Nigel Pfeffer
Mrs. Dunbar
Senior Project
February 8, 2016
Traditional Chinese Medicine
The History of traditional Medicine has been a very unique and exciting field. Herbology
and the history of TCM are the most crucial elements. Learning the art and science of Chinese
Medicine is a good way to experiment with alternative medicine, and will lead to further success
in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many believe that alternative medicines provide many benefits
over modern drugs, and the benefits can be seen almost immediately. This is a start towards the
expansion of alternative medicines to western cultures.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine focused on natural
healing and energy. There are many methods of healing in TCM. The most known and
recognized is acupuncture. The earliest dated process began 14th-11th century BCE, during the
Shang dynasty ("Treatment of Asthma and Food Allergy with Herbal Interventions from
Traditional Chinese Medicine”, p. 13). Stone and bone needles found in ancient tombs would
lead people to believe that acupuncture was implemented around this time (“The History of
Acupuncture in China”,
http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/The_History_of_Acupuncture_in_China/1819/1 /). The
medicine practiced at this time was primitive, and based on gods and myths. This was a major
flaw in the healing process, due to the lack of science and knowledge of the human body. This
lack of knowledge wasn’t uncommon, and many methods of healing weren’t very effective.
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Another example of alternative healing, although fairly modern (1930’s), was a device which
emitted an electrical shock through a glass tube to the skin. This electric shock was marketed to
cure any disease and illness, although there was no real medical treatment given. Early TCM
falls into a similar category, although the healing process was more spiritual, some benefits were
shown, but also some flaws loomed, which gave mixed signals towards the effectiveness of the
practice itself.
The geographical and political isolation of a country, such as China, plays a factor in the
general lack of knowledge in Chinese Herbal Medicine to other cultures and civilizations. When
China became more open in 1972, the knowledge of healing started gradually spreading to other
Western countries. This caused a massive boost in popularity and use. These herbs were
welcome to progressive Western countries, due to the natural, healthy, and balanced remedies
that were alternative, these types of herbs and medicine were very popular amongst those who
are health conscious.
Acupuncture is one of the most recognized methods of TCM. Acupuncture is performed
by sticking tiny needles in the skin, and restoring the flow of Qi. Qi, pronounced “chi” is the
flow of energy in your body, and acupuncture stimulates pressure points, and helps to restore the
natural flow of Qi (“Facts about Ancient Chinese Medicine”, Livestrong.com). Qi is the
underlying principle of Chinese Medicine, and most martial arts. Although this belief is spiritual,
and there is no physical energy flow, a lot of the healing relies on the patient to accept it, as well
as the acupuncturist to regulate it. Because of the spiritually, some question the effectiveness of
acupuncture (“Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction”, www.nccam.org/nih.gov).
Acupuncture also has physical benefits as well. When a needle is inserted, some report a feel of
tingling, radiating heat, or a numbing sensation. A skilled acupuncturist can insert a needle with
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no pain at all, which contradicts the fact that many will not try acupuncture, due to a fear of pain
from the needles.
Acupuncture is a growing method of medicine. Nearly half of all insurance companies
reimburse the cost of a treatment. At nearly 60% or doctors clam that acupuncture is at least
somewhat effective for pain treatment. This is beneficial to the outlook of acupuncturists, being
that they are not legal doctors because they do not have a doctorate degree. Although they are not
legal doctors, they do possess many, if not more than enough skills to treat most common
illnesses and diseases.
The main reason acupuncture works, is by physically stimulating nerve points or muscle
bundles in the body. The points trigger the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals, much like
exercise does. This, being done via needles, makes it an all-natural method of healing. There are
many stress-relieving drugs that patients claim do not work as well as acupuncture. Achieving
this method without chemicals that damage the liver, is the ideal goal in alternative medicine.
The major downfall of taking prescription drugs is the liver damage. Some drugs are a
direct threat to the liver, and some drugs over time release chemicals that can cause injury to the
liver. This may seem strange by the fact that the livers role in the body is to transform toxins,
into non-toxic resources. Prolonged damage to the liver can result in development of disease in
the liver. Some diseases are: increased liver enzymes, necrosis, hepatitis, and blood clots.
Nonetheless, the fact that drugs do have beneficial chemicals to treat, cure, and prevent illness
and disease, makes them appeal to people to buy. Also the fact that they are inexpensive, and
quick, often found in a capsule or pill. Diagnosing liver disease is hard to do, mainly because the
body doesn’t have a strong response system for the liver. The liver filters toxins, so if it cannot
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do it, the toxins in blood will cause even more damage to surrounding organs. This often enough
contributes to the searching for other methods of healing, which might be suggested by
physicians.
As one of the main branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese herbal medicine's
origins are found as far as many millenniums ago in shamanic or folk traditional medicine. It
became formalized during the Han dynasty in China when several important herbal texts were
written. In the beginning of the Common Era, the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica was written.
This text was one of the first that lists and classified each herb and their functions. This is one of
the most important tomes. Later, during the fourth century of the Common Era, the most
celebrated books of prescriptions, the Treatise on Cold Damage and Prescriptions from the
Golden Cabinet were composed. These two texts are responsible for about twenty percent of all
Chinese herbal prescriptions used today, which stress the combination of acupuncture and herbs.
By 225 CE herbal anesthesia was being used for surgical operations.
An effective way of determining what an herb does is by tasting it. Herbs typically have
five distinct tastes, often referred to as the Five Flavors. These flavors are sour, warm, bitter,
cool, acrid/pungent, and salty. Each flavor has a distinct area of effect, in which is heals more
effectively. For example, an herb with a warm taste would be given to help circulate blood, and
remove some blockage such as an infection. It would also induce sweating, another way of
getting rid of toxin in the body.
Often enough, people have “psychological illnesses” in which they aren’t actually Ill, but
mentally believe they are ill. This results in the consumption of unnecessary drugs. Some also
take drugs at the first sign of illness. This may be a well preventive method of treating illness,
but also results in the unnecessary intake of drugs. This is why herbal medicine is beneficial,
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because if you aren’t feeling your best, you can take drink some herbs, and immediately start to
feel the effects of five flavors.
Chinese Herbology is another big factor in TCM. There are roughly 13,000 different
medicinals, and over 100,000 recorded recipes in the ancient Chinese literature. There are many
benefits of herbology. The herbal prescription is a mixture of various other herbs. There is the
main ingredient, which sometimes can cause a side effect, and then other herbs to cancel those
side effects (Chinese herbal medicine, www.cancer.org). Decoction is the process of getting the
extracts from an herb, by dissolving it or boiling it. Green Tea is a good example, as it is
submerged in water to extract the tea into a liquid as a beverage. Green tea might not be
considered a medicine, but it a common drink which provides some medical benefit.
When used correctly, herbology can be one of the best types of alternative medicine.
However, there are risks when using herbs. It is absolutely curtail that before starting herbs,
consult a physician before stopping prescriptions. Not all herbs can match the dosage and
strength of drugs, and could result in harm or death. Patients with asthma typically use bronchial
dilators with a long-lasting steroid to dilate the bronchial muscles. As of now, there isn’t an herb
mixture which can match the effects of steroids, but there are short term herbs which are
stronger. This may be efficient to some if they are able to use the herbs on a short schedule, but
not so much for people in school or working.
The study of Chinese herbs centers on the scheme that many natural materials have
healing powers, or have the ability to benefit the body. This is an important theory of not just
Chinese medicine, but most Western medicine in general. Popular remedies ranging from
common aspirin to modern chemotherapy treatments have their roots in organic substances.
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Western medicine is beginning to acknowledge its obligation to Chinese herbal medicine, noting
that the efficiency of many modern drugs was originally established in Chinese herbal practice
centuries ago (“Chinese Herbs”, http://www.acupunctureasheville.com/chineseherbs.htm).
However, Chinese herbs should be viewed only as a supplement to western medicine, and not as
a replacement. Replacing modern drugs with herbs could result in complication, or even death.
Chinese medicine emphasizes harmony and duality, and this is well-represented by the
increasing cooperation between practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine and their
counterparts in the western medical establishment.
Chinese herbs have served as the foundation for "Traditional Chinese Medicine", or
TCM, for over 5,000 years. The fundamental idea of living in harmony with nature and the
environment forms the basis for the use of Chinese herbs as well as the traditional Chinese
approach to health. Knowledge of the healing power of Chinese herbs and herbal remedies has
been passed down from generation to generation, and today represents one of China’s greatest
gifts to mankind.
Another factor of Chinese medicine is Qi. Qi has two major components. One source is
claimed to be inherited by the parents. This is referred to as the “innate vital substance”. This is
when you are given your own energy for your body at birth. The second source is resulting from
various things in nature, such as food, water, and air you breathe. Both sources of energy are
processed and transformed through the organs. Qi also has four methods of movement. Up and
down, as well as outward and inward. Organs have specialized methods of movement, the lungs
tend to move in all direction, when stomach qi, moves downward to aid in digestion.
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When determining illness and wellbeing, Qi is often a go-to element of healing to
measure the effectiveness of a treatment. When Qi is measured, it’s not measured on a chart or
meter, as much as an increase or decrease. Typically, increased Qi would determine that a
treatment is effective, and the decrease would mean an ineffective treatment, and would require a
revised method of healing. Qi is used in many oriental arts besides medicine. In martial arts, Qi
is used as an underling principle for energy.
Overall, TCM is a great alternative method of healing that has virtually endless
possibilities of healing and growth. There are many alternative medicines, but Chinese medicine
methods are still used over modern medicine today. Acupuncture and herbology are the most
common used methods in Western cultures, and most likely continue to be the preferred choice
for a while. There are many natural benefits of using herbs and acupuncture over prescription
drugs, including promoting better liver and kidney health, as well as an overall boost to the
immune system. TCM also can help to develop a clear mind, which is great for mental health.
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