Chinese believe that health is about aligning oneself with QI, the viral energy that flows through the body.
The human body is a miniature version of the larger, surrounding universe.
Harmony between two opposing yet complementary forces, called yin and yang, supports health, and disease results from an imbalance between these forces.
Five elements—fire, earth, wood, metal, and water—symbolize all phenomena, including the stages of human life, and explain the functioning of the body and how it changes during disease.
Yin balance prevents disease and enhances immunity.
Chinese medicine offers different ways to stay healthy including:
- Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tui na (Chinese therapeutic massage), dietary therapy, and tai chi and qi gong (practices that combine specific movements or postures.)
- Acupuncture is to treat to restore the balance of the yin and yang energy.
Herbs and meditation enhance the yin/yang balance), mind therapy and self-awareness.
Benefits
- Reduce your stress and anxiety
- Help you cope with depression
- Assist with chronic pain management
- Improve your sleep
- Boost your immunity
- Lower your blood pressure
- Foster a healthier self-esteem
- Help you stop smoking and fight other addictions
- Ease the stress associated with chronic health conditions like ulcerative colitis and cancer
Chinese herbals include healing teas.
ARE YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT USING TCM? Before using Chinese medicine, consider the following.
- Do not use TCM to replace effective conventional care or as a reason to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.
- Look for published research studies on TCM for the health condition that interests you.
- It is better to use TCM herbal remedies under the supervision of your health care provider or a professional trained in herbal medicine than to try to treat yourself.
- Ask about the training and experience of the TCM practitioner you are considering. You can find information about the credentials and licensing of complementary health practitioners on the NCCIH Web site at nccih.nih.gov/ health/decisions/credentialing.htm.
- If you are pregnant or nursing, or are thinking of using TCM to treat a child, you should be especially sure to consult your (or the child’s) health care provider.
- Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.