Comprehensive Knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine
1. Introduction to TCM
What is TCM, TCM refers to “Traditional Chinese Medicine,” which is an ancient and comprehensive medical system that encompasses thousands of years of history and experience, including theories of yin-yang balance, qi and blood circulation, and the meridian system.
What is Western Medicine, Western medicine refers to “modern scientific medicine,” primarily based on medical theories and practices from Western countries, focusing on principles of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.
The Origin of TCM, the origin of TCM can be traced back to ancient primitive societies, where people began to observe and summarize phenomena related to health and disease, and attempted to use plants, animals, and minerals from nature to treat illnesses.
What is the Essence of TCM, TCM emphasizes a holistic view, seeing humans as an organic whole closely related to changes in the natural world, with its core theory being the yin-yang and five elements theory, where the occurrence of disease reflects an imbalance of yin and yang.
Is TCM Scientifically Based, scientific basis refers to reliable evidence obtained through scientific research and clinical trials. TCM relies on “inspection, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation” for diagnosis, and there are still certain limitations and challenges regarding its scientific basis.
How to View TCM, TCM represents the accumulation of ancient Chinese wisdom and experience, possessing unique value and significance. We should view, understand, and respect TCM culture and the complementary nature of Chinese and Western medicine positively, rather than completely denying it.
How Does TCM Treat Illness, TCM diagnostic methods include observation (望), auscultation (闻), inquiry (问), and palpation (切), while treatment methods include herbal medicine, acupuncture, tui na (massage), cupping, and gua sha.
2. Differences Between TCM and Western Medicine
Different Theoretical Foundations, TCM’s theoretical foundations mainly include the theories of yin-yang, five elements, qi and blood, and the meridian system, while Western medicine’s theoretical foundations are primarily based on modern scientific principles such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry.
Different Diagnostic Methods, TCM diagnoses conditions through observation (望), auscultation (闻), inquiry (问), and palpation (切), while Western medicine relies on laboratory tests, radiology, and imaging techniques.
Different Treatment Methods, TCM treatment methods include herbal medicine, acupuncture, tui na, cupping, and gua sha, while Western medicine includes drug therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Different Philosophies, TCM emphasizes individualized treatment, focusing on disease prevention, balance regulation, holistic views, and health maintenance; Western medicine emphasizes disease diagnosis and treatment, focusing on etiology, pathology, and scientific evidence.
3. Theories of TCM
Yin-Yang Theory, the yin-yang theory describes the opposing and unified relationships of various phenomena and things in nature and within the human body. Yin is often associated with negative, static, internal, and cold characteristics, while yang is associated with positive, dynamic, external, and hot characteristics.
Five Elements Theory, the five elements theory describes the various changes and interrelationships in nature and within the human body. For example, the heart belongs to fire, representing heat, activity, and energetic attributes, while water can regulate the heart’s excessive activity.
Qi and Blood Theory, the qi and blood theory posits that qi and blood are essential material foundations for maintaining life activities and health. The circulation of qi and blood is crucial for the body’s normal functions, with different diseases manifesting as qi and blood deficiency, disorder, or stagnation.
Zang-Fu Theory, TCM divides the physiological functions of the human body into five zang organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney) and six fu organs (gallbladder, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, bladder, san jiao), each with specific functions and interrelationships.
Meridian Theory, the meridian theory posits that there exists a network of channels within the body that connects the zang-fu organs, with meridians serving as pathways for qi and blood circulation, regulating physiological activities and disease states.
Dietary Therapy and Nurturing, TCM emphasizes the importance of dietary regulation for health, viewing food as medicine. Based on individual constitution and conditions, suitable foods are selected for regulation to enhance the body’s self-healing ability and prevent diseases.
4. Advantages and Disadvantages of TCM
Fewer Side Effects, TCM often uses natural herbs, which have lower toxicity and side effects, effectively avoiding or alleviating adverse reactions caused by medications. TCM treatment methods (herbal medicine, acupuncture, tui na, etc.) are relatively gentle.
Focus on Holistic View, TCM treatment not only focuses on symptoms but also emphasizes understanding the causes, mechanisms, and overall condition of the individual, using a holistic approach for diagnosis and treatment, which helps to regulate the body’s balance.
Emphasis on Prevention and Health Maintenance, TCM emphasizes prevention and health maintenance, stressing a holistic view of health, including lifestyle, dietary habits, and emotional management, to prevent disease occurrence and achieve physical and mental well-being.
Emphasis on Individual Differences, TCM develops personalized treatment plans based on individual constitution, conditions, and causes, and the variety of herbs allows for flexible combinations to make the effects more suitable for the patient.
Longer Treatment Cycles, TCM treatment generally requires a longer duration, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases. In contrast, Western medicine often provides quicker and more direct effects, making it more suitable for acute conditions.
Lack of Standardization and Normativity, TCM emphasizes individual differences, and different practitioners may adopt varying diagnostic and treatment methods, leading to differences in treatment outcomes, which makes TCM relatively lacking in standardization and normativity.
Not Suitable for Acute and Severe Conditions, TCM’s treatment methods are relatively gentle and more suitable for chronic diseases and functional disorders. For acute and severe conditions, Western medicine’s treatment methods are more effective.
5. TCM Treatment Methods
Herbal Medicine, TCM often uses herbal medicine to treat diseases. Herbal medicine is derived from natural herbs and contains various active components that can achieve therapeutic effects by regulating the balance of yin and yang and the circulation of qi and blood.
Acupuncture, acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into specific acupuncture points to stimulate the points and meridians, regulating the flow of qi and blood in the body to achieve therapeutic effects. Acupuncture therapy includes various forms such as meridian acupuncture, ear acupuncture, and hand acupuncture.
Cupping, cupping involves placing cups that create negative pressure on the skin, promoting qi and blood circulation, eliminating stagnation, relieving muscle tension, and reducing swelling and pain.
Tui Na (Massage), tui na includes techniques such as pushing, grasping, kneading, and pressing, providing moderate stimulation to acupuncture points, meridians, and muscles to regulate qi and blood, promote blood circulation, and improve conditions.
Gua Sha, gua sha involves scraping the skin with a special tool to stimulate the skin and alleviate conditions, promoting qi and blood circulation and relieving muscle pain.
Dietary Therapy, TCM emphasizes regulating the body through proper diet. Some diseases can be assisted through the selection of specific ingredients and cooking methods, such as regulating the spleen and stomach, nourishing the lungs, clearing heat and detoxifying, and nourishing yin and moistening dryness.
External Application of Herbal Medicine, external application of herbal medicine is also a common method, where herbs are ground into powder or made into pastes and applied directly to affected areas, treating conditions such as eczema, burns, and wounds through the penetration and action of the herbs.
6. TCM-Related Medicinal Materials
Ginseng, ginseng is a commonly used tonic herb that has the effects of tonifying qi and blood, benefiting essence and kidney, and strengthening the body. It can be used in forms such as ginseng pills, slices, and tea, either alone or in combination with other herbs.
Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel), chen pi is made from dried tangerine peel and has the effects of regulating qi, aiding digestion, and stopping vomiting. It is commonly used to regulate spleen and stomach functions and alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort. “Chen” refers to the aging process it undergoes.
Huang Qi (Astragalus), huang qi (qí) is a commonly used tonic herb from the legume family, primarily derived from the root. It has the effects of tonifying qi and stabilizing the exterior, enhancing immunity, and is often used to regulate qi deficiency and low immune function.
Dang Gui (Angelica Sinensis), dang gui is a blood-nourishing herb, often referred to as the “blood tonic for women,” with effects of invigorating blood, regulating menstruation, and is commonly used for gynecological issues. “Gui” signifies return and belonging, implying regulation and harmony.
Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala), bai zhu is regarded as a nourishing and regulating herb, with effects of tonifying the spleen, benefiting qi, and promoting diuresis to stop diarrhea. The name comes from its appearance, as the surface of bai zhu’s rhizome is light white or grayish-white.
Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), ejiao (ē) is a gelatinous substance made from donkey skin through special processing, commonly used as a tonic herb for nourishing blood, regulating qi and blood, and addressing menstrual issues, as well as improving insomnia and anxiety.
Fu Ling (Poria), fu ling (fú líng) is a commonly used diuretic herb made from the dried sclerotium of the poria fungus. It has diuretic and anti-edema effects and is often used for symptoms such as edema, damp-heat, and frequent urination.
Gan Cao (Licorice), gan cao is made from the roots of the legume plant licorice and has effects of moistening the lungs, stopping cough, anti-inflammatory properties, and harmonizing the effects of other herbs, reducing some drug side effects.
Huang Lian (Coptis), huang lian is a bitter and cold herb made from the rhizome of the coptis plant. It has effects of clearing heat, drying dampness, and detoxifying, commonly used for treating damp-heat, oral ulcers, and inflammation.
Bai Shao (White Peony), bai shao (sháo) is made from the roots of the white peony plant and is regarded as a nourishing and regulating herb, with effects of nourishing blood, regulating menstruation, calming the mind, and relieving pain.
7. TCM-Related Books
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, the earliest medical classic in China, regarded as the cornerstone and source of TCM, encompassing a wide range of TCM theories, human anatomy, diagnostic methods, treatment principles, and health maintenance.
Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases), authored by Zhang Zhongjing, is one of the traditional Chinese medical texts still used as a core curriculum in TCM hospitals, systematically analyzing the causes, symptoms, progression, and management of cold damage.
The Classic of Difficult Issues, one of the earliest existing classic texts in TCM, authored by Bian Que, containing eighty-one difficult questions in a Q&A format, covering topics such as pulse diagnosis, meridians, zang-fu, yin-yang, etiology, pathogenesis, and syndromes.
The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica, the earliest pharmacological work in ancient Chinese medicine, documenting a wealth of information on medicinal substances, detailing the classification, efficacy, usage, and compatibility of Chinese herbs.
Compendium of Materia Medica, authored by Li Shizhen, this book includes 1,892 types of herbs and over 1,100 types of animal and plant medicines, making it one of the most comprehensive and systematic pharmacological works of its time, with detailed descriptions of each drug and plant.
8. TCM-Related Terminology
Pulse Diagnosis, pulse diagnosis refers to assessing a patient’s condition by feeling their pulse (strength, speed, length). TCM believes that the functional state of internal organs and the meridian system can be reflected through the pulse.
Experienced TCM Practitioners, experienced TCM practitioners are typically older and have extensive clinical experience. These practitioners have accumulated rich TCM skills and diagnostic experience over many years of practice and research.
Meridians, meridians are considered pathways for qi and blood circulation, connecting the zang-fu organs throughout the body, allowing qi and blood to flow, providing nutrients and oxygen to tissues and organs, and eliminating waste and toxins, thus regulating the body’s balance.
Clinical, in ancient times, doctors diagnosed patients at their bedside, which is where the term “clinical” originated. Today, it refers to the process of diagnosis, treatment, and care that doctors perform in actual medical practice.
Dampness, refers to the abnormal accumulation of moisture in the body or the invasion of external dampness, leading to bodily imbalance, which can be caused by humid environments, rain, or flooding, resulting in muscle soreness, joint pain, eczema, and skin issues.
Secret Recipes, secret recipes refer to specific, non-public treatment plans or prescriptions, typically held and passed down by a particular doctor, herbalist, or medical lineage, often derived from personal experience or family tradition.
Folk Remedies, folk remedies refer to unique treatment plans used in specific individuals or family traditions, often lacking scientific validation and clinical research support, requiring caution when used.
Health Maintenance, health maintenance refers to “protecting and maintaining health,” which involves engaging in positive health behaviors and lifestyles to prevent disease, enhance the body’s resistance and self-healing ability, and maintain physical and mental balance and health.
Difficult and Miscellaneous Diseases, difficult and miscellaneous diseases refer to a category of diseases or symptoms with unclear causes or complex conditions that are difficult to treat, often involving multiple systems and organs, presenting various symptoms and signs.
Rheumatism, rheumatism originates from TCM’s theory of wind evil, where wind evil is considered an external pathogen that can enter the body through the wind, causing qi and blood circulation to be obstructed and leading to related diseases.
Pathology, “pathology” refers to various diseases and pathological changes occurring in the human body, with the purpose of pathology research being to understand the nature of diseases, mechanisms of pathological changes, and pathological processes.
Medical Lineages, “medical lineages” refer to families in the field of TCM that have been practicing medicine for generations, often involving multiple generations engaged in TCM work, passing down rich medical experience and knowledge.
Formulas, “formulas” refer to prescriptions in TCM, which combine various herbs in specific proportions and methods for use. “Dosage forms” refer to the processing of herbs into pills, powders, decoctions, and other forms.
Source丨District Health Commission Editor丨Yao Ruixuan
Visual Director丨Chen Lei Chief Editor丨Dong Hao Director丨He Yuanbin
