The Past, Present, and Future of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treating Dysmenorrhea
Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
•Acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, theory, diagnostics
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of theories and practices that work together to restore harmony to the body. The two main ideas are a holistic view and treatment based on a differential diagnosis. To utilise those principles there are a number of theories to understand how the body functions so we can understand its pathology. Theories such as yin yang theory, five element theory, vital substance theory, and basic knowledge of qi are the basis for the treatments in TCM. Treatments including acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion,
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Acupuncture is the practice of puncturing the dermis of the skin at a specific place, called an acupuncture point, to change the way the bodies qi is flowing. Needles can be used to reduce, renforce, or apply even stimulation depending on the symptoms that a person shows. Another method applying renforcing, reducing, or even stimulus is cupping.
Cupping is where a cup with a low pressure inside is placed on a person’s skin. There are three types of cupping, fire cupping, dry cupping, and wet cupping. In fire cupping, a glass cup that has had a cotton ball burned inside is used. The cup can be left in one place or it can be moved along the body. Moving it across the body can create the sensation of being massaged while leaving long red marks because the low pressure in the cup causes the capillaries in the skin to burst. When the cup is left in one place it can lead to a round mark. Another style of cupping that leaves a mark is wet cupping. Wet cupping where an incision is made then a cup is placed over the incision. The cup places over top can be applied either by fire cupping or dry cupping. Both required special training to perform unlike dry cupping which does not require any special training. Dry cupping is where plastic cups are placed on the body. The low pressure can be created with a small hand pump. Dry cupping with give the same type of bruise as fire cupping and has the same benefit.
After they defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588, the English began to explore and colonize the New World. By the 1600s, the English occupied the eastern part of the New World. As reformations and revolutions went on in England, different types of people immigrated to different parts of the New World. Two distinct regions, New England and the Chesapeake region, grew to be different in economy, social and family life, and religious beliefs. The two different way of life created two settlements that contrasted and complemented each other. Though the differences between the settlements of New England and Chesapeake region are many, they are largely due to the different style of life and desires, such as economic and religious freedom, that led
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
Acupuncture – this technique is also considered to be a complimentary therapy. Acupuncture is a type of an ancient Chinese medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years by the Chinese. This technique is basically where you inject refined needles that have been sterile into the patient’s body.
Acupuncture involves “the insertion of extremely thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body” (Mayo). The idea of inserting needles into specific points in your body is to help realign the energy flow “Chi” (Mayo) in your body to
A lot of patients are also reluctant to take strong medication, of which the long term side effects are not always known or understood. In recent years, the popularity of TCM has shaped part of an increased interest in the cultural traditions of both China and the Far East as a whole. “This has marked itself in a propagation of information on and practitioners of, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Feng Shui” (Chinese Cures for British Ills, n.d.).
The basic principle behind acupuncture is to stimulate specific points under the skin to adjust
Acupuncture is an ancient art of healing that dates back to at least 2,500 years. It has been widely practiced in China and many other Asian countries. Only recently has acupuncture made its way into the western world. Acupuncture accentuates on the natural healing of the body. It involves stimulating acupuncture points by the insertion of very fine, solid, metallic needles.
Without going into details about the concept behind acupuncture, in practice, it works in a similar manner to a massage. The small needles are placed in strategic areas of your body that work to relax your muscles. The result is a reduction in pain, as it aids the body in its healing process. If you have never had acupuncture done before and are afraid of needles, do not be concerned. These needles are very thin and do not enter the skin deeply.
Acupuncture connotes a set of procedures, which includes anatomical points’ stimulation on the body through various techniques. This technique has been studied scientifically and involves using needles (metallic, solid and thin) to penetrate the skin with stimulation by electrical devices or hands. For centuries, acupuncture has traditionally been used to treat a number of pain conditions such as migraine.
Western medicine has four different areas: clinical, preventive, rehabilitation and general health care. Western and Chinese medicine each has its own strengths in clinical and preventive medicine. However, Chinese medicine has more advantages in rehabilitation and health care. Not all physicians will agree with the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. Even though Chinese medicine is not effective for all illnesses and disease, Chinese medicine should be recognized more around the world because it focuses on holism, maintenance and low-cost therapeutic treatments which will be further discussed in this essay.
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
Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back at least 2,500 years. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may, it has been theorized, correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine which involves the insertion of special needles into the body in specific points. These points are known as acupuncture points which is located in different parts of the body. This alternative medicine form is used to relief any form of pain in the body. Acupuncture was founded by the Chinese in the (1600–1100 BCE), where a sharpen stone called Bian shi that suggested the practice of acupuncture. Some other historical evidence says it may started at the Neolithic era, so in general there are some conflicts about its origin. “The first document that unequivocally described an organized system of diagnosis and treatment which is recognized as acupuncture is The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, dating from about 100 BCE.” (Oxford Journal. 2004.) there are two ways of looking at acupuncture and how it works, the traditional Chinese perspective and from the modern international perspective.
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.
Acupuncturist makes use of different kinds of needles to treat different kinds of illness. So before he picks a particular needle, he has to consider its length, breadth and also the head of its tip. Following medical bio hazard regulations and guidelines, he can use a needle just once and has to dispose it off. He also has to keep methods in his mind to insert the needles on the points. The range between fifteen and ninety degree is ideal for him to insert the needles on the points.