Chinese Medicine As A Holistic Concept

Herbal medicine is the use of natural plant substances to treat and prevent illness. Throughout America herbalism is not deemed “scientific” by most regulations but herbalists and few medical professionals argue that with the right knowledge of the use and effects of using herbal remedies could possibly be safer to use and deemed supplementary beneficial. It is time to delve deeper into the process of herbal medicines and more specific details on the healing processes. There is no denying that the evolution of medicine has come a long way through the use of science and manufacturing, but where did it all begin?

The Chinese world today carries with it, an air of mystery; which the Chinese civilization gathered over long periods of time. Their philosophy about life and the methods used in traditional medicine practice constitutes a significant part of Chinese civilization’s history. Part of this traditional medicine, with deep roots in Chinese culture, is the cupping therapy; which has been successfully applied since ancient times and has immediate positive effects. In general when people think of traditional Chinese medicine, the first thing that comes to mind is probably acupuncture or the use of natural herbs as a healing remedy. Cupping therapy is a lesser known treatment. However cupping does get combined with acupuncture in treatments, but it

Thesis: Efficacy of traditional herbal remedies combined with a cultural faith in those traditions, combats modern medicine 's inherent distrust of traditional healing.

Accordingly, when providing care for KAs, healthcare providers must take the patient’s cultural values into consideration. Maintaining a healthy body, is associated with being harmonious, or balanced, with the body and soul. Therefore, when a person is sick, it is attributed to misfortune or bad luck (Children’s Mercy, 2010, p. 25). As a result, alternative medicine, also termed Chinese medicine, is widely used in the Korean culture. Chinese medicine can be traced back to traditional healing from Korea, China, Japan, and other parts of Southeast Asia. In addition, “traditional Chinese medicine is said to rest on several pillars, the important parts of maintaining and restoring health: acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbs, diet and nutrition, exercise, stress reduction,

This class has been vital in providing me with a new perspective on different types of alternative medicine and practices. Although there were some lectures which came across to me as a bit hard to believe, such as Scott Roos’s Ayurveda lecture, in the end all of these different methods of healing and self-betterment gave me a new understanding of the importance of alternative types of medicine. And even with the rather far-fetch topics, if they ultimately have worked for people, even without scientific backing, then who are we to judge what is the right or wrong way. For the most part, my knowledge of medicine was backed mainly by the western medicine I was exposed to growing up,

Most companies are seeing the value in preventive measures and health maintenance. Many individuals who choose alternative therapies say they are more effective and less costly than traditional medicines. Patients have started seeing traditional doctors are being excessively dependent on prescribing drugs and not making an effort to discuss the process, risk, and benefits of drug treatments. Patients are becoming unhappy with traditional treatments due to undesirable side effects, high cost, lack of effectiveness, and loss of doctor-patient relationship. The availability of media has brought attention to the public about the undesirable side effects and cost of traditional medicines which has triggered patients to seek alternatives for prevention and control diseases. It also allows patients autonomy in making health care decisions and provides a sense of control in one’s health. Our American society is multicultural and cultural influences may play in a patients use of alternative therapies that are similar and appropriate with their religious

Most people in the US usually treat their medical problems with prescription drugs, but there are alternative ways to relieve their physical pain. The health care system is making billions of dollars in researching new drugs to treat medical conditions and takes many years of research to find an effective way. Medical professionals have to consider the risk of trying new drugs on patients such as clinical trials to reduce heart disease or other conditions. However, there are other methods that are natural treatments for patients and may be less expensive. This is called holistic medicine can be a successful and a natural way to treat medical conditions in the U.S. by holistic doctors. According to Melinda Ratini, DO, MS

“Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remain the most ancient yet living traditions. There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine (Hindawi)”. Chinese medicine focuses on finding the exact cause of illness instead of just offering a solution. Traditional Chinese medical practices forces on the balance of yin and yang within a person and the five elements ( water, wood, fire, metal, and earth). Metal corresponds to the lungs, wood to the liver, fire to the heart, water to the kidneys and earth to the spleen. Among some of these healing practices, there

The topic in class for this week was herbs and herbal therapy, and guided imagery/visualization. In the textbook on chapter 16, there are so many common herbs and dietary supplements listed. I am familiar with some of the herbs and supplements, such as acai, ginger, lavender, saw palmetto, clover, noni, ginseng, chamomile, garlic, aloe vera, turmeric, fish oil, green tea, cranberry, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, kelp, soy, and cinnamon. However, there are many that I have never even heard about. It was so interesting knowing that there are so many alternative remedies available to us other than the chemical ones.

In this regard, medicinal and aromatic plants are being employed, and they can be said to belong to the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) category under the biologically-based treatments subcategory (Mohsen et al. 785). Mohsen et al. point out that the industrial utilizations of MAPs include herbal teas, galenicals, health, pharmaceutical/industrial auxiliary, traditional medicines, new drugs, and intermediates for the manufacture of drugs (786). As Mohsen et al. further observe, MAPs serve to provide the raw materials required in the pharmaceutical industry where drugs are extracted through the isolation of active chemicals, which is succeeded by decocting them to medication (787). Further, the scholars fittingly observe that over 85% of the general population in the U.S., Africa, and developing countries make use of the complimentary medicines and nonconventional practices adjunctive to typical medical care (Mohsen et al

The complex structure and foreign nature of Tibetan medicine makes it difficult to relate its practices to Western medicine, making it difficult to determine the clinical efficacy of Eastern medical practice. Several clinical analysis studies have recently been performed in order to determine the efficacy of the “holistic” practices of Eastern cultures. Whether the studies show Eastern or Western practices to be more effective, I believe that the most effective treatment should be a combination of both practices.

Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest systems of medicine to exist among humans, and it is extremely prominent to this day. According to legend, the system has been in use since the third millennium BCE. The views of such an old system differ greatly from those found in modern western medicine. Perhaps most prominent is the fact that TCM focuses more on the patient than the illness. The system considers the human to be a microcosm of the universe, implying that the body is affected by the traditional Taoist forces of yin and yang, the five elements, and Qi in the same way the cosmos are. Each of these forces act upon the “zang fu,” or organ system, directly influencing a patient’s health. Healers use qigong to assist in the restoration of stability in the body. Achieving balance, both internally and externally, is the most important aspect of healing in TCM.

As it has been around for centuries, there are many procedures to treat your illness. The theory behind TCM, as said in Encyclopedia of natural Healing, is to start with a symptom, and then look for a specific cause of that illness.One method to help cure your ailment is to use the theory of Yin and Yang.Yin and Yang is what TCM doctors use to help with headaches, smale pain, aches, and tiredness. When a person has too much Yang, headaches will occur along with pain. If you have too much yin, you will experience tiredness or chills. Another popular method of TCM is acupuncture, a very common one this day. It is used to cure pain, and disease. The way it is used is based on the theory of meridians. Meridians are channels throughout the body where your qi can be blocked (Williams 47). Once your qi is blocked, you will experience a multitude of ailments. This is where acupuncture comes into play. TCM doctors lie you down on a table and then proceed to stick thin needles into your body where the meridians lie. By doing this, your qi will be unblocked and your symptoms and will quickly dissipate. Another common remedy are herbal concoctions, mixtures of different plants and animals to cure your ailment. Most herbal remedies consist of a chief, deputy, assistant, and an envoy (Schoenbeck 2035). Each mixture is different for every illness

These therapies have proved to be of much benefit in supporting the normal healing course of the body. Even though there are many modern alternative remedies, with different beliefs, all of them operate under some common principles. One of these principles is that the body has the capacity to heal naturally and maintain stability (Paquette, 2000). The other one is that adverse health conditions can occur as a result of factors emanating from mind, emotions and the body. Alternative medicine, according to Goldberg, Trivieri and Anderson, (2002), focuses on determining the chief cause of a particular condition, and dealing with the whole person rather that concentrating on symptoms. If a person pays close attention to his/her health he/she can contribute to his/her wellbeing. Alternative medicine holds firmly to the principle that one treatment cannot be used for all people even though they may be suffering from the same condition. Each and every person as per alternative medicine has distinct bodily, mind and spiritual make up (Goldberg, Trivieri and Anderson, 2002).

Modern medicine and healthcare system have categorized herbal medicine as a natural remedy used when people can’t afford to purchase conventional drugs. They are perceived inferior because they cost less but the health benefits are endless. However, there have been various situations and instances that prove that herbal medicine is good for health.