EDU: Alternative Health Care options - Chinese Medicine

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An Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine

is a holistic system of healing which has diagnosed, treated, and prevented

illness for at least 3000 years.

Based on the principles of internal balance and harmony, this highly refined

and complex discipline works to regenerate the body's organs and systems,

including:

circulatory

endocrine

neurological

excretory

respiratory

urinary

Traditional Chinese medicine views each human as a mini-ecosystem that shares

common traits with the earth on which we live. The basic principles of this

complete medical system are:

Causes of Disharmony

Meridians

Five Elements

Vital Substances

Yin and Yang

Zangfu

Diagnosis

The Chinese have a concept of vital energy known as chi or qi (pronounced

chee), which is the basis of all life. In the body, chi (qi) is transported via

the 12 major energetic pathways known as meridians. Although these meridians

cannot be seen with the naked eye, modern science has proven their existence

through electronic detection.

Each meridian connects to one of the major organs, and chi (qi) is said to

power the organ, enabling effective functioning. For example, the path of the

heart meridian travels from the heart, to the armpit, and down the inside of the

arm to the little finger. This explains why some individuals with heart

conditions will express a tingling feeling running down the arm and into the

fingers.

Chi (qi) is regulated by the interdependant forces of Yin and Yang. The

Chinese symbol for Yin literally means " the dark side of the mountain " , and

represents the qualities of cold, still, dark, below, weakness, and void.

The chinese symbol for Yang translates to " the sunny side of the mountain " ,

and therefore represents the opposite qualities of Yin: heat, activity, light,

above strength, and solidity.

A person's constitution, or the nature of the disease is determined by the

aspects of Yin and Yang. Harmony and balance of this union yields a healthy

state, whereas excess or deficiency of either Yin or Yang is thought to lead to

illness.

Causes of Disharmony Traditional Chinese Medicine views the cause of disease

in three main areas: external causes, internal causes, and a group of

miscellaneous causes which primarily involve lifestyle. These are outlined

below:

The Six External Causes

The six external causes of disease, also known as the six evils, are causes of

disharmony that relate to climatic conditions. Just as extremes of wind, cold,

heat, dampness, dryness, and summer heat can have devastating effects on the

world in which we live, they can also seriously alter the balance within the

body by diminishing, or blocking the flow of qi in the organs.

Wind is the most prevalent of the six external factors, and refers to the

ability of an illness to spread within the body. Symptoms commonly linked with

wind include chills, fever, colds, flu, nasal congestion, headaches, allergies,

arthritic and rheumatic conditions, as well as dizziness and vertigo.

Cold related imbalances manifest as conditions that diminish the body's immune

system, such as colds, cough, upper respiratory allergies, as well as poor

circulation, anemia, and weak digestion.

Heat conditions are described as hot and inflammatory, exacerbated by hot

weather and exposure to direct heat. They represent an over-active metabolic

process, which can result in hypertension, hyperthyroid, ulcers, colitis,

inflammed arthritic joints, as well as flu and skin rashes.

Dampness symptoms are created through the intake of oily and fluidic foods, as

well as wet weather. These symptoms may include swelling, obesity, the formation

of cysts, tumors, and lumps, and an increased production of phlegm. This phlegm

production can affect the sinuses and upper respiratory passages, including the

lungs and bronchioles.

Dryness can damage vegitation, and creates similar imbalances within the body,

causing disorders of the lungs, sinuses, large intestine, skin, digestion, and

reproductive organs.

Summer Heat, or an overexposure to sunlight and hot weather, can yield

conditions such as heat stroke, dizziness, nausea, extreme thirst, and

exhaustion.

The Seven Internal Causes

The seven internal causes, otherwise known as the Seven Emotions, are

illnesses brought about by intense, prolonged, or surpressed feelings, and are

defined as follows:

Sadness decreases the flow of qi in the lungs and heart, and is associated

with depression, fatigue, amenorrhea, shortness of breath, asthma, allergies,

cold and flu.

Grief is similar to sadness, and injures the lungs, decreases immunity to

colds and flu, as well as chronic upper respiratory diseases such as emphysema,

allergies, and asthma.

Pensiveness, or over-engaging the mind in activities such as worry, thought,

or study can deplete spleen qi, and may result in edema, digestive disorders,

low appetite, and fatigue.

Fear, or paranoia causes qi to descend, resulting in potential harm to the

kidneys, lower back, or joints when this emotion is ever present.

Fright, or shock is unlike fear in the sense that the onset is very sudden,

causing one's qi to diverge. The rapid change in flow first affects the heart in

symptoms such as breathlessness and palpitations, then moves to the lower body

in a similar fashion to fear, damaging the kidneys, lower back, and joints.

Anger encompasses all the negative emotions of rage, irritability,

frustration, and resentment, and causes the qi to rise inappropriately. Anger is

associated with headaches, mental confusion, dizziness, and hypertension.

Joy in Chinese Medicine refers to excess, or overabundance, and relates to

illness relative to overindulgence. Damage to the heart may result, and the

conditions of hysteria, muddled thought, and insomnia may arise.

The Meridian System In addition to chi (qi), Traditional Chinese Medicine

recognizes a subtle energy system by which chi (qi) is circulated through the

body. This transportation system is referred to as the channels or meridians.

There are twelve main meridians in the body, six yin and six yang, and each

relates to one of the Zangfu or organs.

To better visualize the concept of chi (qi), and the meridians, think of the

meridians as a river-bed, over which water flows and irrigates the land;

feeding, nourishing and sustaining the substance through which it flows. (In

Western medicine, the concept would be likened to the blood flowing through the

circulatory system.) If a dam were placed at any point along the river, the

nourishing effect that the water had on the whole river would stop at the point

the dam was placed.

The same is true in relation to chi (qi) and the meridians. When chi (qi)

becomes blocked, the rest of the body that was being nourished by the continuous

flow, now suffers. Illness and disease can result if the flow is not restored.

Acupuncture is one tool used to restore the flow of chi (qi), by inserting

needles into the acupuncture points (located on the meridians). These insertions

are said to clear any residing blockages, or dams, thus freeing the river to

better feed the body in its entirety.

The Five Elements in Chinese Medicine The five elements, also called " Wu

Xing " represent the processes that are fundamental to the cycles of nature, and

therefore correspond to the human body.

The chinese term " xing " means the process of one thing acting upon another. In

relation to the five elements, the cycle of processes can be represented as:

wood feeds fire

fire creates ashes which form earth

inside the earth, metal which is heated liquifies and produces water vapor

water generated then nourishes the trees, or wood

The five elements, their characteristics, and their inter-relationships with

the body can be defined as:

Fire

Hot, ascending, light and energy as embodied in the TCM functions of the heart

(yin) and small intestine (yang). The fire element also affects the

complementary organ processes of the pericardium (yin) and the triple warmer,

which is representative of the upper, lower, and middle parts of the body, as

well as the circulation of fluids in these areas (yang). Joy (overindulgence) is

the emotion which creates imbalance within this element.

Earth

Productive, fertile, growth. The earth element relates to the stomach (yang)

and the spleen (yin). The stomach begins the process of digestive breakdown,

while the spleen transforms and transports the energy from food and drink

throughout the body. Pensiveness is the emotion which creates imbalance within

this element.

Metal

As a conductor, this element includes the lungs (yin), which move vital energy

throughout the body, and the large intestine (yang), which is responsible for

receiving and discharging waste. Sadness, or grieving is the emotion which

creates imbalance within this element.

Water

Wet, descending, flowing. The water element represents the urinary bladder

(yang), and the kidney (yin). The bladder receives, stores, and excretes urine.

Water metabolism dissipates fluids throughout the body, moistening it, then

accumulating in the kidneys. The kidneys also store the essence, and serve as

the root of yin and yang for the entire body. Fear and paranoia are the emotions

which create imbalance within this element.

Wood

Strong, rooted. The wood element represents the liver (yin), and the gall

bladder (yang). The liver stores blood, and regulates the smooth flow of qi. The

gallbladder is responsible for storing and excreting bile. Anger is the emotion

that creates imbalance within the liver, while indecisiveness is relative to the

gallbladder

Vital Substances Traditional Chinese Medicine views the human body as a mini

eco-system, which therefore shares the same qualities as nature. Just as the

earth contains air, water, and land, the basic substances of the human body are

Qi, Body Fluids, Blood, and Essence.

Qi is the vital energy that gives us our capacity to move, think, and feel. It

protects from illness, and warms the body. Qi is derived from two main sources:

the air we breathe, and the food we eat. When the supply of Qi to the body is

depleted or blocked, organ function is adversely affected by the inability to

transform and transport the " energy " necessary to fight illness and disease.

Body Fluids (called Jin Ye) are the liquids which protect, nurture, and

lubricate the body in conjunction with the blood. The moisture nourishes the

skin, muscles, joints, spine, bone marrow, and brain. Dehydration results in

conditions such as dry skin and constipation, while excess fluids manifest in

symptoms such as lethargy, and increased production of phlegm.

Blood is the material foundation for bone, nerve, skin, muscle, and organ

creation. It also contains the Shen (spirit) which balances the psyche.

Essence, or Jing, is the body's reproductive and regenerative substance.

Essence regulates growth, development, reproduction, and promotes and works with

qi to help protect the body from external factors.

The vital substances circulate through the pathways, or meridians, linking all

parts of the body. When flowing smoothly they contribute to the healthy state,

but if these substances are congested or depleted, symptoms as varied as aches,

tension, swelling, asthma, indigestion, and fatigue may result from the

disruption.

Yin & Yang in Chinese Medicine In Chinese medicine, health is represented as

a balance of yin and yang. These two forces represent the bipolar manifestation

of all things in nature, and because of this, one must be present to allow the

other to exist. Hence, where there is above there is below, whatever has a front

also has a back, night is followed by day, etc.. On an emotional level, one

would not know joy had they never experienced pain.

It is important to note that the balance of yin and yang is not always exact,

even when the body is healthy. Under normal circumstances the balance is in a

state of constant change, based on both the external and internal environment.

For example, during times of anger, a person's mood is more fiery, or yang,

and yet once the anger has subsided, and a quiet peaceful state is achieved, yin

may dominate.

This shift in the balance of yin and yang is very natural. It is when the

balance is consistently altered, and one (be it yin or yang) regularly dominates

the other, that health is compromised, resulting in illness and disease.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners attempt to determine the exact

nature of the imbalance, and then correct it through the use of acupuncture,

herbal remedies, exercise, diet and lifestyle. As balance is restored in the

body, so is health.

Zangfu

Zangfu is the term used to describe various yin and yang organs in the body. A

yin organ is called a Zang, while a yang organ is called a Fu. Although the

organs are identified by their western anatomical names, Traditional Chinese

medicine views their function on a far broader scope, due in part to the

concepts of qi, and essence, their flow, and storage responsibilities.

The twelve organs of Chinese medicine, which correspond to the twelve

meridians, or channels within the body, are classified according to the

functions of transformation (yin organs), or transportation (yang organs).

The Zang is made up of the six solid (yin) organs:

heart

pericardium (sac surrounding the heart)

lungs

spleen

liver

kidney

The Fu consists of the six hollow (yang) organs:

small intestine

triple warmer (an organ function)

stomach

large intestine

gallbladder

urinary bladder

Acupuncture Acupuncture is a means of adjusting the body's life energy (chi

or qi) through the insertion of fine needles into carefully selected acupuncture

points along the meridians of the body. The needles, which have a rounded end

rather than a sharp cutting one, are inserted into the points and are then

manipulated with a gentle pumping action, by twirling or leaving in place for a

few minutes.

These motions stimulate the flow of energy and remove blockages so that the qi

can be dispersed and regulated. When the qi is flowing properly throughout the

body, the balance is restored and improved health results.

How does it work?

Athough many theories have been presented, there is still no easy answer as to

exactly how acupuncture works. The " Gate Control " theory suggests that pain

impulses are blocked from reaching the spinal cord or brain at various " gates "

to these areas. Since a majority of acupuncture points are either located near,

or connected to neural structures, this suggests that acupuncture stimulates the

nervous system to " shut the gate " to the sensation of pain. Other theories

suggest that acupuncture stimulates the body to produce narcotic like substances

such as endorphins and opiods which, when released into the body, relieve pain.

One thing is certain, although we may not know precisely how it works, studies

have shown that it does work for a large majority of people and conditions.

Do I have to believe in it for it to work?

The answer to this question is no. While having a positive state of mind helps

with any type of treatment, conventional or otherwise, it is not necessary to

" believe " in acupuncture for it to work. This is evidenced not only through

clinical study in " non-believers " , but by the fact that animals and small

children who cannot be instructed to " believe " receive relief through the use of

acupuncture.

(Beautiful Southern Oregon, USA)

We may not be able to change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our

sails.

May you have enough happiness to make you kind, enough trials to make you

strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

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