Customised treatment for every patient based on pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis and yin yang analysis.
About TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on classical medical texts, most notably the Huangdi Neijing and an extensive body of Materia Medica. TCM encompasses a range of therapeutic practices, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, gua sha, therapeutic massage (tui na), bone-setting (die-da), qigong and dietary therapy.
TCM is widely practiced throughout China and has gained increasing recognition and use in many western countries. Its underlying philosophy is rooted in Yin–Yang theory and the Five Phases (Wu Xing) theory, which together explain the balance, interaction and transformation of energies within the body and between the body and nature.
The primary functional entities used by traditional chinese medicine are qì, xuě, the five zàng organs, the six fǔ organs, and the meridians, which extend through the organ systems. These are all theoretically interconnected: each zàng organ is paired with a fǔ organ, which is nourished by the blood and concentrates qi for a particular function, with meridians being extensions of those functional systems throughout the body.
TCM Techniques
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) encompasses several methods designed to help patients achieve and maintain health. To follow are 8 modern therapeutic methods used:-
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles at particular acupuncture points and manipulating them. In TCM, there are as many as 2,000 acupuncture points on the human body that are connected by 12 main meridians. These meridians conduct energy, or “Qi,” between the surface of the body and its internal organs. Acupuncture is believed to keep the balance between Yin and Yang, thus allowing for the normal flow of “Qi” throughout the body and restoring health to the mind and body.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a therapy that involves burning moxa (mugwort root) made from dried Artemisia vulgaris (spongy herb) to facilitate healing. The purpose of moxibustion is to warm and invigorate the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi, strengthen the kidney Yang, expel wind and disperse cold, and dissolve stagnation.
Tui Na Massage
Tui na (a combination of massage, acupressure, and other forms of body manipulation) is a form of Asian bodywork therapy that has been used in China for centuries. In a typical tui na session, the patient remains clothed and sits on a chair. The practitioner will ask a series of questions and then begin treatment. The type of massage delivered by a tui na practitioner can be quite vigorous at times. Practitioners may use herbal compresses, ointments, and heat to enhance these techniques. Tui na is best suited for treating chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.
Cupping/ Scraping
Cupping is a type of Chinese massage, consisting of placing several glass or plastic “cups” (open spheres) on the body. TCM practitioners warm the cups using a cotton ball or other flammable substance, which is then placed inside the cup to remove all the oxygen. The practitioner then removes the substance and places the cup against the skin. The air in the cup then cools, creating lower pressure inside the cup, creating a vacuum and allowing the cup to stick to the skin. Scraping, or “Gua Sha,” is a folk medicine technique that uses pieces of smooth jade, bone, animal tusks, horns, or smooth stones to scrape along the skin to release obstruction and toxins that are trapped at the surface of the skin.
Chinese Herbs
The substances TCM practitioners most commonly use can come from different leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds of plants such as cinnamon bark, ginger, ginseng, licorice, and rhubarb. Ginseng is the most broadly used substance for the broadest set of treatments. If a practitioner recommends Chinese herbology as a treatment, the herbs are combined into a formula that is dispensed in the form of a traditional tea, capsule, liquid extract, granule, or powder.
Chinese Nutrition
Chinese nutrition is a mode of dieting rooted in Chinese understandings of the effects of food on the human organism. In Chinese nutrition, a balanced diet is one that includes all 5 tastes : spicy (warming), sour (cooling), bitter (cooling), sweet (strengthening), and salty (cooling). Foods that have a particular taste tend to have particular properties. There are no forbidden foods or “one size fits all” diets in Chinese nutrition. In TCM, nutrition is considered the first line of defense in health matters.
Tongue Diagnosis
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners use 5 basic methods of diagnosis in their assessments, including looking, listening, smelling, asking, and touching. Inspection not only focuses on the patient’s physical appearance and behavior, but it also pays particular attention to the tongue. A TCM practitioner’s analysis of the tongue will include its size, shape, tension, color, and coating.
Pulse Diagnosis
Traditional Chinese Medicine (tcm) pulse diagnosis is one of the four major assessments in tcm consultation. Through pulse palpation at three locations, i.e., cun, guan, and chi, on both wrists, the general health condition of a person and a particular organ can be fully recognized. A tcm doctor combines clinical data collected from pulse assessment and other clinical assessments to prescribe treatments to their patients and monitor their prognosis.
What sets TCM apart?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views health as the harmonious flow of vital energy, known as Qi, throughout the body. Qi is understood to circulate through a network of pathways called meridians, which connect to organs and support their physiological functions.
Rather than focusing primarily on anatomical structures, TCM emphasizes functional relationships within the body - such as digestion, respiration, circulation, temperature regulation and fluid balance. These functions are grouped and described through interconnected functional systems.
In TCM, entities such as Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang, and the Organ Systems represent functional concepts that describe how the body maintains balance and health, rather than referring directly to biochemical substances or anatomical structures.
This functional and holistic framework allows TCM practitioners to understand patterns of imbalance and tailor treatments to support the body’s natural ability to restore harmony.
TCM Diagnostic Approach
A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner assesses overall health through a comprehensive and holistic evaluation. This includes a detailed health history, tongue assessment, pulse assessment, and physical examination.
These diagnostic methods help identify patterns of imbalance in the body, such as disruptions in the flow of qi, blood, yin and yang. Rather than focusing solely on isolated symptoms, TCM diagnosis aims to understand the root cause of health concerns by examining how different body systems interact.
This individualized assessment allows the practitioner to develop a personalized treatment plan designed to restore balance, support the body’s natural healing processes and promote long-term wellbeing.
TCM Treatment Methods
There are many different therapeutic methods used in traditional chinese medicine, the most popular being herbal medicines and acupuncture. Traditional chinese medicine emphasizes individualized treatment, therefore healing methods vary widely from patient to patient.
Rather than prescribing specific herbs, practitioners of traditional chinese medicine typically combine a number of different herbs in formulas selected depending on the patient's individual needs. These formulas may be given as teas, capsules, tinctures, or powders.
TCM Herbs
Ginseng
(rénshēn, 人参)
This gnarled rhizome is perhaps one of the best-known of the chinese herbs. The name literally translates to “human root” because the shape of it vaguely resembles a human body – in TCM, it’s thought that the shape symbolizes ginseng’s potent ability to cure human ills, replenish qi (vital energy), and warm the body. Aside from that, ginseng is an antioxidant, which helps rid the body of free radicals. There is also some evidence that ginseng boosts the immune system, which can help the body fight off infection and disease.
Astragalus
(Huang Qi)
Astragalus is a herb that has been used in traditional chinese medicine for centuries. It has many purported health benefits, including immune-boosting, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory effects. Astragalus is believed to prolong life and is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, such as fatigue, allergies, and the common cold. It’s also used against heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions. Specifically, the root of the plant is made into many different forms of supplements, including liquid extracts, capsules, and powders.
Lotus seed
(liánzǐ, 莲子)
Lotus seed improves the functions of the spleen and kidneys, as well as helping regulate diarrhea. Lotus seeds are also rich in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, which are great for nourishment, and the fiber improves digestion as well.
Hawthorn berries
(shānzhā, 山楂)
Hawthorne is a common ingredient used in traditional chinese medicine. The berry itself is incredibly sour, and traditionally used as a digestive aid and to reduce indigestion and heartburn. There is some evidence in modern research that it also might help treat cardiac weakness.
Goji berries
(gǒuqǐ zi, 枸杞子)
Also known as wolfberries, goji berries have been used as an herbal remedy for over 3,000 years, with their first recorded use as such showing up in the pivotal The classic of herbal medicine. They are thought to be anti-ageing because they can benefit the kidneys and nourish jing, or kidney essence, which underpins human vitality. These vibrant and lightly floral berries are also rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin A, and generally come in dried form, used to improve nutrition and eyesight.
Jujube
(hóngzǎo, 红枣)
Deeply red jujube dates have been used in TCM recipes for centuries; the sweet, spongy fruits are often used to aid circulation and to bolster qi. These fruits are thought to promote blood flow, calm the mind, and soothe the nerves, and are often used to treat insomnia. They are also high in vitamins B and C, and can help lift mood and soothe anxiety.
Licorice root
(gāncǎo, 甘草)
Licorice root is thought to replenish vital energies, help stomach functions, clear out heat, and control coughing. It has also been used to treat depression, cold, flu, cough, heartburn, and many other conditions.
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba has many health benefits. It’s often used to treat mental health conditions, alzheimer’s disease, and fatigue. It’s been used in traditional chinese medicine for about 1,000 years. It came on the western culture scene a few centuries ago, but has enjoyed a surge of popularity over the last few decades. Ginkgo biloba is used as a herbal remedy to treat many conditions. It may be best known as a treatment for dementia, alzheimer’s disease, and fatigue.
Ba ji tian
(Morindae officinalis)
The root of the plant is used to make medicine. Ba ji tian is used for improving kidney function and correcting various urination problems, including producing too much urine (polyuria). It is also used to treat cancer, gallbladder disorders, hernia, and back pain, and for boosting the body's defense system (immune system), as well as strengthening the body's system that releases chemical messengers called hormones (endocrine system).