Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): a Holistic approach to Health and Well-being

 

Eva & Saba Gervasio 

The Origins and Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The origins of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remain an enigma. 

Its history, tracing back to China around three thousand years ago, is steeped in myths and legends. The language of TCM is symbolic, serving as a bridge between the visible and invisible, linking the mechanisms and structures of life to the archetypes that underpin it. This symbolic reading portrays the human body as a reflection of the universe, a universe devoid of transcendence. Both the microcosm and macrocosm embody the same principles and are governed by the same laws.
TCM offers a holistic worldview, encompassing life and humanity. It stems from a comprehensive understanding of natural laws, positing that our universe and all living beings originate from the same fundamental blueprint and follow the same rules. TCM provides a unique interpretation of the human body, where symptoms represent its language, allowing practitioners to connect a patient’s signs with their true nature, constitution, temperament, psychology, and experiences.
Each individual is unique, and accessing this uniqueness is the core principle of TCM. 
This perspective makes it clear that the concept of disease in TCM is vastly different from that in Western medicine. Disease is seen as a state of disrupted energy circulation, both qualitatively and quantitatively. “Human energy circulates within the body according to the same laws that govern nature. If this circulation is disturbed, the person is ill” (Ling Shu, Chapter 70). Disease is considered an energetic imbalance unique to the individual at that specific moment, influenced by multiple factors, including psychological balance and proper emotions, which are essential for maintaining and regaining health, viewed as a dynamic equilibrium of our energy.

Key Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The general theory of TCM is based on three major theoretical pillars:

• Yin-Yang Theory

• Five Elements Theory

• Qi Theory

Yin-Yang Theory

An ancient concept, Yin-Yang theory underpins all physiology, pathology, and therapy in Chinese medicine. It is a simple yet profound idea that every manifestation in the universe is characterized by the existence of these two opposing and complementary aspects, which alternate cyclically and together create totality. No entity exists in isolation; everything is interconnected. Nothing is absolute. Yin and Yang must inherently contain the potential for opposition and change. 

The Five Elements Theory

A cornerstone of traditional Chinese thought, the Five Elements—Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth—are understood as movements of energy. These elements categorize the manifestations of reality in a precise spatial and temporal order, which is not rigid but in continuous opposition and transformation, regulated by the Yin-Yang dynamic to construct a model of the Universe’s structure. Spatial relationships are established through cardinal points, and temporal relationships through seasons, with each element assigned a symbolic number. Water, which tends to flow downward, is Yin in nature and corresponds to cold, the north, winter, and midnight. Fire, which rises, is Yang in nature, associated with heat, the south, summer, and noon. Wood represents the east, spring, dawn, and the energetic state of small Yin (growing Yang, diminishing Yin). Metal, situated in the west, represents autumn and the energetic state of small Yin (growing Yin, diminishing Yang). Finally, Earth, an element that interacts directly with the others, is positioned at the center as a general reference, with neutral energy.

The Theory of Qi

The concept of Qi is central to Chinese medical thought and the interpretation that Chinese Medicine gives to the body and mind as a single entity. The infinite variability of universal phenomena results from the continuous aggregation and dispersion of Qi, the vital energy that shapes all phenomena in their various degrees of materialization. Qi is in a constant state of flux and variable aggregation. When Qi condenses, it gives rise to a physical form; when Qi disperses, it gives rise to subtle forms of energy, manifesting simultaneously on both physical and mental-spiritual levels.

Practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine

When you think of Traditional Chinese Medicine, what comes to mind? The most common answer is acupuncture. However, TCM is a rich and multifaceted medicine with a profound holistic vision of the individual, offering various therapeutic strategies following a thorough and unique energetic diagnosis.

• Herbal Medicine (phytotherapy): With a tradition rooted in millennia of experience, herbal medicine is a valuable resource with multiple benefits, ranging from prevention and wellness enhancement to the treatment of chronic disorders. It involves the administration of natural remedies, in the form of tablets or decoctions, chosen based on the specific needs of the patient, who is energetically unique. Some common herbs include Ren Shen (Ginseng), Huang Qi (Astragalus), and Dong Quai (Chinese Angelica), which can be used individually or combined in formulas selected to work synergistically on different causes of illness.

• Dietetics: A practice of longevity in Chinese medical tradition, dietetics is closely connected to pharmacology. The rules applied to dietetics are also valid in pharmacology, meaning that both foods and pharmacological remedies are classified similarly based on nature, taste, and tropism towards one organ or another. This is an energetic dietetics where each food is considered from a completely different perspective than in the West. While in the West we analyze and classify food based on its chemical, physical, and organoleptic properties, and characterize it by its nutritional composition, in Chinese tradition, food is viewed from an exclusively energetic perspective, capable of influencing the body’s balance with beneficial or adverse effects depending on the energetic condition of the person consuming it.
• Therapeutic Massage: Tui Na is an ancient therapeutic massage practice that focuses on using the hands to manipulate, stimulate, and relax the body, restoring energetic balance. It integrates various techniques, including point pressure, stroking, friction, and percussion.

• Medical Exercises: Qi Gong and Taiji Quan: Qi Gong and Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) are considered preventive therapies that focus on movement and breathing to improve the flow of Qi (vital energy), promoting physical and mental balance. Qi Gong can be practiced in a more static manner and is often used as a meditative practice.

• Moxibustion: Often referred to as Moxa, the concept of Moxibustion originates from the Japanese word “mogus,” corresponding to the Chinese term “jiu,” which encompasses the method, material, and action. Moxibustion is an ancient technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves warming acupuncture points using the heat generated by burning processed mugwort leaves. This plant, known for its pungent odor, burns at a constant temperature and is used in the form of cones or cigars.

• Feng Shui: Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of organizing and harmonizing spaces. It involves using specific colors, materials, and shapes to enhance the flow of energy in an environment. Living in harmony with our surroundings can reduce stress and positively influence health and happiness.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Personalized Approach to Health

Western medicine is grounded in the concepts of “measurability” and etiological analysis, which involves examining the causes of disease using as much data as possible from instrumental and biochemical diagnostics. However, this model does not account for individuals who do not present measurable abnormalities but still experience general malaise.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, humans are seen as “concentrations of energy,” described for millennia as integrally connected to the energies of the Universe. Disease is viewed as evidence of an energetic disharmony unique to the individual, leading to the prescription of one or, more often, a combination of specific treatments.

In this blog post, we have highlighted the main concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Read similar posts to learn how to integrate the wisdom of this ancient medical practice to enhance your long-term well-being.

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