The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 4 Healing Branches
TCM has 4 separate and distinct branches. Each of the 4 healing branches supports the individual, and if any are weak or deficient, support is lacking. Like a stool standing on 4 legs, it only works if they are all complete. A brief description of each follows:
Structure-- The human body is structural in nature. The body is made up of the bones of the spine and extremities, and includes the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Accidents and injuries can cause structural problems to occur, as can or repetition and stress. Chiropractic adjustments correct mis-alignments of the spine and extremities.
Electrical-- The human body is bio-electrical in nature. Many of the tests used in modern medical diagnosis measure electrical energy in the body. EKGs measure the activity and rhythm of the heart, and EEGs measure the electrical activity the brain. Acupuncture is the treatment used to balance the electrical energies of the body.
Chemical-- The human body is chemical in nature. When the chemistry is out of balance, we see it on blood testing. High liver enzymes or low hemoglobin count are signs of an internal problem. In western medicine drugs would be prescribed, in TCM, plant based medicines or herbs would be used to bring the chemistry back into balance.
Mind/body balance-- This aspect of TCM cannot be
measured as easily as the other 3, but is equally important. Feeling at
ease, and having peace of mind, having a healthy and happy life would
be characteristics of one who has balance in this area. Meditation,
prayer, or breathing exercises may be used to calm the mind. Internal
exercises such as Qi Gong and Tai Chi have been used for thousands of
years in TCM for this purpose.
Since sophisticated technical diagnostic tools and equipment were not
available in its early history, TCM over time developed a system of
diagnostic methods that was relatively simple to use and yet very
reliable. The clinical experience of successful physicians and their
expertise in recognising the significance of specific signs and symptoms
were passed on from one generation of physicians to another. Sometimes
the experience and expertise were recorded in classical medical texts
that still provide valuable information for modern practitioners of TCM.
The 5 pillars of healing in Traditional Chinese Medicine are:
- Moxibustion
- Chinese Herbal Medicine
- Tuina
- Qi Gong
Before we dive into the five pillars of healing, let's do a quick overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine itself. According to TCM practitioners, being in a state of health is all about having a strong and balanced Qi within your body. Qi is translated as "life force" and "vital energy" and is what makes us feel healthy and alive. Certain things can block our Qi within our bodies which can cause us to get unbalanced.
Your Qi is also intimately connected to the balance of Yin and Yang within your body. Yin and yang represent all opposite, but mutually interconnected forces in the world like light and dark, feminine and masculine, and rest and movement.
These same equal, yet opposite forces exist in our bodies. In terms of the human body, yin represents everything that is in the lower body and yang represents everything that is in the back and upper body. Good health is achieved by balancing your yin and yang and supporting your Qi.
This vast system of meridian networks and how they work is a complex subject that takes years of study, but their primary purpose is to distribute Qi throughout your body. If this distribution is disrupted because of stress, anxiety, or lack of sleep, good food, and exercise, acupuncture can help release any blockages.
In the western world, some doctors believe that acupuncture works by stimulating neurohormonal pathways which send signals to the brain to release hormones like beta-endorphins. But there is also a lot of anecdotal evidence sharing the benefits of acupuncture.
If you're curious about getting in on
these benefits, but not the biggest fan of needles, you can also try
acupressure (Tuina). Instead of needles, practitioners use
their hands to stimulate the meridians.
The simplest definition is that a meridian is an energetic highway in the human body.
Meridians allow for the flow of energy, known as Qi (pronounced
"chee"), to circulate throughout the body. Meridians exist in
corresponding pairs and each meridian has multiple acupuncture points
along the pathway.
In total, there are 12 meridians on each side
of the body: 3 yin meridians (heart, lung, and pericardium) and 3 yang
meridians (small intestine, large intestine, and sanjiao) of the arm, 3
yin meridians (liver, kidney, spleen) and 3 yang meridians (urinary
bladder, gall bladder, and stomach) of the leg.
Meridian therapy is a traditional Chinese medical practice that's based on restoring optimal energy flow throughout the 12 meridians in your body. Those meridians act as a kind of energy highway within your body.
TCM Tui Na Philosophy
WHAT IS Tuina?
Tuina is an Ancient Chinese Healing Techniques. Tuina practitioners brush, knead, roll, press and rub an injured person's body, using their palms, fingertips and knuckles to remove blockages along the meridians of the patient's body to stimulate qi and blood to promote healing. As such, this technique can easily be mistaken for an ordinary massage. However, practitioners must have undergone training in Taoist and martial arts philosophies. Tuina is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
When asked to describe the difference between Tui Na and massage, Ge Ming from Eu Yan Sang Premier TCM Centre at Camden Medical Centre explains, "A massage is not founded on TCM principles, however positive its effects may be. Tuina can be traced to ancient China: hurt by natural disasters and animal attacks, people developed the practice of rubbing and pressing on injuries to soothe the pain."
The importance of diagnosis
Tui Na targets problem areas directly to soothe a patient's overarching ailments. However, this does not mean that Tuina is a catch-all solution to all bone- or tendon-related problems. A detailed diagnosis by the practitioner is of utmost importance to ascertain the root cause of the problem. In order not to aggravate existing conditions, it's imperative to locate a professional clinic, where the Tuina practitioner can ascertain a number of important factors: the events preceding injury, its nature, affected areas, and the length of time symptoms have persisted. He must also note the condition of the patient's limb and joint function, and if there is swelling before he can assess if Tuina therapy is the recommended route to recovery.
Where a strain or chronic joint injury is concerned, the patient must be aware of the root cause of pain. One must also note the inherent relationship between joint, muscle, ligament, tendon, bursa, fascia, blood vessels and nerves. One can better target problem areas with the knowledge and thus achieve maximum effect. Tuina, unlike many other aspects of TCM, directly works on the problem area. It is especially efficacious in the treatment of tendon- and bone-related injuries or pains; in fact, one can hardly avoid Tuina as a treatment option when it comes to such problems.
Tuina for paediatricsA child's meridian points differ from a fully formed adult. Acupuncture points in an adult correlate not to similar points, but to a line or an area in a child. In practice, Tui Na for children typically addresses problems of indigestion, constipation, cough, asthma, enuresis, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and dysplasia, among other health problems.
Tuina for EVERYONE?
This healing technique is for everyone-even children, as explained above. However, TCM Professor Ge Ming advises pregnant women and cancer patients to refrain from it. He also does not subscribe to the 'No Pain, No Gain' school of thought: "Some people think that the more pain they experience during the treatment, the better the results. That is not true." As for side effects, he advises, "If the cause and extent of the injury is not determined before treatment, then there may be side effects. Otherwise, it's basically safe."
In Focus
Tuina is good for: certain types of fractures, dislocations and internal injuries general physical and mental well-being strengthening of immune system
Tuina motions: brush, knead, roll, press, rub
Tuina applicators: thumb, palm, fingertips, knuckles.