Whether it’s pain, chronic inflammation or digestive problems: Many complaints can be alleviated naturally through the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM for short). We explain how.
For more than 2,000 years, Chinese doctors have viewed people holistically. The focus is on “Qi”, the flow of energy in the body. Five pillars, ranging from acupuncture to medicines, massages and nutrition, should allow the energy to flow harmoniously once more with the help of the therapy.
What exactly is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the cause of complaints and illnesses is a disturbed vital energy. In order to track down these disorders, the diagnosis of the pulse plays a major role.
A distinction is made between 28 different pulses that can show disharmony in the life force, alone six pulses per hand. The tongue is also a mirror of the whole body. Changes and plaque provide important clues to disease, as do the patient’s smell and voice.
The five pillars of therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine
1) Acupuncture
Various therapies are intended to help bring the “Qi” back into balance. The best known and most common is acupuncture. Needles are inserted into specific points on the body. These stimuli send signals to the brain. This then sends substances on their way that inhibit inflammation and stimulate circulation processes, endorphins are released. This also works without needles, for example with acupressure, where pressure points are worked on along the meridians.
2) Massage
With the Tiuna massage, pressure points are freed from their blockages with fixed grips. It is one of the oldest manual therapies. Techniques such as kneading, tapping and gripping are combined. The same applies here: Life energy must be able to flow.
3) medicinal plants
Herbal medicines make up the largest proportion of remedies. They include mushrooms, herbs and roots. From them, a medicine is prepared individually for each patient, which helps with acute and chronic ailments.
4) Meditation and movement
Tai Chi or Qigong: These ancient Chinese arts of movement are an important complex for prevention and therapy. They allow the Qi to flow freely, which contributes to general well-being.
5) Diet
Food is also an essential part of TCM. Depending on smell, taste, temperature, preparation and consistency, they differ in their effect on the body and on the individual organs.
What ailments can TCM help with?
The complaints that TCM can help with can be very different. They range from depression and hair loss to restlessness and burnout.
- Pains such as back pain, joint problems such as rheumatism or arthrosis through to fibromyalgia
- diseases of the respiratory tract: chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic sinusitis, hay fever
- cardiovascular diseases: Cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, circulatory disorders, coronary heart disease
- neurological diseases: Condition following stroke, polyneuropathy, dizziness, sleep disorders, exhaustion
- skin diseases: Atopic dermatitis, poorly healing wounds, itching, acne
- gastrointestinal diseases: gastritis, constipation, diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, bile and liver dysfunction
- Gynecological diseases: Menstrual pain, menopausal symptoms, cycle disorders, premenstrual syndrome, desire to have children
- urological diseases: cystitis, irritable bladder, urinary incontinence, impotence
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MDR (cbr) | First published: 09/01/2022
This topic in the program:MDR TELEVISION | The main thing is healthy | April 13, 2023 | 5:00 a.m
