Traditional Chinese Medicine is compromised of Four Pillars

Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Herbology and Nutrition

Physical Manipulations – Tui Na

Qi Gong

The History and Basic Concepts of  Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine is the indigenous 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 Chinese 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.

Yin and Yang are polar opposite qualities that are dependent on each other. In TCM all substances in and manifestations of our physical world and body can be broken down into yin and yang.  This includes day/night, light/dark, hot/cold, water/dry, active/passive, male/female, birth/death.  Yin and Yang are also infinitely divisible meaning each element and substance can be further broken down into smaller divisions or yin and yang. Neither yin nor yang can exist without its paired quality.  Furthermore, each manifestation has a proper proportion at proper timing. 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.

Qi 

The concept of Qi relates to the energy of the entire universe. Qi is in everything from the air to the object like a table or chair. It refers to the vibrational field in everything, similar to the binding agents that hold molecules together to create mass. Some Qi is quick and alive like sprouting plants or slow and stable like the qi in rocks and mountains. 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. When the qi in the body is in harmony we are healthy and vibrant. When it is not moving or going in the wrong direction there will be pain and illness. Sometimes qi is weak causing fatigue other times it is pathologically abundant causing insomnia and manic behavior. When the qi is going in the wrong direction there will be disharmonies. For example, stomach qi rising instead of going downward for digestion can cause acid reflux, nausea, or vomiting. The opposite is when Qi sinks causing diarrhea, hemorrhoids,  or vaginal discharge. In order to balance and restore the qi in the body Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses modalities like acupuncture, herbs, exercises (Qi Gong, Tai Chi), and manual therapy (Tuina, Acupressure)

Traditional Chinese Therapies

Acupuncture is a primary treatment modality within 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.  Acupuncture can be used for almost any disharmony in the human body from the common cold to regulating thyroid function. It is a safe and efficient course of treatment when administered by a trained professional.  For internal medical conditions, we prefer to combine Acupuncture with Customized Herbal Prescriptions for best results. Sometimes when the patient is weak or on too many medications acupuncture is the only modality we can use due to its safety.

At South Bay Total Health, we have successfully used acupuncture for a variety of conditions such as Irregular Heart Beat, High Blood Pressure, IBS, Chrons Disease, Edema and Ascites, Chronic Pain, Low Body Temperature, Thyroid Disfunction, Inducing Labor, Chronic Diarrhea, Strained and pulled muscles, Meniscus Tears, Acute and Chronic Bronchitis, Cold and Flu, Immune System disfunction, Poor memory, Grieving and loss of loved ones,  Stress, Addiction, Constipation, Uterine Fibroids, PMS, Infertility, preventive medicine and many more health issues and concerns.

Moxibustion 

Chinese Herbology is another primary treatment modality within Chinese Medicine. 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. The beauty of Chinese Herbology is that every formula is tailored to the individual needs of the patient and as your body changes the formula will change with you. With complicated cases or internal medical issues Herbs are the primary therapy since they are very potent and are taken daily. At South bay Total Health, we are firm believers in the power of customized herbal formulas and rarely use pre made standardized formulas. We view each patient and an individual with unique needs and personalize your herbal prescriptions for your bodes needs. Imagine going to the doctor and getting customized medications based on your specific condition!

Whether using Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal formulas, it is the underlying philosophy of Regulating Qi or Balancing Yin and Yang that are the basis for treatment and enable Chinese Medicine to successfully treat many conditions that do not respond to any other method of treatment.

Tui Na is the hands-on manual therapy of Chinese medicine that embraces the eight principles of TCM in an effort to eliminate pain and bring a patient’s body into balance.  The practitioner uses their hands to stimulate key points within the body, aiding the stimulation of it’s own natural healing process. When these healing points are manipulated, tension is released and the circulation of blood and nutrients help to bring about this healing process.

Tui Na is excellent for dealing with damaged areas of a body that have suffered trauma, helping to assist with the breakdown of adhesions and scar tissue and increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to the area, essential components in the elimination of damaged tissue. Tuina unlike other manual therapies does not just address bones or muscles but addressed the full system including meridian (energy) flow, muscles, skeletal structure, and organ function i.e. poor digestion and abdominal pain.

While Tui Na and Acupuncture use the same meridian points based in traditional Chinese medicine, Tui Na is a preferred method of treatment for children and patients who cannot tolerate needles. At SBTH we use Tuina in combination with acupuncture for all serious musculoskeletal injuries, improvement of sports performance, and pain. This winning combination is extremely effective and is the standard protocol for the Tuina department in the hospitals in China.

Qi Gong  

Qigong is an integration of physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intentions to gather and move energy in the body.

Qigong practices can be classified as martial, medical, or spiritual. All styles have three things in common: they all involve physical posture, breathing techniques, and mental focus. Some practices increase or gather the Qi; others circulate it, to increase organ function or to heal the body, some preserve it, or some who have highly developed qi levels and qi gong technique use it emit Qi to help heal others. Practices vary from the soft internal styles such as Tai Chi; to the external, vigorous styles such as Kung Fu. However, the slow gentle movements of most Qigong forms can be easily adapted, even for the physically challenged and can be practiced by all age groups. At South Bay Total Health we focus on teaching our patients medical qi gong to improve health and increase longevity.

Moxabustion

Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Tui-na, Qi Gong, and Moxabustion are the five pillars of Traditional Chinese medicine but are not the only modalities within the medicine. To learn about other TCM modalities practiced at South Bay Total Health please click here ________