Chinese Medicine, a Healing Art and a Science

Chinese Medicine is a complex and complete medical system for preserving health and curing diseases. It treats the body, the mind and the spirit as a whole. It combines several healing arts, such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage (Tuina), diet, breathing and meditating exercises (Qigong, TaiChi). Evolving over the last 2000 years, physicians have observed both Men and Nature, their proper function and dysfunctions, integrating what works best in a very pragmatic way. Philosophy and science confirmed by experience.

The starting point in Chinese Medicine is a positive one. How does Health look like? How does a person function when in harmony, at all levels (anatomy, physiology, emotions). A complex diagnostic made of observation, questioning, smelling, hearing and palpating leads to a treatment plan and prognosis. Taking the pulse allows to detect in very early stages dysbalances, before physical symptoms appear, which can be measured by the Western Medical system. Those dysbalances can be treated, which makes Chinese Medicine a Preventive Medicine as well.

Acupuncture

Simply said, acupuncture is the art of healing by inserting very thin and flexible needles at carefully selected points along meridians. These points have been described and mapped by Chinese physicians over a period of more than 2000 years. The intent of acupuncture therapy is to promote health and alleviate pain and suffering.

An acupuncturist views symptoms as an indication of disharmony of patterns in a person's energy (or Qi). The aim of the therapy is to understand the patients, each of them unique, and to diagnose which imbalances need to be restored in order to reach a better energetic balance and healing. As a result of the therapy, symptoms gradually disappear, as the body heal itself by regaining its natural balance.

Finding the right point and inserting the needle with the sterile tube...

There are different traditions and use of Acupuncture as a valid treatment form, as many studies keep demonstrating. It can treat local problems based upon symptoms, for instance a tennis elbow condition, or it can manage pain quite effectively, even when pain killers have failed. Acupuncture can be used as a main treatment for a large group of ailments, or as a complement to a western-medicine treatment. Even when surgery is necessary, getting an acupuncture treatment before allows for a better healing of the wound, a lower pain level after surgery and a quicker recovery. Treatment after surgery addresses the underlying disharmony that led to the necessity of the surgery.

In addition to using needles to stimulate or disperse Qi in the points or along meridians, an acupuncturist can use different techniques such as moxibustion, cupping, Guasha, magnets, thermo-magnetic lamp, Tuina massage.