Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become more popular globally as an alternative form of treatment when conventional therapies don’t seem to work. While considered pseudoscience by some, there are more studies being conducted on TCM and some medical schools have begun to include alternative treatments in their programs. Some Western doctors, especially those working in pain management, have incorporated TCM practices alongside their clinical practices by taking a
Chinese medicine course. Interest and demand in TCM may be growing, but what exactly is traditional Chinese medicine and what can be expected from a
Chinese medicine course?
TCM has been practiced for more than 2000 years and includes a range of treatments such as acupuncture, cupping, herbal therapies, tai chi, and massage. The focus is holistic, treating the whole person, mind, body, and soul, rather than just an illness. TCM asserts that the human body is governed by the complementary forces of yin and yang and that a healthy body has a balance of yin-yang, whereas an ill body indicates an imbalance between the two. A practitioner of TCM uses various therapies to restore the balance in the patient’s body.
Acupuncture is probably the most well known of the therapies used in TCM. It is used to treat a variety of conditions, but is most commonly used in pain management. Typically, acupunture involves use of a sterile, single-use needle to stimulate points along the body’s meridians, which are believed to be channels through which the body’s energy force qi flows. It is generally safe, if administered properly by a trained professional. Acupuncture is useful in treatment and management of chronic pain, but can also be used to treat fertility problems, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, and post-surgery recovery, among others.
Traditional Chinese medicine and reatment may also involve moxibustion, the application of heat to an acupuncture point by burning mugwort, a kind of plant. TCM practitioners may also use cupping therapy, in which cups are heated to create suction and are applied to the skin near acupuncture points. Other practitioners may also incorporate electro-stimulation with the needles, or acupressure, which uses pressure instead of needles. Tui na is massage therapy that uses acupressure points and can be used to treat various conditions of the musculoskeletal system. TCM also includes tai chi, a form of exercise based on Chinese martial arts. Also based on the principles of yin-yang and qi, this program utilizes slow movements focused on form, deep breathing, and meditation.
Chinese herbology is the most widely used therapy in TCM and utilizes primarily dried herbs and plants, but also may incorporate animal parts and minerals. There are more than three hundred herbs that a TCM practitioner might prescribe for his or her patient. Among the most popular are ginseng and dong quai, as well as some herbs which are frequently used for cooking such as ginger, cinnamon, and licorice. Generally, the ingredients will be mixed together, customized by the practitioner to treat the patient. With so many different ingredients used, learning about all of them can be an grueling part of a
Chinese medicine course.
If you are interested in becoming a practitioner of TCM, it’s likely that you can find a
Chinese medicine course in your country. It’s best to find an accredited institution and most countries have laws regulating the practice to ensure that it is safe, ethical, and professional. Most require several years of study and examinations, plus clinical/practicum where you treat patients under the supervision of an instructor. In some traditional Chinese medicine programs, students will learn both TCM and similarly-related Western medical science. Graduates complete their studies and usually become acupuncturists, or Chinese herbalists, or sometimes both. Graduates can enter private practice, working community health centers, hospitals, or academia/research. Some practitioners are even called on to treat animals! The opportunities in the field of TCM are aplenty if you are willing to put in the time and effort into studying this ancient practice that is enjoying an international revival.
*Image courtesy of Baitong333 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
