Methods of TCM
- Acupuncture
- Otopuncture & Aural Acu-points Stimulation
- Moxibusion
- Modern Cupping
- Massage
- Herbal Medicine
- Qi Gong
The practice of acupuncture and moxibustion is based on the theory of meridians. According to this theory, qi (vital energy) and blood circulate in the body through a system of channels called meridians, connecting internal organs with external organs or tissues. By stimulating certain points of the body surface reached by meridians through needling or moxibustion, the flow of qi and blood can be regulated and diseases are thus treated. These stimulation points are called acupuncture points, or acupoints.
Acupoints reside along more than a dozen of major meridians. There are 12 pairs of regular meridians that are systematically distributed over both sides of the body, and two major extra meridians running along the midlines of the abdomen and back. Along these meridians more than three hundred acupoints are identified, each having its own therapeutic action. For example, the point Hegu (LI 4), located between the first and second metacarpal bones, can reduce pain in the head and mouth. The point Shenmen (HT 7), located on the medial end of the transverse crease of the wrist, can induce tranquilization.
In acupuncture clinics, the practitioner first selects appropriate acupoints along different meridians based on identified health problems. Then very fine and thin needles are inserted into these acupoints. The needles are made of stainless steel and vary in length from half an inch to 3 inches. The choice of needle is usually determined by the location of the acupoint and the effects being sought. If the point is correctly located and the required depth reached, the patient will usually experience a feeling of soreness, heaviness, numbness and distention. The manipulator will simultaneously feel that the needle is tightened.
The needles are usually left in situ for 15-30 minutes. During this time the needles may be manipulated to achieve the effect of tonifying the qi. Needle manipulations are generally involved with lifting, thrusting, twisting and rotating, according to treatment specifications for the health problem. Needling may also be activated by electrical stimulation, a procedure usually called electro-acupuncture, in which manipulations are attained through varying frequencies and voltages.
Treatment protocols, frequency and duration are a matter of professional judgment of the practitioner, in consultation with the patient. A common course of treatment may initially involve between ten and fifteen treatments spaced at approximately weekly intervals, and spread out to monthly later in a program.
A professional practitioner will always warn the patient of the possibility of exacerbation at the start of a course of treatment. The patients may find that in the short term after treatment, the symptoms may in fact get worse before an improvement sets in. This is a quite common feature of acupuncture treatment.
Patients should inquire about types of needles used prior to treatment. Most practitioners now use pre-packed and sterilized disposable needles that are only once. If re-useable needles are being used patients should ask to see the sterilization procedures that the practitioner adopts.
The effectiveness of an acupuncture treatment is strongly dependent upon an accurate Chinese medical diagnosis. The needling skills and techniques of the practitioner will also influence greatly the effectiveness of the outcome. Acupuncture can be remarkably effective in many conditions, but in the West, patients often use acupuncture as the last option for their long-term chronic problems. Therefore we sometimes see the treatment as slow and in some cases of marginal benefit. With the gradual establishment of acupuncture as the treatment of choice for many people, the effectiveness of the approach with acute as well as with more chronic conditions is being recognized.
Acupuncture is often conducted in combination with Moxibustion. Moxibustion is the process where moxa sticks, made of dry moxa leaves (Artemisia vulgaris) is ignited and held about an inch above the patients?s skin over specific acupuncture points. Moxa is available in a loose form that can be used for making moxa cones. Alternatively, moxa is packed and rolled in a long stick like a large cigar, about 15-20 cm long and about 1-2 cm in diameter. The purpose of this process is to warm the qi and blood in the channels. Moxibustion is most commonly used when there is the requirement to expel cold and damp or to tonify the qi and blood. A single treatment of moxibustion usually lasts 10-15 minutes. Needle-warming moxibustion combines needling and moxibustion by attaching a moxa stub (about 2 cm long) to an inserted needle. This method enhances the effects of needling and is often used to treat chronic rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis. (TOP)
Otopuncture & Aural Acu-points Stimulation
From a TCM viewpoint, the ears are an important pivot point for the meridians to communicate with each other. When the organs are in disharmony, it will be reflected on the auricle of the ear. Individuals with obesity or hyperlipidemia (excessive total fat in the blood) usually have spleen and kidney disharmonies. Therefore, physicians can regulate these organs' functions by stimulating the acu-points on the ears. The therapy can be employed two ways: needling or padding with herbal seeds.
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Selected aural acu-points in weight loss
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Otopuncture: some of the common auricle acu-points selected for needling are: large intestine, lung, triple burner, endocrine, sub-cortex, hunger center and thirst center (See graphic for reference.) Select two acu-points daily or every two days; apply to alternate ear each time. Ten times is usually considered one course.
The method of padding with herbal seeds is very popular; it is convenient, cheap, and non-invasive and can have significant results if the individual is compliant with the regimen. Seeds such as vaccaria (wang bu liu zi), mustard (bai jie zi), rape (cai zi) and Garden Balsam (jix-xing-zi) are stuck onto sticker pads and are usually obtained through Chinese medicine shops. The pads are placed on the appropriate accupoints on the ears and left for three days. Everyday, 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner, individuals press and rub the seed pads for two minutes until sensations like heat and distending pain are felt in order to stimulate the acu-points. After three days a new set of seed pads are placed on the ears. When the seed pads are changed ten times (30 days) it is considered one course. Proper results can be seen in two to four courses.
The auricle acu-points generally selected for padding are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, hunger center, thirst center, spleen, lung, adrenal gland, endocrine, sub-cortex, sympathetic, constipation and triple burner (See graphic for reference.)
Generally speaking, combining the application of both body acupuncture and otopuncture has a better result. (TOP)
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion." The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health.
How does moxibustion work? Does it hurt?
There are two types of moxibustion: direct and indirect. In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. This type of moxibustion is further categorized into two types: scarring and non-scarring. With scarring moxibustion, the moxa is placed on a point, ignited, and allowed to remain onto the point until it burns out completely. This may lead to localized scarring, blisters and scarring after healing. With non-scarring moxibustion, the moxa is placed on the point and lit, but is extinguished or removed before it burns the skin. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain, blistering or scarring unless the moxa is left in place for too long.
Indirect moxibustion is currently the more popular form of care because there is a much lower risk of pain or burning. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red. Another form of indirect moxibustion uses both acupuncture needles and moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupoint and retained. The tip of the needle is then wrapped in moxa and ignited, generating heat to the point and the surrounding area. After the desired effect is achieved, the moxa is extinguished and the needle(s) removed.
What is moxibustion used for?
In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or stagnant condition. The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and qi. In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. Other studies have shown that moxibustion increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with traditional acupuncture. (TOP)
During the 20th century, new glass cups were developed .Common drinking glasses have been used for this purpose, but thick glass cupping devices have also been produced and are preferred.The introduction of glass cups helped greatly, since the pottery cups broke very easily and the bamboo cups would deteriorate with repeated heating.Glass cups were easier to make than the brass or iron cups that were sometimes used as sturdy substitutes for the others; further, one could see the skin within the cup and evaluate the degree of response.
The glass cups are depressurized by providing some fire in the cup to heat up the air within just prior to placement. For example, hold a cotton ball dipped in alcohol with a pincer, ignite it, hold it in the cup, then rapidly apply to the skin; this is called shanhuofa (flash-fire cupping).Sometimes, a small amount alcohol is put in the cup and lit; this method is called dijiufa (alcohol-fire cupping).
At the end of the 20th century, another method of suction was developed in which a valve was constructed at the top of the jar and a small hand-operated pump is attached so that the practitioner could suction out air without relying on fire (thus avoiding some hazards and having greater control over the amount of suction).Both glass and plastic cups were developed, though the plastic ones are not very well suited to moving along the skin once in place, as the edges are not entirely smooth and the strength of the cups is limited.The modern name for cupping is baguanfa (suction cup therapy).
In order to allow easy movement of the glass cups along the skin, some oil is applied.Medicated massage oils (with extracts of herbs) are particularly useful for this purpose.Since the cups are applied at room temperature, the indication of removing cold from the channels is no longer as applicable, at least to stationary cups.There is some friction generated with moving cups, so that there is a small but significant amount of heat applied by that method, especially if a warming oil is used as lubricant.
Generally, the cup is left in place for about 10 minutes (typical range is 5-15 minutes).The skin becomes reddened due to the congestion of blood flow.The cup is removed by pressing the skin along side it to allow some outside air to leak into it, thus equalizing the pressure and releasing it.Some bruising along the site of the rim of the cup is expected.
Today, cupping is mainly recommended for the treatment of pain, gastro-intestinal disorders, lung diseases (especially chronic cough and asthma), and paralysis, though it can be used for other disorders as well.The areas of the body that are fleshy are preferred sites for cupping.Contraindications for cupping include: areas of skin that are inflamed; cases of high fever, convulsions or cramping, or easy bleeding (i.e., pathological level of low platelets); or the abdominal area or lower back during pregnancy.Movement of the cups is limited to fleshy areas: the movement should not cross bony ridges, such as the spine.Following are some of the recommended treatment sites for various disorders. (TOP)
TCM massage also called tu-na has been applied for 2000 years; it is widely used in Chinese medicine. The techniques are simple and fairly easy to manipulate and is especially good for localized slimming. It can be used on its own, but it is usually used in conjunction with other treatment strategies.
TCM massage therapy promotes qi (vital energy) and blood flow, helps to remove obstructions in the meridians and relieves stagnation. Different forms of pressure are applied depending on whether the aim is to tonify, to reduce, or to achieve a relative neutral, calming effect. Massage helps restore localized blood circulation and increases the metabolic rate and lipid break down in the targeted area.
Different forms of massage manipulations.
| 1. | Topical massage These are very simple and straightforward massage techniques. Choose the appropriate regions, e.g. abdomen, hip, waist and thigh, use a hot towel to rub and scrub the area first, and then apply the recommended amount of herbal paste on it. The strength of pressure depends on the thickness of fat tissues and individual's condition. Basically a person should feel comfortable after massage. The usual manipulations are pressing, rubbing, pushing and grasping techniques. Each session should last for 10-15 minutes and be performed two to three times daily. |
| 2. | Massage of acu-points This massage technique concentrates on applying pressure to specific acu-points in order to achieve specific systemic changes in the body. The choice of acu-points is based on the type of diagnostic pattern that is used in acupuncture treatment. It is suitable for localized slimming. For example, the protocol for the abdominal region is: Lying flat on the back, untie the belt and relax the whole body. Apply pressure on acu-points such as zhong-wan, zhong-shu and guan-yuen by pinching, rubbing, vibrating and pressing with palm manipulation. Sometimes digital-striking on the acu-points is used in order to reinforce the stimulations. Each session should last for ten minutes and be performed once daily. |
| 3. | Massage follows the meridians Physicians massage areas through which the meridians run, and especially treat the acu-points along them. The meridians mainly focused on are the spleen, stomach, lung and bladder. Physicians usually manipulate them by using pushing, grasping, pressing, striking, pinching, rubbing and rolling techniques.
For example, individuals lying flat on their back are massaged along the lung, spleen and kidney meridians; the usual selected acu-points are: zhong-fu, yun-men, ti-wei, sheng-wei, fu-jie, fu-she, zhong-wan, qi-hai and guan-yuan. Individuals lying face down are massaged along the bladder meridian; the usual selected acu-points are pi-shu, wei-shu and shen-shu. Massage should occur three times weekly; four weeks is considered one course. |
Although massage is generally very safe, some precautions should be noted. Never use massage on someone who is suffering from severe cardiovascular or liver disease; avoid massage on areas where there are lumps, tumors or skin lesions. Take extreme care with massage during pregnancy or menstruation and in elderly persons. A professional massagist should be sought where possible. (TOP)
Together with acupuncture, herbal medicine is a major pillar of Chinese medicine. The Chinese pharmacopoeia lists over 6,000 different medicinal substances in terms of their properties and the disharmonies that they were helpful with. There are about 600 different herbs in common use today.
Herbs are classified in two major dimensions. The first dimension refers to the temperature characteristics of the herb, namely hot (re), warm (wen), cold (han), neutral (ping), and aromatic. The second dimension refers to the taste property of the herb, namely sour (suan), bitter (ku), sweet (gan), spicy (xin), and salty (xian).
The various combinations of temperature and taste give the herb its properties that can influence the yin and yang energy patterns of the body. For example, sour, bitter and salty tastes are related to yin, whereas acrid, sweet are attributed to yang. There are herbs that will warm, herbs that will cool, herbs that will tonify, herbs that will move stagnation and so on. It is also important to understand that herbs do not possess one quality. They are most always a combination of properties and temperatures and may reach one to as many as twelve organ systems. Warm herbs can be used with individuals suffering from Heat disorders, but the herb with warm energy must be mixed with herbs with Cool/Cold energy so that the overall balance of the mixture is on the Cool side. Likewise, Cool herbs can be used with people with Cold disorders as long as the overall balance of the mixture is warm. Neutral herbs are those that are neither hot nor cold, so they are often considered gentle herbs. There are not too many neutral herbs in the pharmacopoeia.
As for the tastes, sour constricts or consolidates. Herbs of sour taste are often indicated for use in perspiration due to deficiency, protracted cough, chronic diarrhea, seminal and urinary incontinences, leakage or spermatic fluid, and other conditions related to hypo-metabolism (under-performance). In traditional Chinese medicine, they are seen as deficient or cold patterns.
Bitter possesses the function of clearing heat, purging the bowels, lowering the qi, improving appetite and drying dampness or wetness. Bitter herbs are commonly used in fire-heat patterns, such as the acute stage of infectious disease, and the patterns of damp-heat or damp-cold, such as in arthritis or leucorrhoea.
Sweet has the function of toning, improving, moistening and harmonizing many of the important systems of the body, including the digestive, respiratory, immune and endocrine systems. Sweet tastes also relieve urgency and inhibit pain due to the constrictive action of muscles. They are commonly used for treating deficiency patterns such as dry cough, and dysfunction of the gastro-intestinal tract such as spleen and stomach disharmony.
Spicy disperses, circulates qi and vitalizes blood. This group of herbs can stimulate the sweat glands to perspire, circulate qi, activate the function of meridians and organs and vitalize blood to promote blood circulation. As a whole, spicy herbs have the overall effect of activating and enhancing metabolism. Spicy herbs are commonly used in the treatment of external patterns (catching a cold), when the function of the meridian and organs is weakened and circulation of blood has been impeded. In traditional Chinese medical terminology, this is the stage of qi stagnation and blood cloudiness.
Salty herbs have the function of softening firm masses and fibrous adhesions. The salty taste purges and opens the bowels. Salty agents are often indicated in sores, inflammatory masses, cysts, and connective tissue proliferation. (TOP)
Herbal Formulas
The unique characteristic of Chinese herbal medicine is the degree to which formulation is done. In other forms of herbal medicine, especially western herbal medicine, herbs are often delivered singly or combined into very small formulas of herbs with the same function. In contrast, Chinese herbalists rarely prescribe a single herb to treat a condition. They create formulas instead. A formula usually contains at least four to twenty herbs.
Herbal formulas can be delivered in all manners of preparation. Pre-made formulas are available as pills, tablets, capsules, powders, alcohol-extracts, water-extracts, etc. Most of these formulas are very convenient as they do not necessitate patient preparation and are easily taken. However, the concentration of the herbs in these products is low and don't allow the practitioner to adjust the contents or dosages. These products are usually not as potent as the traditional preparation of decoction.
Decoction is the traditional method of preparing herbal medicine. A decoction is a concentrated form of tea. The practitioner weighs out a day's dosage of each herb and combines them in a bag. A patient is given a bag for each day the herbal formula will be taken. The herbs are then boiled in water by the patient at home. The boiling process takes from 30-60 minutes and the resulting decoction will be consumed several times during the day.
Another modern way of delivering herbs is through granulated herbs, which are highly concentrated powdered extracts. These powders are made by first preparing the herbs as a traditional decoction. The decoction is then dehydrated to leave a powder residue. Practitioners can then mix these powders together for each patient into a custom formula. The powder is then placed in hot water to recreate the decoction. This eliminates the need to prepare the herbs at home, but still retains much of the original decoction's potency. (TOP)
Qigong Therapy
Similar to the theory of yin-yang, qi was derived from ancient Chinese philosophy, which believes 
everything is related. In traditional Chinese medicine, qi is treated as the fundamental substance of the human body, and its movements explain various life processes. Qi in its physiological sense constitutes, replenishes and nourishes the human body. Qi is often called ?vital energy? because it is believed to be the motive energy derived from the essential substance for various vital processes.
Qi is often classified according to what it acts on. For example, the heart-qi refers to the force with which the heart works and the blood circulates, so it regulates the cardiac function; the stomach-qi refers to the force with which the stomach functions, so it regulates the gastric function. The qi that maintains normal functioning for resistance against disease is called zheng-qi, which means genuine energy or body resistance. The qi that warms the body and maintains normal body temperature is called yang-qi, which is similar to the heat energy. Metabolism of materials and energy also depends on the action of qi, including metabolism of blood, fluids and other essential materials.
Qi is formed from the inhaled oxygen, the dietary nutrients, and the inborn primordial qi stored in the kidney, which may be genetically related. Qi circulates along meridians and collaterals. A healthy body requires normal circulations of qi. Health problems occur if the flow of qi is stagnated. The circulation of qi is also closely related to mental conditions. Emotional instability may cause the stagnation of qi. For example, anger may lead to dizziness, headache, distress in the hypochondriac regions, or distention in the stomach with impairment of appetite. On the other hand, the exercise of mind can help the circulation of qi, which is the purpose qigong exercise.
General methods of qigong
Qigong is an exercise to regulate the mind and breathing in order to control or promote the flow of qi. Since qi plays such an important role in the vital processes of the human body, the regulation of qi flow is therefore be used to preserve health and treat disease. Medical qigong, the qi exercise practiced to prevent and treat disease, is different from general physical exercise. While physical exercise is aimed at building up health or restoring physical functioning by enhancing strength, medical qigong is focused on the mobilization of functional potentialities by regulating the mind. In other words, physical exercise is purely somatic, while qigong exercise is generally psycho-somatic. Another important difference between physical exercise and qigong is that physical exercise expends energy by tensing the muscles and accelerating the heart beat and respirations, while qigong works to ease, smooth and regulate breathing to store up or accumulate energy in the body. (TOP)
Medical qigong can be divided into two main categories: internal qigong, which is practiced by the patients themselves to preserve and promote their own health, and external qigong, which is performed by a qigong master on a person with health problems. Practicing internal qigong requires regulation of the mind, body and respiration. There are many kinds of internal qigong, some with motion and others without. Qigong can be practiced while sitting still, standing upright, or lying on the back or side. The basic requirement is to stay comfortable and relaxed.
" Acupuncture: the insertion of fine needles at designated acupuncture points to treat and improve your health.
" Herbal medicine: prescription and usage of herbal based medications to restore and maintain your health.
" Manual therapy: Chinese massage and joint manipulation techniques to treat, relax and improve your health.
" Exercise therapy: exercises to stretch and strengthen muscle, balance posture and improve lifestyle.
" Nutritional therapy: dietary and lifestyle advices to improve and maintain healthy lifestyle based upon TCM philosophy.
" Counseling therapy: advising you on interaction of the mind, body and spirit to treat and improve your health. (TOP)
