Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is an ancient medical system that takes a deep understanding of the laws and patterns of nature and applies them to the human body according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation. It is a holistic medicine that is thought to be more than 5,000 years old. There are many facets of TCM including acupuncture, acupressure and herbal therapy. Consult a doctor prior to beginning any new treatment.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the most commonly known facets of TCM. Jeffery A. Singer defines acupuncture as the insertion of very fine needles on the body's surface in order to influence physiological functioning of the body. The needles accomplish this task by moving the innate energy, or qi, through the energy pathways of the body. These energy pathways are called meridians. When the qi becomes stuck or imbalanced, the acupuncture needles can help move the qi and help the body to restore the balance of energy. TCM theorizes that when the body's energy is in balance, disease cannot exist.
Acupressure
Acupressure is basically acupuncture without needles. Instead of using needles to stimulate the acupuncture point, a thumb, finger or other similarly blunt object is used to put pressure on the point. It works with qi and the same system of meridians as acupuncture to help restore the balance of energy in the body. Acupressure is convenient because it does not require any special tools beyond the knowledge of which points to press. Once you are educated on which points to use, you can use acupressure as a home treatment to complement other TCM therapies.
Herbal Therapy
Herbs are an integral part of TCM. They are used in different combinations or formulas to strengthen and support organ system function. Like acupuncture, they are used to treat imbalance in the body. In TCM, herbs are not strictly plants. They can be derived from plants, minerals or animals. The herbs can be boiled and made into teas, they can be made into tinctures or they can be made into powdered form and put into capsules. Herbal therapy can be used alone or in conjunction with any of the other TCM therapies.
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