Chinese Medicine is a system of thought and practice that has evolved over a period of 2000 years.
It is a healthcare approach based on ancient texts, years of clinical research, practice and observation. Although completely different to the type of medicine traditionally used in the West, Chinese medicine works in conjunction and can compliment our system of healthcare. Successful treatments or healing often occurs when a combination of both approaches are utilised.
The approach of Chinese Medicine is based on the theory that symptoms are the result of underlying disharmonies. That to live in good health requires a life of balance and in harmony with the natural cycles of life. Your symptoms are not treated in isolation, rather, a diagnosis is made once information regarding your lifestyle, medical history and diet has been gathered in a detailed consultation. It is believed that illness and pain occur when the body’s qi, or vital energy, cannot flow freely. There can be many reasons for this; emotional and physical stress, poor nutrition, infection or injury are among the most common. Acupuncture, Herbs, Massage, and lifestyle guidance are given when helping a person come back to health.
The main logic underlying traditional Chinese medicine is Yin and Yang theory. Yin and Yang are opposites that compliment one another and are used to demonstrate how things function in relation to themselves. Like the seasons, it is used to demonstrate the continual process of change. The concepts of Qi, Essence, Spirit, and Fluids are the other components of Chinese Medicine that are taken in to account when forming a diagnosis.
For more information about the conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial, please head to the British Acupuncture Council’s research page