From Ming dynasty texts to present day peer-reviewed journals, there is a long and detailed history of what Chinese herbal medicine is thought to treat.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Qi flows through the body in pathways called meridians (you can think of these meridians as rivers that irrigate and nourish the tissues and internal organs). An obstruction in the free flow of Qi and blood through the meridians leads to illness.
There are 12 regular and two extra meridians – each of which is associated with a yin or yang organ. The yin organs store blood and body fluids, whereas the yang organs rule over communication and movement within the structure of the body. If there is an imbalance in Yin and Yang, this will lead to disharmony and disease.
Chinese herbal medicine is based on the principle of pattern differentiation. This involves identifying a person’s unique set of signs and symptoms, in order to determine the root cause of their imbalance. Unlike conventional medicine, which typically only treats symptoms or diseases, Chinese herbal medicine aims to correct the person’s entire biochemical imbalance using natural plants, minerals, or animal by-products. These ingredients are then mixed together to form a powder that is brewed into a tea.
The use of palpation is also part of the diagnostic process. The abdomen can be used to understand the pathology of disease – the process involves taking the pulse to diagnostically understand the current state of the internal human body system. This allows us to make a pattern diagnosis before formulating a treatment plan.
After taking into account all information gathered during your initial consultation (i.e. a detailed medical history, previous ailments and treatment modalities), the practitioner can select a formula from TCM’s storehouse of approximately 6500 medicines to form your prescription.
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – our friendly practitioners will be happy to discuss your condition with you, and how Chinese herbal medicine can help. We also provide client-focused acupuncture, massage, myotherapy and naturopathy treatment. Enquire today.