Chinese Medicine Treatment

The below methods are considered as part of the Chinese medicine treatment:

1. Chinese herbal medicine(中藥)
2. Acupuncture and Moxibustion (針灸)
3. Die-da or Tieh Ta (跌打)
4. Chinese food therapy (食療)
5. Tui na (推拿) - massage therapy
6. Qigong (氣功) and related breathing and meditation exercise
7. Physical exercise such as T'ai Chi Ch'uan (太極拳) and other Chinese martial arts
8. Mental health therapy such as Feng shui (風水) and Chinese astrology

Specific treatment methods are grouped into these branches. Cupping and Gua Sha (刮痧) are part of Tui Na. Auriculotherapy (耳燭療法) comes under the heading of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Die-da or Tieh Ta (跌打) are practitioners who specialize in healing trauma injury such as bone fractures, sprains, and bruises. Some of these specialists may also use or recommend other disciplines of Chinese medical therapies (or Western medicine in modern times) if serious injury is involved. Such practice of bone-setting is not common in the West.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a range of traditional medical practices originating in China that developed over several thousand years. TCM practices include theories, diagnosis and treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage; often Qigong is also strongly affiliated with TCM. TCM is a form of so-called Oriental medicine, which includes other traditional East Asian medical systems such as traditional Japanese and Korean medicine.

TCM theory asserts that processes of the human body are interrelated and in constant interaction with the environment. Signs of disharmony help the TCM practitioner to understand, treat and prevent illness and disease.

In the West, traditional Chinese medicine is considered alternative medicine. In mainland China and Taiwan, TCM is considered an integral part of the health care system. For example, TCM treatments may be prescribed to counter the side effects of chemotherapy, cravings and withdrawal symptoms of drug addicts, and a variety of chronic conditions.

TCM theory is based on a number of philosophical frameworks including the theory of Yin-yang, the Five Elements, the human body Meridian system, Zang Fu organ theory, and others. Diagnosis and treatment are conducted with reference to these concepts. TCM does not operate within the contemporary scientific paradigm but some practitioners make efforts to bring practices into a biomedical and evidence-based medicine tramework.

Traditional Asian Health Practices

At the dawn of the 21st century, there has been a rapid revival of Asian traditional health practices in both Asia and beyond. From India to the Philippines, to China and the western world, Asian traditional health practices and herbal medicines have taken centre stage and become alternative modes of healings to the well-established cosmopolitan and clinical-based treatments.

Some of the traditional Asian health practices have been used as complementary and alternative medicine, for example, the use of traditional Chinese medicine. Western health practices are starting to look into traditional Asian practices. Researchers are still doing research on combining Asian traditional treatment and Western medicines.

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Welcome to my Blog

Welcome!

I'm glad to be here to post my first blog. This will be a challenge for me but I'm looking forward to learn more new things.

I did my nursing in Australia and now I'm back in Malaysia to work in Penang Adventist Hospital. Since I have the chance to experience two different cultures, I'd decided to choose this topic 'Impact of traditional Asian health practices in the western world'. I'm sure we all will be able to learn together and share our experience together.

Look forward to share together.