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In This Chapter

^ Discovering the origins of TCM

^ Understanding TCM concepts of health and disease

^ Diagnosing in TCM

^ Exploring TCM therapies and how they work

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest forms of medicine in the world. From its beginnings thousands of years ago in ancient China, TCM has spread around the globe and is now one of the most widespread forms of complementary medicine in the West.

In this chapter I tell you a bit about where TCM came from and translate for you some of the strange terminology used by TCM practitioners. You can try a quiz to help you to work out what type of TCM element imbalance you may suffer from, and read TCM self-care tips for how you may remedy any imbalance. I also give you a guided tour of TCM therapies and let you know what they can be useful for. Finally, I offer tips for finding yourself a TCM practitioner.

A (Very) Brief History of TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine is thought to have started over 2,500 years ago. Its history is blended with myth and legend. TCM is said to have originated from two legendary emperors who were medical pioneers and keen to live long and healthy lives (see the sidebar ‘The founders of TCM’).

Legend has it that over 2,500 years ago a Chinese emperor called Shennong tasted every herb and plant he could lay his hands on and noted its effects. His insights are said to have led to the first ever text on Chinese herbal medicine, The Shennong Bencaojing (Classic of Herbal Medicine), Although in reality this actual text was written some time later. Shennong became known as the father of herbal medicine in China and is often portrayed clothed in leaves and holding or chewing medicinal plants.

Around the same time another Chinese leader known as the Yellow Emperor, or Huang di, is

Supposed to have had long conversations with his physicians about medicine. Their question-and-answer sessions are supposedly recorded in another ancient text known as the Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine) And Huang di is known as the father of traditional Chinese medicine.

Nowadays some scholars believe these figures were mythical, rather than real, but in any case the knowledge said to come from them still forms the basis of TCM practice today. You often see their pictures in TCM practitioners’ waiting rooms!

Early Chinese people are believed to have used herbs as medicines and to have warmed stones as a form of heat treatment. Inscriptions on tortoise shells over a thousand years old give evidence of the use of water and simple herbal remedies for healing. Over time (in the Zhou dynasties from 1100-256 BC), medicine developed into an organised system and absorbed influences from the philosophical and religious traditions of Confucianism and Daoism. This led to the development of the concepts of Yin And Yang And the Five elements Or Phases (described in the next section). The system of diagnosing by means of the tongue and pulse and observing other body signs was also created.

Over many centuries great Chinese medical texts were compiled and Acupuncture (needle treatment), Moxibustion (heat treatment with a warming herb), and herbal medicine became widespread.

The arrival of Christian missionaries in China in the 19th and early 20th centuries led to the introduction of Western medical ideas and a downsurge of interest in TCM. However TCM was revived by Chairman Mao as part of his Revolution and it now flourishes alongside Western medicine in modern day China.

Understanding TCM Concepts of Health and Disease

TCM has its roots in the Daoist concept of living in harmony with nature and of all living things stemming from one primordial force. This force is

Represented by the Tai Ji, A symbol representing oneness made up of two interconnected, dynamically changing and also opposing forces known as Yin And Yang.

Exploring yin and yang

In the Tai Ji Symbol (see Figure 4-1), the white area represents Yang, Which is said to have the qualities of masculinity, expansiveness, activity, heat, brightness, and hardness, while the black area represents Yin, Which is said to be feminine, contracting, passive, cold, dark, and soft.

Figure 4-1:

The yin/yang symbol.

Yin And Yang Were seen as two great interdependent and creative forces that manifest in all living things, including the body and the environment. These forces are in a constant state of change. For example, night (yin) Turns into day (yang), Which later again becomes night (yin), And so on.

For this reason the white (yang) Portion of the circle also contains a black dot to represent some Yin Within the Yang, While the black (yin) Portion of the circle also contains a white dot representing some Yang. So if you look again at the symbol in Figure 4-1 you may see that it is not really a fixed design but rather can be seen as constantly moving and dancing, as black (yin) Turns into white (yang) And back into black (yin) Again.

In terms of your body Yin And Yang Represent the following:

*e The outside of the body is seen as Yang While the inside is yin.

*e The upper portion of the body is Yang While the lower portion is yin.

*e The internal organs are also divided into Yin And Yang.

E* The great ‘storing’ organs of the body – liver, heart, and lungs – are Yin Organs.

*e The active organs involved with movement and transportation of substances, such as the stomach, intestines, and urinary bladder, are seen as Yang.

Table 4-1 offers a breakdown of how all the internal organs shape up in terms of their Yin And Yang.

In TCM, good health relies on a balance of Yin And Yang So all your Yin And Yang Organs need to be functioning well and working in harmony together.

Understanding the power of qi

In TCM, Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) is the name for the vital energy believed to power everything in the universe, including our bodies. The Chinese character for Qi Represents a union of earthly and heavenly energy. (Chapter 9 has more about Qi.)

According to TCM if you have good Qi, You’ll be healthy and energetic and live long, but if your Qi Is abnormal, wayward, or blocked, disease may develop.

Qi Courses through the body via a network of channels known as Meridians. The twelve main meridians are divided into Yin And Yang Pairs:

E Lungs and large intestine

E Spleen and stomach

E Heart and small intestine

E Pericardium and triple warmer

E Kidneys and urinary bladder

E Liver and gall bladder

Traversing the meridians

The meridians course all over the body like a great rail network and are punctuated by hundreds of major and minor Acupoints, Rather like main line stations and lesser-used country ones.

The underlying theme for TCM is the restoration and preservation of free-flowing and abundant Qi.

Much research has been carried out in different countries to verify the meridians and the links between Qi Flow and disease but these have not yet been firmly proven to the satisfaction of scientists (I discuss this research in Chapter 9 in a bit more detail).

Exploring the Five Elements

In addition to Yin And Yang And Qi, TCM has a clever system of correspondences worked out called the Five Elements Or Five Phases. This system is used to understand the relationships between the internal organs of the body, mental and emotional states, the environment, and so on. These relationships may be generating and supportive (the black arrows in Figure 4-2) or they may be destructive, whereby one element predominates and can overcome another (the grey arrows in Figure 4-2). This system is illustrated in Figure 4-2.

Compare Figure 4-2 with Table 4-2. According to the Five Elements:

E The heart is associated with fire because it pumps blood around the body to warm and nourish it.

E The nutrients carried in the blood pumped by the heart support the function of the stomach and spleen (that is, fire nourishes earth).

E The kidneys are associated with water because they control fluid metabolism.

E If the kidneys malfunction, blood pressure may rise, which in turn

Affects heart function. In other words, if the body is dehydrated (lacking in the element water) the heart can’t function efficiently. In TCM terms the fire of the heart is raised, leading to elevated blood pressure and even heart attack. In this scenario, the fire element becomes too strong because the water element is insufficient to keep it in check.

You can also apply the five element principle in TCM to tastes, colours, and seasons. These correspondences, shown in Table 4-1, are used as a valuable diagnostic tool for TCM practitioners. For example, you may complain to your TCM practitioner of the following symptoms:

E Suffer from earache and aching bones E Feel worse in the winter E Crave salty food E Often feel anxious

Your practitioner would think to the correspondences in the five element table and – hey presto! – it would become obvious you may have an imbalance in your kidney/urinary bladder meridians or some weakness in the organs themselves (take a look at the bottom line of Table 4-2 to see for yourself how this links to the symptoms described above).

Western medical doctors find this system of correspondences a bit mystifying, but TCM practitioners swear by its accuracy and clinical efficacy. Therefore, even if you go to a TCM practitioner complaining of backache you may still be asked about your food preferences, emotional state, and even colour preferences. Now you know why.

Taking the Five Elements quiz

You can use the Five Elements quiz in Table 4-3 to identify your possible element imbalance and then discover simple TCM ways of restoring balance.

Work through the questions in Table 4-3 and tick a ‘yes’ for each question that applies to you.

Table 4-3 The Five Elements Quiz

The Element of Water Yes No

Do you often suffer from puffy bags under the eyes, a puffy face, or swollen ankles?

Do you often get low backache?

Do you often suffer from cystitis or other urinary infections?

Do you often have problems with your ears and/or sore throats?

Do you have problems with your bones or aching joints?

Do you crave salty foods?

Are your symptoms often worse in winter?

Are your symptoms often aggravated by cold and wet conditions?

Do you often feel anxious or fearful?

Do you feel drawn to the colours midnight blue or black?

Total Water Score (this represents the health of your kidneys /10 and urinary bladder)

The Element of Wood Yes No

Do you often suffer from nausea and lack of appetite? Do you often get headaches and/or migraines? Do you often suffer from PMS and/or cramps? Do you often have problems with your eyes?

(continued)

Table 4-3 (continued)

The Element of Wood Yes No

Do you have problems with tendon injuries and aching?

Do you crave sour foods?

Are your symptoms often worse in spring?

Are your symptoms often aggravated by wind?

Do you often feel irritable and angry?

Do you feel drawn to the colour green?

Total Wood Score (this represents the health of /10 your liver and gall bladder)

The Element of Fire Yes No

Do you often suffer from palpitations? Do you often suffer from insomnia?

Do you have any history of blood pressure or heart problems? Do you often have problems with your tongue, such as soreness? Do you have problems with your circulation? Do you crave burnt, smoked, or bitter foods? Are your symptoms often worse in summer? Are your symptoms often aggravated by heat? Do you often get overexcited or feel panicky? Do you feel drawn to the colour red?

Total Fire Score (this represents the health of /10 your heart and small intestine)

The Element of Earth Yes No

Do you often suffer from digestive problems such as indigestion?

Do you often have abdominal bloating?

Do you sometimes have undigested food in your stools?

Do you sometimes have problems with your mouth or lips?

The Element of Earth Yes No

Do you have problems with aching muscles?

Do you crave sweet foods?

Are your symptoms often worse in late summer?

Are your symptoms often aggravated by moist, damp conditions?

Do you often worry?

Do you feel drawn to the colours yellow and orange?

Total Earth Score (this represents the health of your /10 stomach and spleen)

The Element of Metal Yes No

Do you often suffer from colds, coughs, or chest complaints?

Do you sometimes have breathing difficulties or shortness of breath?

Do you suffer from constipation?

Do you have a poor sense of smell?

Do you have problems with your skin, hair, and nails?

Do you crave spicy, strong tasting foods?

Are your symptoms often worse in autumn?

Are your symptoms often aggravated by dry conditions?

Do you often feel depressed or grieving?

Do you feel drawn to the colour white?

Total Metal Score (this represents the health of /10 your lungs and large intestine)

Helping yourself: Five Elements self-care

Count up your ticks for each section of the quiz in Table 4-2. The one with the most ‘yes’ ticks indicates the element where you seem to have the most imbalance and which most needs your care, attention, and support.

Here are some TCM-based self-care approaches, which can help you rebalance the five elements:

If you scored highest for the Water element, the following may help: E Avoid cold and wet conditions.

E Keep your body warm and well wrapped, especially your feet, abdomen, and lower back.

E Avoid crop-tops (T-shirts and tops that leave the midriff and lower back exposed) and going barefoot.

E Limit salt intake.

E Drink plenty of water and eat lots of root vegetables, pulses, and warming foods.

E Wear yellow and orange.

If you scored highest for the Wood element, the following may help:

E Avoid windy conditions and draughts. E Exercise regularly to reduce stress and irritation. E Stay calm and practise patience. E Limit intake of sour foods and drinks.

E Drink plenty of water and eat lots of green, leafy vegetables, salads, and raw foods.

E Wear white.

If you scored highest for the Fire element, the following may help: E Avoid heat and stay cool.

E Wear light clothing and layers you can remove easily to adjust body temperature.

E Reduce stress and practise meditation.

E Avoid burnt or smoked foods.

E Drink plenty of water and increase intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, oily fish (up to three portions a week), and seeds and seed oils (such as flaxseed oil).

E Wear midnight blue and black.

If you scored highest for the Earth element, the following may help: E Avoid damp conditions.

E Chew food slowly and eat in a relaxed environment without doing other things.

E Avoid excess worrying.

E Limit intake of sweet and sugary foods.

E Drink plenty of water and eat warming, easily digestible foods such as soups or casseroles.

E Wear green.

If you scored highest for the Metal element, the following may help: E Avoid dry conditions.

E Practise breathing exercises and stretches.

E Think positive and seek help for your depression or grief if this is a problem.

E Limit intake of spicy, strong-tasting foods.

E Drink plenty of fluids and increase your intake of seeds (such as sunflower, sesame, or pumpkin seeds) and oily fish (up to three portions a week).

E Wear red.

Diagnosing in TCM

The four main types of diagnosis used by TCM practitioners are:

E Observation Of tongue, face, skin, nails, and hair E Palpation Of pulse and acupoints

E Listening To sounds of the body such as the voice, a cough, and digestive gurgles

E Questioning About general health and lifestyle, your and your family’s medical history, current symptoms, bowel health, and sleep habits

When training, TCM practitioners take many thousands of pulses in order to be able to feel the differences between them. Six pulses are on each wrist, with one representing each major organ and meridian. Practitioners palpate the pulses with the three middle fingers of their hand on the insides of each of the patient’s wrists, just above the wrist crease. TCM practitioners use both light and firm pressure to detect surface

And deeper pulses and different speeds and qualities are noted for each.

Each pulse has its own descriptive quality such as ‘tight like a bow string’ (a type of pulse indicating a liver problem) and my own personal favourite, ‘like pearls rolling on a plate’ (a type of pregnancy pulse).

TCM therapies are designed to balance Yin And Yang And the Five elements And to ensure the free flow of Qi.

You can think of the different aspects of TCM therapy as a tree with several branches, leaves and fruits:

E The soil in which a tree stands carries the nutrients that determine its health and growth. So in TCM the primary therapies forming the basis of health are Dietary therapy And Lifestyle advice. TCM recommends you eat seasonal, fresh, and lightly cooked food. Eat moderately, chew your food well, and select foods according to their Yin And Yang Properties. Some examples of these are given in Chapter 12.

E The trunk of the tree represents the body and both exercise therapies and breathing. These are seen as important for maintaining vitality, memory and a good flow of Qi. These movement and breathing therapies include tai chi and qi gong and are also mentioned in Chapters 16 and 18.

E The branches of the tree represent the limbs and body parts and the different therapies that can be used to correct their imbalances and stimulate healing. These include the hands-on therapies such as acupressure and tui na massage (see Chapter 17) and remedial therapies, such as acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (see Chapters 9 and 11).

E The leaves and fruits of the tree represent emotional and spiritual health, and the therapies that support these such as meditation practises (also mentioned in Chapter 18).

You can consult a TCM practitioner for many different kinds of ailments but common ones are: pain relief; joint and arthritic problems; respiratory conditions such as asthma; skin problems such as eczema; headaches and migraines; PMS; and insomnia.

A lot of research has been carried out on Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Much of this has been done in China and is not readily available in translation but a growing amount of this type of research is now being conducted in the West too. The positive research studies support the use of TCM as a valuable form of modern healthcare that has stood the test of time but more research is needed.

Research provides encouraging evidence for some, but not all, of the conditions listed and is summarised in Chapter 9 on acupuncture and Chapter 11 on herbs. I also give Web resources for accessing research evidence.

For details on how to find TCM practitioners of acupuncture see Chapter 9; for a Chinese herbal medicine practitioner see Chapter 11. For more on finding a massage practitioner who may practise Tui na See Chapter 17.