TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine in West Orange, which includes herbology, Chinese physical therapy (Tui Na), and acupuncture have been practiced for thousands of years to help heal the human body. Unfortunately, it tends to be sidelined because it is not commercialized and most people are unfamiliar to it. This article will strive to let you know more a little about this ancient healing system.
Origins
The aforementioned components of TCM do not heal the body per se but instead aids in healing. We say this because these components set off the self-healing processes of the body. The remedies found in herbology, acupuncture, and Tui na balance the body which promotes healing. They do not address the symptoms of a disease. They actually treat its underlying cause.
In TCM, there exists and energy within the human body called Chi or Qi. But the theory of a universal flow of energy is really not novel. Physicists in the West have come to the conclusion that all matter is energy and all energy is matter. Chi circulates inside the body, and the body is in balance when Chi flows smoothly. We become ill when the Chi slows down or speeds up due to a blockage or other factors that tend to affect its flow. Think of it this way…
Chi can be thought of as a free-flowing river, the current keeps the water clean and well-oxygenated while the rocks help filter the water. Imagine now that a tree branch or trunk has fallen into the river and creates an obstruction like a partial dam. Water builds up in an area, and the flow begins to slow down. The stagnating waters cause algae to grow in the water and on the rocks. Detritus and debris get snared in the dammed up part of the river resulting in bacterial growth that eventually flows downriver.
External
The underlying cause of your pain can be sometimes a chronic physical condition or an injury. Tui Na herbology, and acupuncture are as equally effective in resolving orthopedic trauma as Western medicine. Many kung fu practitioners and athletes swear by these healing modalities.
Injuries can be due to stagnation and blockages, especially with regards to circulation. We could use an herbal ointment to heal a sprained ankle. The ointment contains herbs that have their own unique healing properties. It may contain for instance, turmeric that can help treat inflammation and boost circulation. Less inflammation means less pain. Thus, turmeric can be often found many ointments to relieve pain.
Tui Na practically is therapeutic massage. This type of treatment also helps restore balance in the body by encouraging the flow of chi through the energy channels or meridians (where chi flows), muscles, and joints.
Internal
Being examined by a practitioner of TCM is different from the kind of examination one gets from a Western medicine doctor. In TCM examination, unless you’re referring about your pulse (which mirrors circulation), there are no blood tests. Your pulse, symptoms, and appearance (the physical appearance of your skin, tongue, etc.) are the things observed by a practitioner.
Both herbology and acupuncture are used to address stagnation and chi blockages that can be the underlying reason for any number of pain or ailments, and can be used together to resolve one or multiple health issues. Acupuncture needles are inserted into the point(s) of obstruction while the herbs are given to encourage the movement of chi and circulation.
Herbs can come in the form of ointment, tea, or pills, and if your TCM practitioner is also an herbalist, he exactly knows how to combine them. There is no Tylenol in a Chinese pharmacy. It only sells herbs – lots of them. Actually the first pharmaceutical drugs used in Western medicine were herbs. Sadly however, especially with regard to “Big Pharma,” it’s apparent that Western medicine seems to be too much concerned with treating symptoms alone and providing people with a temporary fix for their illness.
The Best of Both Worlds
Healing can be maximized by integrating Western medicine and Eastern medicine. Both aspects of these two healing systems should be incorporated to attain balance in our practice. In various instances, a lifetime on medication is not the answer, nor surgery. Combining TCM with the best practices Western science and medicine has to offer (including nutritional therapy) gives you the tools necessary to attain wellness and health.