to bring the body back to a state of homeostasis (balance) and restore proper energy (also known as Qi).

• Herbs can be used to treat patients with a wide range of symptoms, including frequent colds or flu, fatigue, breathing problems, infertility, allergies, chronic pain, anxiety or depression, sleep disorders, menopausal symptoms, and even those recovering from cancer or chemotherapy.

• Some cases that make a patient a good candidate for herbal therapy: more than one unexplained symptom, feeling tired among other symptoms, not responding well to medications or experiencing side effects, feeling anxious or depressed among other symptoms.

• Common Chinese herbal medicines include astragalus root, reishi mushroom, goji berry, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and more.

• Here’s what you can expect during a traditional Chinese herbal treatment: Personalized, different herbs (almost always several) are prescribed after an examination by a herbalist. Sometimes herbs are used as an adjunct to another treatment, such as acupuncture. Chinese herbal therapy is usually not covered by insurance, but in some cases, a doctor’s referral can help lower costs. Often, the herbalist will work closely with the physician to guide the patient’s treatment, especially when the herbal therapy may interact with the patient’s prescription medications.

Benefits of traditional Chinese medicine

1. Reduces inflammation and may provide increased cancer protection.

The Journal of Traditional & Complementary Medicine reports that traditional Chinese medicine practices, including herbal treatments and the use of medicinal mushrooms, may have positive “antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and autophagic regulatory functions.” This reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. level, thus protecting cells, tissues and organs from the development of long-term diseases.

Inflammation is at the root of most diseases and is linked to many of the most common health problems, including cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease, cognitive impairment, and diabetes.

TCM treatments, including acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal treatments, can also help patients overcome many harmful lifestyle habits associated with inflammation, such as smoking, overeating, chronic pain management, chronic stress, and alcohol-induced liver damage. Certain treatments can reduce the body’s “fight or flight” stress response, which helps patients manage the effects of chronic stress - which can include poor sleep and hormonal imbalances.

Several herbal treatments that have been found to directly help reduce oxidative stress include:

• Medicinal mushrooms, including reishi and cordyceps: promote stronger immunity, help fight fatigue, have anti-cancer properties, help balance hormones and regulate the body’s stress response.
• Monascus adlay and Monascus purpureus: used to reduce inflammation and damage to the lungs.
• Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn. from the Euphorbiaceae family), also known as gooseberry: reduces liver inflammation caused by hepatotoxins.
• Virgate wormwood decoction (Yīn Chén Hāo tāng): also used to reduce liver damage.
• Green tea extract and its active ingredients, catechins: help protect the brain, reduce fatigue and regulate appetite.
• Crataegi Fructus (Shān Zhā): helps to treat the symptoms of an overactive bladder
• Five Stranguries powder (Wǔ Lén Sǎn): has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Reduces chronic pain and headaches

Two of the most popular TCM treatments for pain are acupuncture and acupressure. Acupuncture is a practice that dates back more than 3,500 years. It is most commonly used by patients seeking relief from chronic headaches, arthritis pain, neck or back pain, and many other symptoms related to injury or stress.

Studies have found that acupuncture, especially when combined with other traditional Chinese medicine methods such as tai chi and a healthy diet, can be valuable non-pharmacological tools for patients with frequent chronic tension headaches. Research conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering found that patients receiving acupuncture had less neck muscle pain, osteoporosis, and chronic headaches than patients in a placebo control group. Research published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine even found that one month of acupressure treatment can be more effective in reducing chronic headaches than one month of taking muscle relaxants.

Research conducted at Toronto Western Hospital found that tai chi contributes to chronic pain management in three main areas: “adaptive exercise, mind-body interaction, and meditation.” Trials examining the health benefits of tai chi found that patients often experienced improvements in five pain conditions: osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, and headaches.

3. Balances hormones and improves fertility

According to research, certain “adaptogenic” Chinese herbal medicines contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can change the way nerves send messages to the brain, improving various endocrine and central nervous system functions. This naturally improves the body’s healing abilities and helps balance hormones - including cortisol, insulin, testosterone and estrogen.

Studies conducted at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at Zhejiang University in China show that reishi mushroom supplementation may help reduce symptoms of diabetes, fatigue and other hormonal imbalances while improving fertility and reproductive health. By reducing the body’s stress response, TCM therapies such as acupuncture, tai chi, and massage therapy can also be beneficial in treating hormonal imbalances.

In the West, massage therapy has been recommended for diabetes for over 100 years, and various studies have shown that the therapy can help treat other hormonal conditions by inducing relaxation, increasing energy levels, helping to become more active, reducing emotional eating, improving nutritional quality, and improving sleep. A 2001 study published in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine found that acupuncture plays a positive role in hormonal balance and infertility treatment. Acupuncture appears to work by modulating central and peripheral nervous system, neuro-endocrine and endocrine systems, ovarian blood flow and metabolism. It has also been shown to help improve blood flow to the uterus and reduce the effects of depression, anxiety and stress on the menstrual cycle.

4. Improves liver health

Herbal medicine and nutrition are important aspects of TCM, as poor nutrition can directly contribute to liver damage - and the liver is a central organ in Eastern medicine. The Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation explains that TCM views the liver as “the organ responsible for emotions and the smooth flow of Qi and blood. It is the organ most affected by excessive stress or emotion.” TCM therefore makes connections between liver damage and diseases such as obesity, fatigue, indigestion, emotional stress, sleep disorders, and more.

A diet and herbal treatment plan following the guidelines of Traditional Chinese Medicine is very similar to an alkaline diet, helping to restore the body’s proper pH and prevent key mineral deficiencies. Reducing stress, exercising, getting enough sleep, and many herbal remedies are used to treat liver problems. Acupressure massage is also used to stimulate the liver, improve blood flow and relieve tension caused by stress.

Adaptogenic herbs (including reishi mushroom or cordyceps) are often prescribed to improve liver function and prevent liver disease. A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms found that reishi has a hepatoprotective effect in acute liver damage due to its antioxidant properties.

Foods that promote liver health, prevent liver disease, and promote detoxification include raw and fresh vegetables (especially dark leafy greens), herbs and spices like garlic and ginger, healthy fats, and sweet potatoes. Alcohol, processed carbohydrates, sugary snacks or drinks, synthetic ingredients, fried foods, and refined oils or fats are all harmful to the liver, so they are usually reduced or eliminated when working with a TCM medicine.

5. Protects cognitive health

By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, Chinese herbs may help protect brain health and memory. Cognitive disorders, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, have been linked to increased inflammation, free radical damage, inability to use glucose properly, vitamin deficiencies, stress, and environmental toxins. Therefore, an alkaline diet, herbal supplements, exercise, proper nutrition, and stress reduction all help regulate the body’s immune response and hormones that protect the brain.

According to a report published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging in 2007, “There is a long history of dementia research and medical practice in China, during which the ancient Chinese created a whole theory and accumulated abundant experience in the treatment of dementia.” (15) In recent decades, an increasing number of clinical trials have shown that certain herbal extracts, including glycirrhiza, atractylodes, rhubarb, ginseng, fructus lycii, polygala, angelica, and saffron flower, serve as expectorants and blood circulation promoters. .

Medicinal mushrooms are proven to help reduce the amount of toxins and heavy metals that build up in the body, thereby promoting higher energy levels, better concentration, better memory and better quality sleep (all important for a sharp mind and mood regulation). Combined with other holistic treatments that promote well-being, they help prevent and treat many common age-related cognitive disorders.

6. It helps reduce the body’s stress response

Acupressure (a type of massage therapy also known as Tai chong in TCM) is beneficial not only for liver health but also for reducing stress. Tai chong is believed to stimulate a key point on the Liver channel meridian, located at the top of the foot, which is associated with emotional trauma and negative “energies” such as anger, bitterness, worry, anxiety and depression. Letting go of these negative feelings helps reduce your body’s fight-or-flight response, which has significant benefits: lower blood pressure, better sleep, more energy, less muscle tension, and more.

Acupuncture and tai chi can also be very helpful in managing stress. Tai chi is a type of qigong practice that is considered a “body and mind” practice because it combines the principles of martial arts with controlled breathing and focused attention. The spiritual dimension of tai chi, turning attention inward, and quieting the mind can help prevent elevated cortisol levels and improve someone’s overall well-being. Similar to yoga or meditation, according to a study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, tai chi is an effective natural stress reliever that can have a positive effect on patients with insomnia, anxiety or depression.

7. Maintains muscle strength, flexibility and balance

Harvard Medical School reports that regular tai chi practice can help address many of the fundamental benefits of exercise: increasing muscle strength, maintaining flexibility, increasing and maintaining balance, and sometimes even providing aerobic exercise, which is important for the heart. Studies conducted by Harvard researchers have shown that 12 weeks of tai chi practice can help patients, especially those who are older or may have limited abilities, build “healthy bodies, strong hearts and sharp minds.”

Massage therapy/acupressure is also beneficial for improving muscle regeneration and preventing injuries. Rooted in TCM, massage practices date back thousands of years, and ancient medical texts indicate that practitioners in pre-dynastic China used massage to relieve common aches and pains and improve the flow of Qi energy. Deep tissue massage helps blood supply to muscles and tense tissues, reduces the body’s stress response (stress makes recovery from injuries more difficult), reduces muscle tension, and can even help improve athletic performance. Rooted in TCM, some massage uses other mind-body practices such as visualization, meditation, and deep breathing to calm the nervous system.