A Holistic View of Human Health and Illness
In
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), human body is viewed as a holistic
system, which is comprised of functionally specified organs and
systems, controlled by constantly flowing of energy, or Qi (pronounced
"chee"). The functional properties of each organ and system as well as
the whole body can be classified into two categories: Yin and Yang.
Balance of Yin-Yang is essential for performing proper functions by an
organ or a system, and the Yin-Yang balance of a whole body (between
different organs and systems) determines the health status of an
individual. Imbalance of Yin-Yang in an organ, a system or the whole
body determines the patterns of Qi flowing through a specific region,
and therefore determines the specificity of an illness.
TCM
uses a number of different approaches, such as Chinese herbs,
acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, acupressure, Tui-Na (oriental
massage) and Gua-Sha, etc. to strengthen and/or adjust the flow of Qi
in an unhealthy or diseased body back to the way it supposes to be.
Therefore, by re-balancing Yin-Yang, it maximally reverses dysfunction
and regains health.
Common Techniques
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture
is one of the four pillars of traditional Chinese medicine:
Acupuncture, TuiNa, Herbal Medicines and QiGong. Refer to later
sections for detail.
- Moxibustion: Moxibustion
is a complementary component of acupuncture, which is an external
method of preventing and treating disease by ignition of moxa to
stimulate the points. Moxa is an herb preparation mainly made of moxa
leaves that smell fragrant and is easy to be ignited. By smoldered on
or held near to the acupuncture point moxibustion has the functions to
warm channel (where Qi/energy flows) and expel cold, to smooth flow of Qi and blood, and subdue swelling and disperse accumulation of pathogen.
- Cupping:
Cupping is a therapy in which a jar is attached to the surface of skin to cause
local congestion through negative air pressure. It is also a
complementary technique of acupuncture in TCM. Traditionally, this
negative air pressure is created by removal of the air in the jar
through rapid heating-up the air with a burning or flaming material. A
small handy vacuum pump has also been used to create the negative
pressure in a particularly manufactured jar. Cupping has the advantages
of warming and promoting free flow of Qi in channels, diminishing swellings and pains, dispelling cold and dampness.
- Acupressure/TuiNa: Acupressure or TuiNa
is a physical therapeutic technique similar to massage. By applying
appropriate pressure with certain specific hand-skills (e.g. rotating,
rolling, pinching, etc.) onto acupoints, it has the functions of
removing blockage of channels, facilitating flowing of Qi and
blood, relieving pains and enhancing internal organ functions. In
addition, acupressure may function as a diagnostic method as well,
particularly when Ashi or pain points (where the local skin becomes
hypersensitive to pressure or pinch) can be detected in certain
specific locations (known channels or points). In this case, the
sensitivity of Ashi points to acupressure also indicates the
effectiveness of the treatment at certain degree.
- Herbal Medicine: Herbal
medicine is one the major components of TCM. There are 493 commonly
used herbs that can be classified into 20 different categories. The
greatest work in Chinese herbal medicine is published in 1578, named "Ben Cao Gang Mu". This book collected 1,892 herbs with 11,096 remedies. "Pu Ji Fang",
the biggest book of herbal remedies in history described 61,739
remedies that covered treatments for almost all the known diseases at
that time though there are approximately 236 primary remedies with 186
amended ones that are commonly used.
- QiGong: QiGong
is one of the most powerful self-healing traditions ever developed in
human history. The word QiGong breaks into Qi and Gong: Qi = vitality,
energy, life force, Gong = practice, cultivate, refine; QiGong = to
cultivate and refine through practice one’s vitality or life force.
While QiGong has strong roots into mystical and philosophical ground,
the practical healing and stress management applications are not only
the most popular aspects of the tradition in China but also rapidly
gaining in popularity in the Western world as people realize that
disease and stress are relieved by peace of mind. Patients who use
QiGong faithfully need less medication and heal faster. In the paradigm
of mechanistic Western science, the practice of QiGong triggers a wide
array of physiological mechanisms that have profound healing benefits.
It increases the delivery of oxygen to the tissues, enhances the
elimination of waste products, facilitates the transportation of immune
cells through the lymph system and also shifts the chemistry of the
brain and the nervous system. It is believed that the primary mechanism
that is triggered by the practice of QiGong is a spontaneous balancing
and enhancing of the natural healing resources in the human system.
Such a self-balancing and healing function is part of human nature but
normally inhibited by the cortex that is always preoccupied by endless
high-priority duties--collecting and analyzing information and making
decisions even during dreaming (randomly replaying, sorting and storing
the daytime's info). Therefore, if you are not too busy to give
yourself a break (usually half hour/day) so as to create a temporal
peace of mind, you are guaranteed to get faster healing and better
health.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture
is an ancient technique with which a skilled acupuncture physician or
practitioner inserts hair-thin needles into specific points on the body
to prevent or treat illness. Practiced over 2,500 years in China, where
it originated, acupuncture is part of the holistic system of TCM. Since
abnormal energy or Qi flows are thought to cause disease, acupuncture
aims to restore health by enhancing and/or re-adjusting the flows of Qi.
While acupuncture was mentioned in Western medical texts more than a
hundred years ago (Sir William Osler's Principles and Practice of
Medicine, published in 1892, recommended it for sciatica and lumbago),
it wasn't until 1971 that U.S. citizens really became aware of the
technique. It was then that New York Times reporter James Reston,
stricken with appendicitis while in Beijing, was treated successfully
with acupuncture for post-surgical pain. "I've seen the past, and it
works!" written by Reston in a front page of Times story.
This
exposure came at a time when many Americans were looking for a more
holistic, naturalistic approach to health care, and it caused quite a
stir among the Western medical community. Since then acupuncture has
become a widely accepted form of treatment in the U.S., practiced by
MDs and DOs (doctors of osteopathy) who have received special training
in its methods, as well as by practitioners who specialize only in the
technique.
How does Acupuncture Work?
According
to the principles of TCM, Qi flows through the body via 14 primary
meridians or channels. To strengthen the Qi flow, or remove blockages
in the meridians, an acupuncturist inserts a number of tiny, sterile,
flexible needles just under the skin at certain specific points
(acupoints) along the channels. There are thousands of acupoints along
the meridians, which are associated with specific internal organs or
organ systems. If you are suffering from nausea, for example, needles
might be inserted into acupoints on your wrist, while a vision problem
might be treated with needles in the foot (Ear, scalp, and hand points
are also commonly used by some practitioners). TCM proponents believe
that acupuncture stimulates the body's internal regulatory system and
nurtures a natural healing response.
Same as TCM, acupuncture was developed
on the basis of experience. There have been trillions of successful
cases effective for a number of disorders in the history of acupuncture
practice. Although Western science has neither proven nor accepted the
notion of Qi, accumulating evidence indicates that acupuncture leads to
real physiologic changes in the body. Numerous studies have shown, for
example, that inserting needles into the skin stimulates nerves in the
underlying muscles. This stimulation, researchers suggest, sends
impulses up the spinal cord to a relatively primitive part of the brain
known as the limbic system, as well as to the midbrain and the
pituitary gland. Somehow that signaling leads to the release of
endorphins and monoamines, chemicals that block pain signals in the
spinal cord and brain.
In
one study, researchers using brain imaging discovered that acupuncture
can alter blood circulation within the brain, increasing the blood flow
to the thalamus, the area of the brain that relays pain and other
sensory messages.
Hundreds
of studies are now ongoing in the U.S. and elsewhere seeking to prove
the usefulness of acupuncture for various ailments.
What can You Expect?
On
your first visit to an acupuncturist, the practitioner will take a
thorough medical history, then may touch pulses on each wrist, examine
your tongue, take note of how your breath and body smell, and "palpate"
(or feel) certain areas of your body. Depending on your ailment, you
may also have your first acupuncture treatment at this time. In
general, visits occur once or twice a week over several months until
therapeutic results are achieved.
While
the needles can feel uncomfortable at times, they rarely hurt. They are
very thin (only about three times the thickness of a human hair and
much finer than the hypodermic needles used to give injections) and are
designed to enter the skin with little resistance. Once the needles are
inserted (generally from one to 15 are used), the acupuncturist may
twist them manually or send a weak electrical current through them to
increase the energy flow. The needles may be left in for 15 to 40
minutes, depending on the ailment. Some practitioners also use
moxibustion, which involves burning herbs (primarily the dried herb
mugwort), near acupoints, to hasten healing.
Different
people experience different sensations from acupuncture. Some describe
a tingling pins-and-needles feeling, others may feel numbness or
nothing at all. Most find the sessions relaxing, and some fall asleep
during or immediately after treatment.
Some
patients notice rapid improvement after just a few sessions. In those
whose conditions have taken years to develop, treatment may take
longer.
Health Benefit
While
scores of illnesses have traditionally been treated by acupuncture in
Asia, its primary use in the United States has been to relieve chronic
pain caused by such ailments as arthritis, headache, PMS, and back
pain, and to assist withdrawal from addictions such as drug and alcohol
dependency. Some practitioners also received reasonable good effects
for treating a number of chronic internal medical disorders. Now more
innovative applications for acupuncture are being explored by both
conventional and alternative practitioners, including its use as an
analgesic to reduce pain during surgery.
In
1997, an advisory panel for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
evaluated hundreds of acupuncture studies and concluded that the
therapy is an effective treatment for postoperative pain after dental
surgery and for nausea induced by chemotherapy, pregnancy ("morning
sickness"), and anesthesia. The NIH panel also called acupuncture a
useful adjunct and acceptable treatment for a variety of conditions,
including fibromyalgia, stroke rehabilitation, headache, and carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Cautions
Similar
to any other medical treatments, acupuncture may also have side
effects. Please be sure to read the patient consent form carefully and
do tell your acupuncture physician if you have or have had Hepatitis B
and other contagious diseases, or if you are pregnant or think you may
be. People on anticoagulant drugs may bleed easily even when thin
acupuncture needles are inserted. Consult your primary physician before
having acupuncture if you are on such medication.
Acupuncture and TCM in WHO
The
World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the capacity of acupuncture
and TCM for treating over 43 common disorders including:
- Gastrointestinal
Disorders, such as food allergies, peptic ulcer, chronic diarrhea,
constipation, indigestion, gastrointestinal weakness, anorexia and
gastritis.
- Urogenital Disorders, including stress incontinence, urinary tract infections, and sexual dysfunction.
- Gynecological
Disorders, such as irregular, heavy, or painful menstruation,
infertility in women and men, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Respiratory Disorders, such as emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies and bronchitis.
- Disorders
of the Bones, Muscles, Joints and Nervous System, such as arthritis,
migraine headaches, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness and low back, neck
and shoulder pain.
- Circulatory Disorders, such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arteriosclerosis and anemia.
- Emotional and Psychological Disorders, including depression and anxiety.
- Addictions, such as alcohol, nicotine and drugs.
- Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders.
- Supportive therapy for other chronic and painful debilitating disorders.
Our Expertise
- Internal Medical Problems: Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); Gastrointestinal Disorders including peptic
ulcer, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gastrointestinal
weakness, anorexia and gastritis; Stress and Emotional Disorders;
Sinusitis, asthma and allergies; Hypertension and Post-stroke
rehabilitation.
- Chronic Pains: migraine,
headache, hypochondriac pains, neck and shoulder pains, lower back
pains, leg, knee and ankle pains as well as fibromyalgia.
- Gynecological Disorders: such as irregular or painful menstruation, infertility in women and men, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and Menopausal Syndrome.
- Side Effects of Chemo/Radiotherapy: Please click here to see our special issue for Cancer Supportive Therapy for reference.
- Chinese Herbs: including established and individualized herbal remedies.
- QiGong Consulting.
Having an Acupuncture Treatment
During
the first consultation, the practitioner aims to determine the nature
of the disharmony in the patient's mind/body by careful questioning and
observation. A detailed understanding is required of the patient's
symptoms, past medical and family history, lifestyle and diet, behavior
of all the systems in the body such as digestion and circulation, sleep
patterns, and emotional feelings. Diagnosis may also include
examination of the tongue for its structure, color and coating and of
the pulses at the wrists, which are felt for their quality, rhythm and
strength. What the practitioner is looking for is not symptoms in
isolation, but rather a pattern into which is woven a total picture of
the patient.
Having
decided on the cause or causes of the problem, the points and
appropriate method of treatment are selected according to various rules
governing the movement of Qi in the body.
During
acupuncture treatment, needles are either inserted for a second or two
or left in place for up to 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the effect
required. During this time there may be a heavy sensation in the limbs
and a pleasant feeling of relaxation. Sometimes, gentle electrical
stimuli may be used through the needles, giving a sensation of tingling
or buzzing. With your informed consent, a combination of acupuncture
with moxibustion, cupping and other treatment methods may be applied to
enhance the treatment effects. For children or for people who have a
genuine fear of needles, acupressure may be used to replace acupuncture.
Treatment
with acupuncture can produce rapid results but more often it requires a
number of treatments over a period of time. Usually treatments are once
or twice a week, but they can be less frequent. Sometimes the effect is
quite dramatic and a patient may only need one or two treatments.
Sometimes the effect is subtle and may require treatment for several
months. There is, however, usually some change after about five
treatments.
Your Health – Our Mission
Human
body is given as a complete and automatic bio-complex that possesses
the nature not only to automatically balance each other internally
between different organs and systems, but also integrate as a whole to
externally sense, defense or properly reflect to environment. Western
medical sciences are excellent in experimentally studying each tiny
part of the human body in separate but are poor in understanding how
the body function as a whole in physiological and pathological
conditions. In contrast, TCM is developed on the basis of observation,
analysis and summary of trillions of different cases of direct medical
trials (like modern human study) over several thousand years. It is an
experiential science that views human body as a whole with constantly
flowing Qi (energy) in a
defaulted way and considers that all illness is the result of an
imbalance of energy and/or dysregulated energy flows. Using a variety
of treatment methods, TCM emphasizes to stimulate and enhance the
intrinsic self-balancing mechanisms to first achieve internal health
and become strong to defense and fight external insults
automatically. Therefore, both Western medicine and TCM contribute to
maintaining human health but in different aspects with different focuses.
TCM, in particular, has its unique advantage in treating diseases with
internal causes.
If
you are sick or suffering from an illness that Western Medicine has
failed to provide you effective treatments, it is the mission of our
Clinic to alleviate your suffering, not only simply relieve symptoms,
but also maximally correct the internal causes of the illness.
Even
if you are not “ill” or do not have a “disease” in the sense of Western
Medicine (for example, you may simply feel unwell or less healthy than
you used to be), our clinic is more than happy to help you to
re-balance your Yin-Yang and strengthen your energy (Qi) so as to improve your health and prevent a disease from happening.
We
wish to work with you and your Western medicine doctors together to
provide you a holistic health service, to make a better, healthier
world, and to have people make informed decisions about their health. To
this means, we promote a complete and open policy of freedom of choice
for health care, not only to choose acupuncture or TCM, but whatever
care is best suited for each individual problem.
Edited by Cathay Fung, M.D., L.Ac, Dipl. CH, NCCAOM. Copyright© reserved.
