Chinese Medicine Therapies to Stay in Balance and Keep Qi Flowing

Chinese medicine is not just acupuncture or herbal therapy. There is a whole host of different therapies the people of China use to stay in balance and keep qi flowing in a proper balance.

Chinese medicine is just one of many alternative medical systems available in the world today according to western medicine. The basic alternative medical systems are:

Ayurveda
Chiropractic
Herbalism
Homeopathy
Naturopathic medicine
Osteopathy
Traditional Chinese medicine
Unani

In China, Traditional Chinese medicine is the main healthcare system.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a theory that says that all of the bodily processes are interrelated and in constant interaction with the environment. When there is an unbalance in the body with the environment, then, illness is present in the body. There are various treatments used to help keep the balance. These treatments are based on philosophical frameworks that include yin and yang, the five elements, the meridian system, Zang Fu organ theory and a few others that are lesser in importance.

The patient is treated as a whole entity and not just a disease. A diagnosis is made by conversation with the patient, by smelling, listening to the sounds the patient makes, by touching the patient and by examination. A pulse reading is also taken as part of the diagnostic process. The patient's tongue is also examined. Temperature of different parts of the body is also noted.

Therapies:

There are usually a combination of therapies involved in the treatment of the patient including Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, die-da or tieh ta, Chinese food therapy, massage therapy (tui na), qigong, physical exercise and also mental health therapy such as feng shui or Chinese astrology is consulted.

Cupping, gua sha and auriculotherapy are done during acupuncture or moxibustion.

Herbal medicine is the treatment of the body by way of medicinal herbal teas, pills and use of food therapy (eating to heal).

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical method of unblocking qi by inserting fine needles at specific points (acupoints) on the body to restore the balance of qi.

Moxibustion is a Chinese medicine therapy that utilizes mugwort herb as a form of heat therapy.

Jin Gu Die Da Wan is a herbal remedy that breaks blood stagnation, helps to tonify blood, stops bleeding, opens the channels and strengthens bones and also relieves pain.

Tui na is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy often used when acupuncture or moxibustion is being performed.

Qigong is a part of Chinese medicine that deals with the coordination of different breathing patterns and series of physical postures and motions of the body for the proper maintenance of the body. These breathing patterns and body postures are also taught as part of the traditional Chinese martial arts training.

Chinese medicine recognizes the importance of a total healthy connection between body, mind, physical exercise, healthy diet, and the balance of life. A combination of therapies is usually prescribed for a patient and not just one as the Chinese believe that one is unbalanced and can falter where when more than one is prescribed they will balance each other weaknesses and have greater strength.