Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – A brief history -
- The first written documentation on traditional Chinese medicine is the Huang-Di Nei-Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Cannon of Internal Medicine). It is one of the oldest medical textbook in the world, different opinions date the book back to between 800 BCE and 200 BCE. It lays a primary foundation for the theories of Chinese medicine such as the meridian theory, as well as many other issues, including, physiology, pathology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, acupuncture and moxibustion, tuina, etc.
- An interesting factoid : Acupuncture gained attention in the United States when President Nixon visited China in 1972. Traveling with Nixon was New York Times reporter James Reston, who received acupuncture in China after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Reston wrote about his experience with acupuncture and his post-operative pain relief upon returning to the United States.
- In 1997, the U.S. National Institutes of Health formally recognized acupuncture as a mainstream medicine healing option with a statement documenting the procedure’s safety and efficacy for treating a range of health conditions.
What is TCM?
- Traditional Chinese Medicine is an integrated health model focusing on the individual to treat the dis-ease.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine views the human body as a holistic energetic system that is constantly maintaining balance (homeostasis) within it’s environment.
- In TCM, we call this energy, ‘qi,’ and it circulates in a regular pattern via pathways/meridians throughout the body and each meridian corresponds to an organ system that governs particular bodily functions.
- Imbalances of yin and yang, stagnation of Qi and blood, blockage of meridians, and disharmony between our body and the environment is what can result in illness.
- We (our body/mind/spirit) are in our most optimal state of health when this energetic system flows unimpeded.
- There are five branches of TCM that can be used to restore balance/harmony in the body — acupuncture – herbs – nutrition – massage (Tuina) – qigong (exercise).
What is acupuncture and how does it work?
- Acupuncture is the use of very fine stainless steel needles that are inserted into specific points along the pathways/meridians to assist the body in restoring and maintaining the balance of ‘qi.’
- In a Western world, we sometimes need a scientific explanation, here is what some of the research has found:
Release of opioid peptides. There has been considerable evidence to support that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system, releasing these chemicals. Opioids are naturally occurring chemicals in the brain that have an analgesic effect. The release of these opioids plays a significant role in the reduction of pain.
Changes in brain chemistry, sensation, and involuntary body functions: Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones. Acupuncture also has been documented to affect the parts of the central nervous system via activating small myelinated nerve fibers. These nerve fibers send impulses to the spinal cord, midbrain, pituitary, and hypothalamus. This cascading of messaging affects sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby a person’s blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are regulated.
Conduction of electromagnetic signals: Western scientists have found evidence that acupuncture points are strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals. Stimulating points along these pathways through acupuncture enables electromagnetic signals to be relayed at a greater rate than under normal conditions. These signals start the flow of pain-killing biochemicals, such as endorphins, and of immune system cells to specific sites in the body that are injured or vulnerable to disease.
