There are countless books and literature, articles and videos, anecdotal as well as scientific evidence on the ancient healing arts of Chinese medicine.
I won’t bore you with information and details that you can find at your finger tips.
But I do want to simplify it enough so that you will consider using it as a tool, and have it be an option for your health and well-being.
We can’t ignore something that’s still thriving today after thousands of years of efficacy, right?
We can’t invalidate how Chinese medicine became more well-known in America!
One of the most common questions I get about Chinese medicine is:
Will it work on me if I don’t know anything about it, or believe in it?
To that, I say, I don’t know.
But I do know that you can trust your body to tell you!
We are each a unique system — physical, emotional, spiritual. We embody an energy field that is uniquely us.
What will help us feel better, heal from health conditions, emotional trauma, pain and dis-ease, whether it be food, medicine, therapy, environment, practitioner will depend on a lot of things.
One tool that helps someone you know may not necessarily help you.
Or it may.
The best way to find out is to try it out!
Be open to the possibilities, trust in your own ability to heal naturally, and your system will tell you what works well and what does not.
The second most common question I get is, how does Chinese medicine work?
If I don’t have much time, I often say… it balances your yin and yang (which is absolutely true).
It taps into your own healing potential (which is also absolutely true).
If I have more time, I will follow up with a bit of “Qi talk”: how Qi needs to be in constant motion; we want to have the right amount of Qi; we want it to be flowing in proper directions.
Qi is that life force, energy field, the electromagnetic charge that gives us vitality.
In good health, Qi travels in a sea of meridians. It moves in and around our organs, along channels, in just the right amount that allows for unobstructed flow.
In poor health, Qi may be stagnant, erratic, deficient or in excess.
The different branches of Chinese medicine (there are five of them) can help rebalance, redirect, increase, decrease, or unblock the Qi.
You may be surprised to learn that acupuncture is only ONE of the FIVE branches of Chinese medicine. The other branches include:
- Herbal Medicine
- Nutrition
- Bodywork
- Meditative movements (Qi Gong/ Tai Chi)
The fundamental theories of Chinese medicine look at the human body as a whole, a microcosm of nature. Treatments and recommendations for a healthy life include a holistic approach.
Unlike conventional western medicine practices, Chinese medicine does not prescribe a quick fix.
While it offers many healing tools and can help conditions from common cold, to digestive issues, to chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety disorders (to name just a few), the best time to receive or practice Chinese medicine is as a preventative measure.
Whether you are looking to feel better now, or to keep feeling good, consider one or all of the branches of Chinese medicine to be part of your “Health Kit”!
Yes, pun intended 🙂
