Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) includes herbal medicine, acupuncture and acupressure. It is a proven method of treatment which has been used in China for over 3,000 years to deal with complaints for which we now consult a GP.
TCM offers an effective, holistic alternative to western medicine. Treatment is based on the principle that good health is the natural state, promoting harmony within the body. TCM takes into account not only the symptoms, but also all aspects of the person's life, such as age, habits, physical and emotional factors, in order to discover the disharmony that has arisen in the body. The aim of treatment is to correct this disharmony. Western medicine tends towards treatment of the symptoms of illness, whereas TCM is directed at the illness.
Chinese medicine has been applied to the treatment of almost every kind of health problem for thousands of years. Its curative effects are good for a wide range of health problems.
TCM only uses natural materials, such as the bark, roots or flowers of plants. Over the years the Chinese have observed through practice which plants and minerals interact with the human body and illness, whether this be injury, disease or just a common cold. Originally, fingertip pressure and massage was found to stimulate the immune system, and then later needles were found to be more precise.
Treatment using TCM depends on the individual, the doctors will prescribe acupuncture, acupressure, or herbal tea, or a combination of all three. If acupuncture is not your preferred form of treatment, then as with the origins of TCM other treatment can be administered.
The history of western medicine is much younger than that of Chinese medicine. Modern medicine uses many chemicals that have to 'suit all' and can give rise to many side-effects. With TCM being natural, side-effects are no different to that of trying some new food source for the first time. Food for thought...? Pain relief using acupuncture can be instantaneous!
