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Traditional Chinese Medicine
About
2,500 years ago, deep in the mountains of Northern China, Taoist priests
practiced Qi Gong--meditative movement revealing and cultivating the
vital life force. They believed this force, Qi (pronounced "chi"
in China, "ki" in
Japan), was inseparable from life itself. They discovered that Qi
animated not only body and earth, but was the energetic force of the
entire universe. Historians tell us these were the beginnings of Traditional
Chinese Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a philosophy
of preserving health, and is based first and foremost on an understanding
of the ultimate power of Qi. In contrast to much of Western medicine,
TCM is a preventive practice, strengthening the immune system to ward
off disease.
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In the philosophy
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is manifested both as yin--cold,
dark, and "interior," and yang--warm, light, and "exterior."
In fact, Qi is present in all the opposites we experience, such as
night and day, hot and cold, growth and decay. And although yin and
yang may be perceived as opposites, they are actually inseparable.
The recognition of one is essential to the recognition of the other.
The balance between them is like the motion of night and day; at the
instant darkness reaches its zenith at midnight, the cycle has begun
to flow steadily toward dawn. At noon, the zenith of light, the day
begins slowly to turn toward the darkness of night. All the internal
organs of the body are subject to this nocturnal-diurnal swing of
the universe.
This world view holds further that Qi, manifesting as yin/yang, makes up the universe in the form of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These five elements also represent our bodily constitution as human beings, making us one with the universe. |
Qi
flows into our bodies, up from the earth in its yin form and down
from the heavens in its yang form. The energy channels in our bodies
through which it moves are called "meridians."
These meridians do not directly correspond to any anatomical component recognized by Western medicine. The best way to understand the flow of Qi through the meridians is to compare it to the flow of blood in our veins and arteries. If our blood does not reach our toes, they become dead. If our blood does not flow freely, we have high or low blood pressure. If our blood clots, we have an embolism or a stroke. Similarly, unbalanced or stagnant Qi can cause many diseases and ailments. In fact, Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the principle that every illness, ailment, and discomfort in the body can be explained in terms of an imbalance of Qi. Each meridian is related to one of the five elements. For example, the heart meridian is related to the element fire, the kidney and bladder to water. Along the meridians are pressure points or "gateways," special places where Qi can become blocked. With the help of a trained practitioner, its flow can be freed and balance restored. |
Out of the belief system of Traditional Chinese Medicine arose many healing methods, all directed to the balancing of Qi. Acupuncture, tui na, anma, moxibustion, and special practices such as tai chi chuan, are among the primary methods used along with herbal remedies in China for centuries.
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