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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years and includes treatments such as acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, moxibustion and various forms of herbal medicine and dietary therapy. Western medicine focuses mainly on treating disease. But TCM looks at your entire well-being and is based on balance, harmony, and energy.
There are two central ideas behind TCM:
Qi: This is also called life energy or vital energy. In traditional Chinese Medicine, qi runs throughout your body in one energetic system of communication. This vital energy is the body’s innate intelligence, the intangible yet measurable way we maintain what’s known as homeostasis, or the body’s ability to regulate its internal environment to create good health. It’s always on the move and constantly changes. Blockages of qi, deficiencies of qi, or too much qi are what cause illness. TCM treatments focus on ways to promote and maintain the flow of qi.
Yin and Yang: In TCM, the concept of Yin and Yang serves as the foundation for understanding health, as well as diagnosing and treating illnesses. Good health is believed to come from a balance of Yin (negative, dark, and feminine) and Yang (positive, bright, and masculine).These are opposites that describe the qualities of qi.
Yin: night , dark, cold, feminine, negative, rest
Yang: day, light, warm , positive, male, activity
The belief is that everything in life has a little bit of its opposite and balance is the key. When yin and yang are in balance you feel healthy and well, if there is an excess or deficiency, you feel sick. TCM aims to create yin and yang balance and a healthy flow of qi.
What are the main TCM treatments?
Acupuncture entails stimulating specific acupuncture points on the body, most often with a needle penetrating the skin. Acupuncture is re-knowned for it's effectiveness in treating pain and is recognised by the WHO as being an effective treatment for many other health related conditions.
Acupressure:
Acupressure is therapeutic Chinese massage. It works on the same principles as acupuncture, except instead of using needles, the practitioner will apply pressure with the hands to stimulate certain acupuncture points. Acupressure is an effective method of treatment for a wide range of conditions. It works by improving blood circulation and repairing tissue damage throughout the body.
Cupping:
In cupping a flame draws the air out of a cup (glass jar) which is placed on certain acupuncture points on the body. The suction draws blood to the area, stimulating circulation and, as with other Chinese medicine techniques, helps to unblock trapped and stagnant energy.
Herbs: Teas, powders, creams and capsules.
Chinese Herbal Medicine employs the same diagnostic methods as other branches of Chinese Medicine and uses ingredients such as, roots, leaves, fruits, seeds, flowers which are combined according to classical prescriptions to treat the patient.
Moxibustion:
Moxa is a dried herb that is burned on or near the skin. Moxibustion works on the same healing principles as other Chinese Medicine practices where the stimulation and release of trapped energy works to facilitate the body's innate and natural healing mechanisms.
What Kind of Conditions Does TCM treat?
Traditional Chinese medicine treats a wide range of conditions including pain relief, gastrointestinal issues, skin complaints, anxiety, stress, infertility, insomnia and much more.
Pain Relief:
The effectiveness of acupuncture for pain management has been strongly verified by large randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. Learn more about Chinese medicine treatments for pain relief or view our online herbal products for pain relief
Digestive issues:
Digestive disorders can have a detrimental effect on the whole body. Chinese medicines treats the root cause of the upset to facilitate long term healing. Learn more about Chinese medicine treatments for IBS and digestion or view our online herbal products for for digestive complaints
Insomnia:
Chinese Medicine focuses on the person’s individual symptoms and builds a whole-healing plan that brings the body back into balance. The most effective methods of improving sleeping patterns are acupuncture, acupressure and Chinese herbal medicine. Learn more about Chinese medicine for Insomnia
Infertility:
Acupuncture has been known to dramatically increase fertility by invigorating and increasing sperm count in males and regulating the menstrual cycle in females. Learn more about Chinese medicine for Infertility
Stress:
Acupuncture uses fine needles to unblock energy so that it can flow freely in the body. This is effective at alleviating not only the symptoms of stress, but stress itself. Acupuncture is often combined with acupressure (therapeutic Chinese massage) as both together can achieve best results. Learn more about Chinese medicine for Stress
Weight Loss:
TCM diagnosis will aim to understand the cause of weight gain and then create a treatment plan particular to each individual to restore balance in the body (digestive, hormonal, metabolic, circulatory etc) to best facilitate weight loss. Learn more about Chinese medicine for Weight Loss.
Care Cure are Ireland's leading TCM specialists with clinics in the Merrion Shopping Center, Dublin 4 and 53 Georges St Lwr, Dun Laoghaire. We offer a free consultations online and in both clinics. Our clinics are currently open for a full range of treatments. If you think we can help, please get in touch, we are always happy to help. Book a free consultation.