As one of the oldest healing arts in the world, traditional Chinese medicine has been relieving complaints of all kinds for around 2,000 years. This principle works.
More and more people are relying on alternative medical treatment methods. On the one hand, this includes phytotherapy, i.e. the use of medicinal plants and medicinal products made from them. The ancient healing arts of Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are also attracting more and more patients who want to get healthy in a natural way. Above all, the holistic approach speaks for the TCM: It is not the treatment of the symptoms that is in the foreground, but the research into the causes and their fight. This is how long-term treatment success should be achieved. But the TMC also has limits that every patient should know.
The five pillars of traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine is a healing art that developed over 2,000 years ago in China and continues to develop to this day. The therapeutic procedures within TCM are called "pillars". It tries to restore the lost balance of forces in the body . There are several ways to do this:
- Acupuncture : Needles, which are inserted superficially into the skin, are supposed to activate the body's own healing powers and can thus alleviate various ailments.
- Medicinal therapy : The medicinal products used in TCM differ enormously from the medicinal products used in conventional medicine. TCM drug therapy is based on knowledge of medicinal herbs, parts of plants such as roots, barks and flowers. Minerals or animal products are also processed in the recipes.
- Dietetics : Food therapy includes an individually tailored diet * that alleviates existing complaints and prevents future diseases. The goal: to delay physical and mental aging with the right nutrition.
- Qigong and Taiji : Qigong is about creating a conscious connection between movement, breath and imagination with slow movements. Taiji is a martial art that is supposed to activate self-healing powers, reduce musculoskeletal restrictions and strengthen the immune system.
- Tuina : Tuina-Anmo describes the massage art of the TCM. It is considered an independent, holistic therapy method.
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Diagnosis in TCM is so important
Like a naturopath, a TCM doctor will first have a detailed medical history interview. Not only the complaints are queried, but also family illnesses, eating and sleeping habits, living conditions, any stress factors * and, for women, how regular and strong the menstrual period is . The aim is to get a comprehensive picture of the patient in order to treat them as precisely as possible.
Pulse and tongue diagnosis also provide the TMC doctor with information about the patient's state of health and how the treatment should be carried out. Depending on which diagnosis is made, an individually tailored therapy follows that uses the above-mentioned pillars.
The TMC works by teaching Taoism and Confucianism about the right way of life. If the yin and yang are not in balance, this teaching leads to psychological and physical complaints. Properties like feminine, soft, inside, unconsciously are assigned to yin, yang, however, masculine, hard, outside, conscious. If both are out of balance, qi, the life energy, cannot flow freely in the body. According to traditional Chinese medicine, qi flows through the body on certain energy paths (meridians).
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The earlier the treatment begins, the faster the recovery
According to the TCM, all diseases can be treated that are not yet too advanced, are purely psychological or have not destroyed any organs. The rule of thumb is: the earlier an illness is recognized and treated, the quicker the treatment will be successful . Chronic symptoms, on the other hand, need longer treatment.
In practice, TCM is mostly used for simple complaints such as gastrointestinal problems and back pain, but also for chronic conditions such as chronic sinusitis. The ancient art of healing is also recommended for the prevention of diseases . A specialist should always be consulted for serious illnesses such as cancer. In consultation with the oncologist, TCM can be used in addition to conventional medicine. Surgery or imaging procedures such as MRI scans or CT scans are not part of the therapy for TCM.
Many health insurance companies cover the costs of TCM treatment , for example in the case of back pain or chronic joint pain.
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