Traditional Chinese Medicine is the indiginous system of health care that has been used in China and throughout Asia for more than 5,000 years. It is based on the philosophies of Yin and Yang, polar opposite qualities that permeate everything in the Universe, combined with the concept of Qi, the body’s living energy. In Oriental Medical philosophy, your normal state of health relies on a proper balance of Yin and Yang, and the proper flow of Qi in the body.

Examples of Yin and Yang include day/night, light/dark, hot/cold, water/dry, active/passive. Neither can exist without its paired quality, and each of these, along with many others, are required in their proper proportion at the proper times. For example, an active mind and body is normal during the daytime, which is Yang in nature, but would be considered pathological during the night, a Yin time, when we should be passive and resting.

The concept of Qi relates to the energy of the entire universe. In the human body, Qi is perceived to flow through the body in pathways called Meridians, which are associated with the major internal organs and disperse Qi throughout the body. The meridians branch into progressively smaller branches, eventually connecting to the nucleus of every cell in the body where our DNA is stored. The energy frequencies of Qi are thus hypothesized to be able to influence even the expression of DNA and our genetic makeup.

To better understand Qi disharmonies lets look at how they can manifest in the human body. When Qi is stuck or “stagnant” in the body there will be pain and sluggish functions. Often after a physical trauma the meridian is damaged and qi cannot flow, this will cause physical pain. When Qi is deficient in the body there will be fatigue and an inability to thrive. This can be applied to the whole body, specific organs, or in the meridians. An example of qi deficiency in the stomach will cause the stomach to be unable to function or digest food properly. Qi deficiency in a meridian can cause muscle weakness or atrophy in the area that meridian governs.  When Qi is rebellious, it will move in the wrong direction. Stomach energy should go downward for digestion but when there is rebellious qi in the stomach there will be nausea and vomiting. Lung qi should disperse downward when rebellious there will be coughing. One of the main concepts in treatment with TCM is to balance and restore the natural flow of Qi.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine there are five main pillars of treatment.

Acupuncture is a primary treatment modality within Traditional Chinese Medicine which uses fine gauge needles, inserted at key points along the meridians, to stimulate and regulate the flow of Qi. This can restore balance to the flow of Qi in the meridians and organs, thereby returning the body to a state of normal health.

Chinese Herbology and Nutrition is another primary treatment modality within Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Almost all internal medical cases require herbs as part of  the treatment plan. Thousands of years of recorded use of medicinal plants has been documented in Chinese history, and the documented experience of hundreds of generations of Chinese Herbologists goes into every herbal formula. Diet therapy and proper nutrition are also vital to health and well-being. Chinese diet therapy has a particular emphasis on the balance of the temperatures of foods, avoiding and adding specific foods based on your particular needs to restore health, and eating locally with the seasons.

Physical Manipulation and Tuina- Tuina, the “hands on” side of TCM it is often referred to as Chinese Medical Massage or Chinese Chiropractics.  Tuina works the muscles, joints, skeletal system for a deeply satisfying and powerful form of body work. It is a very comprehensive form of manual therapy.  It works off of the Meridian theory and basic chinese concepts of excess and deficiency. By going deeper than traditional body work Tuina can also be used to address internal issues such as digestive disharmonies, headaches, menstrual issues, beauty treatments, and pediatrics.

Cupping- Cupping is the practice of placing heated glass “cups” on the body to move stagnant qi. From a western perspective you can say that the cups break muscles contractions to break up “knots”. This is usually applied to stubborn muscular pain sites but can also be used for internal issues like alleviating cough and speeding up the healing process for bronchitis.

At South Bay Total Health we and our patients LOVE CUPPING! Our practitioners go beyond basic cupping styles to more advanced techniques and applications.

Gua Sha- This is the ancient art of skin scraping. This technique is not for every patient but works very well for breaking up adhesions and scar tissues as well as for chronic and stubborn pain.  Similar to cupping we are drawing out pain from deep within the body to dissipate on the skin level.

Meditation and Exercise-  In TCM, we cannot over look the mind, body, and spiritual connections. In order for true healing and health we must keep a healthy mind clear of the constant thoughts and overstimulation we experience in modern life.  When the mind is clear and in line with the body and spirit we can truly thrive.

At SBTH we often teach our patients how to meditate and other moving meditative techniques such as medical Qi Gong. Medical Qi gong not only aligned the mind body and spirit but also improves health and specific organ functions.

Feng Shui and Environment-  TCM recognizes the importance of a harmonious relationship to your physical environment for your health and prosperity. Feng Shui translated to wind and water is the arrangement of your physical enviorment to foster health, wealth, and prosperity.

Whether using Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal formulas, or any combination of the pillars of the medicine, it is the underlying philosophy of Regulating Qi or Balancing Yin and Yang that are the basis for treatment and enable Oriental Medicine to successfully treat a variety of conditions. From minor daily aches and pains or the common cold to complex internal medical issues. However, the ultimate goal of TCM is not to treat sickness but to keep your body running at an optimal level in order to avoid illness and pain.