Ancient Herbs and Remedies Part 4: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been in practice for several thousand years and can be traced back to the shamanistic era of the Shang Dynasty, a civilization that was in the process of advancement (credited with the invention of the Chinese writing system) and believed in the balance of the spiritual world and natural world to aid in treating ailments. TCM itself has not changed drastically throughout the years as new ideas are formed and developed they are combined with all of the other concepts so that a practitioner can have multiple treatment modalities if one should fail. This is not true of Western medicine in which older treatments are constantly being overwritten by newer and seemingly more effective treatments that require more studies and time. 

The foundation of TCM is the belief that every body has a life force, “Qi” (pronounced “Chee”), which flows through invisible channels (meridians) of the body. These channels connect organs, tissues, veins, nerves, cells, and even consciousness, and in theory, there are 12 major meridians that each connect to one of the 12 major organs. For a person to be considered healthy in TCM, there should be a balanced harmony between their Yin (passive life force, cold) and Yang (active life force, hot). There is also the connection of the natural world (or our external environment) that is based on five elements:

• Wood

• Fire

• Earth

• Metal

• Water

These five elements (also known as the five phases theory) help explain how we are influenced by the world and weather around us, each element is associated with certain body organs and even a season of the year! 

While this is a brief overview of the approach taken by TCM practitioners, there is a great insight into treating ailments through deep analysis and whole-life awareness. Countries that practice TCM have incorporated a balance of Western and Eastern treatments in hospitals, offering their patients acupuncture and herbs in combination with surgeries and more, leaning heavily on their wealth of knowledge! 

Treatments that are commonly used in TCM include: 

• Acupuncture

• Moxibustion

• Herbal formulas and Salves

• Movement Therapy

• Massage/Gua Sha

• Meditation

• Food/Diet

Treatments are prescribed by the practitioner based on a consultation that can comprehensively check your pulse, the color of the tongue, skin, eyes, and more. The idea is that the practitioner looks at the patient that day and treats the symptoms that present at that moment, including the patient’s description. You may have heard of some of these treatments before, and even applied them to help treat ailments successfully! 

Let’s take a brief look at each of these treatments: 

Acupuncture

The practice of inserting thin needles along the meridian channels helps redirect the Qi flow and restore balance. While the idea of thin needles may sound ominous to some, this type of treatment can feel gentle and calming. The points along the channels are used to help treat physical ailments and invisible ones (such as hunger, also known as Stomach Fire or Heat). There are different modalities that many practitioners have personally adapted and found as best, so bear in mind that not all treatments and experiences will be the same! 

Moxibustion

A lesser-known practice in the Western World, moxibustion is a type of therapy that uses “Moxa” which is harvested from the Mugwort Plant. There are different varieties of Moxa, from a fluffy wool type to Moxa that’s been pressed tightly to form a charcoal stick. The Moxa is then lit on fire (when the fire extinguishes it maintains a glowing ember) and held close to the body, the burning herb is used to strengthen the immune system, warming the body and bringing more Qi and blood flow to an area. Moxa can be used alone or in conjunction with acupuncture treatment. 

Herbal Formulas and Salves 

Herbal medicine that developed in China focuses on unique herbal combinations, formulas are custom curated for the individual, providing a whole holistic healing approach based on the more detailed analysis of the individual. Herbalists prepare the formula using a variety of natural plants in the form of a tea, capsule, liquid dropper, salves, and more! Some of the many plants use include Astragalus, Ginger, Ginseng, Ginkgo, and way too many more to list!!

Movement Therapy

Following the principles of TCM, movement of the physical body is important to help keep the channels open and allow the Qi to flow, always striving to maintain that balance of Yin and Yang. There are various forms of movement that have developed into various branches including Tai Chi (also known as Shadow Boxing) and Qi Gong. These practices focus on clearing the mind to focus on connecting the physical body to the unseen Qi. 

Massage/Gua Sha

Gua Sha (pronounced Gwah-Shah) is a familiar term in the beauty world, but this tool has been traced back to 700 years ago and is also known as skin scraping or spooning. Gua Sha is a form of massage therapy, by scraping the tool along the affected area until the skin develops petechiae (redness). This allows for the circulation to flow, and in accordance with TCM helps break any blockages along the channels, allowing the Qi to flow. Different massage therapies are also used to help in draining the lymphatic system, improving circulation, and stimulating the nervous system.  

Meditation

This is not news to anyone, a key factor of stress, especially in today's world, is the number of distractions we all have within our reach. Did you know that stress has been found to be 95% responsible for the cause of various ailments and illnesses? Find time for yourself, let your mind be clear, and focus on your breath. I’ll be releasing a specific post that involves meditation and a very effective TCM technique! 

Food/Diet

Of course! Without question! The food we eat provides us with the nutrition we need to keep our bodies in balance. The wonderful components of TCM include those natural plant-derived formulas….which means incorporating them into food and receiving them from food is an option! Congee is a rice porridge dish, a blank slate so to speak, but a healing and comforting bowl that can be boosted with complimentary herbs and flavors, all of which support healing. Vegetables such as bitter melon are used for their cooling effects, cooling excess Yang (heat) and reinvigorating the Qi flow. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine has persevered and evolved, constantly adapting to the world around us and maintaining the integrity of individuality. 

Next up in the series is a dive into the Amazon!