What Kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine Are There?

TCM is thousands of years old and has remained mostly unchanged throughout the years. The core premise is that the body is flooded with vital life energy known as Qi. Disease and sickness may result from any Qi imbalance. Based on ancient Chinese, humans were little portions of a larger world, and the environment had a significant impact on them. A fundamental concept is a balance between health and illness. TCM therapy aims to rebalance the body by using treatments tailored to the person.

The Different Kinds of TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of techniques aimed at helping patients achieve and maintain their health. Different therapy approaches are discussed below.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the process of manipulating specific acupuncture points by putting needles into the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles. TCM considers 12 primary meridians to link up to 2,000 acupuncture sites on the human body. These meridians carry energy, or “Qi,” from the body’s surface to the inside organs. Acupuncture maintains the Yin-Yang balance, enabling proper energy flow throughout the body and restoring mental and physical health.

Therapeutic Massage

A kind of Asian bodywork treatment that has been practiced in China for generations includes a blend of massage, acupressure, and other types of body manipulation. After a series of inquiries, the practitioner will start treating you. At times, this form of massage may be rather intense. These procedures may be enhanced with herbal compresses, ointments, and heat.

Massage works best for chronic pain and musculoskeletal issues. You may also try chiropractic, physiotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncture, etc.

Cupping

Cupping is a Chinese therapy in which the body is covered in glass or plastic cups. TCM practitioners remove all the oxygen from the cups by warming them with a cotton ball or other combustible object. The material is then removed, and the cup is placed on the skin. The air within the cup cools, generating a vacuum and enabling the cup to cling to the skin. The back and stomach are excellent treatment areas because they are fleshy.

Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbs, such as cinnamon bark, ginger, ginseng, licorice, and rhubarb, are often used by TCM practitioners. Ginseng is the most commonly utilized herb for a wide range of conditions. Assume a doctor suggests Chinese herbology as a therapy option. In this situation, the herbs are mixed into a composition that may be taken as a tea, pill, liquid extract, granule, or powder.

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Last Thoughts 

A trained TCM practitioner is your best bet if you are thinking about utilizing it. TCM should not be used in place of conventional or allopathic treatment, particularly for severe diseases, although it may be effective when used in conjunction with them. Because specific TCM herbal treatments might interact or be hazardous when coupled with Western medications, you should tell your doctor if you’re using TCM.