While the citizens of the western nations make appointments at expensive private doctors, try to find solutions to their problems in the titles of nursing paper topics on the web, and swallow a handful of food supplement and vitamins, the Chinese just humbly smile and bear a secret of a happy lifestyle with a life expectancy of 85 years.
The history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) started more than 3000 years ago! It’s funny how modern doctors still use the methods of traditional treatment described in the most ancient tractates. The West began to show interest in these practices not so long ago, only in the middle of the previous century. Therefore, many people still have no idea what includes traditional Chinese medicine. Today, we are going to review the fundamental principles of the eastern approach and learn how the practices from the Celestial Empire can help you improve your health.
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How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Work?
The approach used in Chinese medicine differs radically from western ideas and notions about health. While the European doctors treat the disease and its symptoms, the eastern healers have considered and addressed the human’ organism as an equal system. Everything in it is connected and interwoven. Chinese doctors believe that our well-being and general condition depends on the circulation of the body’s vital energy chi or qi, and the balance of the female energy Yin and the male energy Yang. If the energy exchange is disturbed, it will manifest itself as various diseases and fatigue. Therefore, you should treat not the symptoms but the cause, re-establishing the harmony in the body.
Chinese healers, doctors, and scientists had been deepening their knowledge and methods of treatment. An entire library of medical tractates became the result of their fundamental work. They describe various diseases from a simple cold and sexually transmitted disease to epilepsy. These secrets and principles are kept in books and manuscripts with mysterious titles like the “Canon of the Pulse” (the III century), “Recipes for Fifty-Two Ailments”, and “Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Casket”. Today, we are going to unveil some of the key traditional Chinese medical practices that will help stay healthy and find harmony with your physical and mental self.
Keep Your Life in Order
Clearly, we are not talking about taking out the garbage and rearranging your wardrobe. It’s vital to stick to the same sleeping routine daily. Nowadays, we tend to overload ourselves with duties or spend too much time in front of various screens. Our bodies are quite wise, and their processes run like clockwork. Thus, a liver is the official detoxifier of our organisms. It cleans our blood every day from 11 PM to 1 AM while we are asleep. It’s not hard to guess what happens to your body when it doesn’t receive regular detoxifications.
The schedule is another important aspect of excellent well-being. The influence hormones play on our bodies is intense! They participate in all the processes. Thus, if your circadian rhythms are shifted or altered, you may observe the consequences. These are the most basic practices of TCM that every person can follow and see the positive changes in just a month.
Massage
The eastern massage techniques are known all over the world. Chinese medicine actively uses a diversity of massage practices. There are both traditional and exotic options such as Gua Sha with the help of a unique jade tool or Tui Na, which resembles acupressure. During the massage, the doctor concentrates on the so-called “meridians” in our bodies. These are the lines used by the qi energy to move around our bodies. Chinese massage is an effective way to release the pain, swelling, or inflammations. It deeply affects the tissues, enhances the bloodstream, and metabolism. Besides, it helps to reduce the muscle strain that may lead to problems with breathing, spine, digestion, and joints. So, don’t neglect to treat yourself to some massage when you are exhausted.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Many people associate traditional Chinese medicine with acupuncture. This method centers around the impact of needles on active spots. There are more than 300 of them in our bodies. Each of the spots is connected with a particular organ or system. The needles are so tiny, and the piercing is so gentle that acupuncture doesn’t cause any uncomfortable feelings. On the contrary, this practice helps to treat pain syndrome, problems with the immune system, sleep, and metabolism. This treatment definitely requires a visit to a qualified specialist. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure can be done at home. This technique is based on a similar idea. You have to push on the active spots on the meridians with a hand, elbow, or some items on hand. Next time you suffer from a headache, try pressing on the area and massage there with slow circular motions for one or two minutes.
It’s All About the Herbs
Herbs seem to be the Chinese panacea to the majority of diseases. Local doctors achieved pure perfection in the combination of various herbs for better results and efficiency. Many herbs are adaptogens that help our bodies to deal with stresses and other negative impacts of the environment. They reinforce the immunity, regulate blood pressure and sugar level, normalize the metabolism. Traditional Chinese medicine uses such herbs as ginger, ginseng, magnolia vine, motherwort, goji berries, etc. Don’t rush to purchase all the herbs! Read more about their influence and the right way to drink them. Start with small doses and small sips. You should listen to your body and how it reacts to the new component.
You Are What You Eat
As we have already said, TCM is like a philosophy. According to Chinese medical tractates, healthy eating is one of the essential conditions of well-being. When we hear the phrase “healthy eating habits”, we imagine the balance of fats, carbs, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. However, everything is quite different in the Eastern traditions. The main eating principle is to balance out the tastes. Yes, you have read it correctly. Your food must be the perfect combination of everything salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and spicy. Besides, Chinese doctors believe that we have to eat those products that are easy to digest.