What is Chinese Medicine and how does it work?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has successfully treated one of the world’s largest populations for over 3,000 years. Ancient physicians observed the body in all stages of health and disease and found that the body, like the environment, had a natural inclination towards balance. However, certain factors could influence the body and disturb its internal workings, much the way that environmental influences can affect the delicate inter-relationships in our surrounding ecosystem. These influential factors were likened to those found in nature: wind, dryness, heat, dampness, and cold could all be said to affect the natural healing rhythms of the human body.

Chinese medicine seeks to maintain this balance and correct problems within the internal environment when found. Terms such as “wind”, “dryness”, etc. are still used to this day and are a means of describing the conditions that contribute to ill-health. By employing such techniques as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and electro-stimulation on certain points on the body, as well as with the administration of herbal remedies, this balance can be restored.

One of the reasons that TCM is so effective is that it treats each patient individually by addressing the cause of the disease rather than the disease itself. For instance, in treating headaches, TCM strives to find the cause of the headache, thus preventing further occurrence when possible. Similarly, each patient is treated individually rather than by their symptoms. Careful observation is made of the color and shape of the tongue, the quality and rate of the pulse in 3 different positions on each wrist, as well as the patient’s complexion and mannerisms. The acupuncturist then asks specific questions about the condition and combines all of this information to make an individual diagnosis for that patient. Therefore, it is possible for 10 different patients, all with headaches as their main complaint, to receive 10 different diagnoses and treatments for their condition. This individualized approach is another reason that TCM has proven to be such an effective form of healthcare.

What Conditions Can It Treat?
That’s the great thing about Chinese medicine—it truly is a medicine. Remember, it is the primary form of healthcare for the largest population of people on the planet, and has been for thousands of years. If you’ve got it, Chinese medicine can treat it. And like in Western medicine, you can see a general practitioner or a specialist. At Essential Being Health, we offer general family medicine, as well as specialization in OB/GYN and fertility issues. Some of the general health complaints that we treat with great success are: