Beginners Guide to Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine is a system of healthcare spanning thousands of years. It includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, tuina massage, cupping, moxibustion, dietary advice and lifestyle advice. It encompasses all aspects of life and lifestyle as these impact on our wellbeing.
Chinese Medicine focuses on what is out of balance in our lives and in our bodies and aims to redress that imbalance.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of sterile single use needles into different points of the body.
Every square millimetre of the body is potentially an acupuncture point, but based on thousands of years of practice, today we use the points which have been shown to have the best effect. Within the discipline of acupuncture, there are many different systems. For example scalp acupuncture, ear acupuncture, classical styles of acupuncture, and TCM style acupuncture. All are equally effective. Acupuncture can be used to treat chronic or acute conditions.
Chinese Herbal Medicine involves the use of herbs collated into a formula to address imbalances within the body. Each formula is dispensed by a qualified practitioner and is tailored to each individuals requirements. Formulas will often need to be changed as a persons symptoms change. Herbs can be used to treat chronic or acute conditions.
Tuina massage is designed to restore balance to the musculoskeletal system. The process of life, posture over prolonged periods of time, stress, repetitive movements, over work, over exercising, under work, under exercising, how we eat, what we eat, sleep habits and emotions can all impact the physical body seeding tensions into the muscles which over time evolve into tight stiff muscles, knots in muscles, muscle fatigue, muscle soreness etc. Tuina aims to restore flexibility to the muscles, improve blood flow and healing.
Cupping involves the placement of a cup which is under negative pressure on various muscles throughout the body. It can leave a circular mark similar to a bruise. Several swimmers in the last Olympics had these circular marks on the backs and shoulders. This is used to ease tension in muscles or to gently ease apart muscles that are forming into a knot.
Moxibustion involves the burning of mugwort (in a cigar shaped stick) over various acupuncture points. It is primarily used to introduce warmth into the body for either a local or systemic effect.
Many of these modalities work best when combined - for example it is common to combine acupuncture with cupping and massage or to combine acupuncture with herbal medicine. The strength of Chinese Medicine is in its individualisation of treatment. Your therapist will discuss with you the best approach for your circumstances