What is Chinese Medicine all about?
Chinese Medicine involves enabling the body to be in balance so that the normal body processes can be performed optimally. Billions of people over thousands of years have used Chinese Medicine which provides a wealth of information to use to improve our lives. The practitioner's goal is primarily to support your choices to allow you to develop your own health and well-being.
One of the main ideas is to prevent disease through nurturing the body and emotions in a positive way. The body is seen as an energetic pathway and when there is pain, energy is "stuck" in some place. Once the pathway is restored and energy flows freely, the pain goes away. It seems strange that a headache can go away quickly when a needle is place in either the hand or the foot, but I have seen that a number of times.
Acupoints are specific locations on the body, which are connected by pathways called meridians (like connect-the-dots). each point and pathway has its own functions. There are points on your legs to help with stomach problems and points on the foot for vision and stress. An ailment may be treated with points near the location of distress and/or distant from that area.
Acupoints may be stimulated with rubbing (acupressure or massage), needles (acupuncture), warmth (moxibustion), suction (cupping), or scraping (gua sha). Treatments may involve one or more of these modalities. Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin needles (often about the thickness of a hair) into the skin. Often there is no sensation at first, but occasionally feels like a pin-prick. There may be a feeling of pressure, slight aching, warmth, or tingling. The sensation often diminishes over the next few minutes. People and animals often relax and may even sleep during the 10-20 minutes the needles remain in place.
There are other modes of staying healthy. Nutrition is very important. There is very little excluded from the Chinese thought of a healthy diet. The important thing is to have balance, including some of each of the flavors at a meal: bland, bitter, salty, sweet, and sour. Rice is a staple of the diet, vegetables are prepared to tender-crisp, and perhaps a little meat or soy is added to the meal. The amount of sweets eaten is about the size of a fortune cookie. Too much of anything causes a disruption in the body's balance.
Exercise is important, too. Tai Qi and Qi Gong are ways to improve balance, flexibility, and energy. It is best to do some activity outdoors to make use of the fresh air and sunshine.
Emotions need balance as well. While it is expected for everyone to feel some anger or sadness from time to time, repressed or prolonged emotional intensity can cause health problems. Chinese Medicine does not separate the mind from the body and treats both well.
The environment is also considered a factor in Chinese Medicine. It is important to protect yourself from the elements, especially Damp, Wind, Cold, and Heat. The thought is that you are more prone to illness if you have been walking around in a cold rain and have gotten soaked and stayed that way. If you're out on a cold windy day, it is good to wear something around your neck and upper back.
The essence of the wisdom is to honor all parts of our being: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical, as well as staying in harmony with every other energetic part of our universe. The closer we come to that, the greater the potential to live a healthy, happy life. Each life lived in this manner will have a positive influence on others.
If I can be of any service to you in reaching your goals, I would be grateful for the opportunity.