TCM’s understanding of the body originally developed through the observation of nature and its myriad of interactions, viewing humans as a microcosm of the environment that surrounds them.  TCM’s holistic approach is based on the idea that no single part can be understood except in its relationship to the whole.  It focuses on the specific disharmony between the relationships of different systems within each individual person, but treatment addresses all aspects of the body together to gain overall balance. TCM has created a unique system to diagnose and treat a variety of symptoms and syndromes within the body.  Because of this, the TCM approach to treatment is very different to that of Western medicine.

In TCM, the body and its systems are viewed as an integrated whole and not isolated into individual parts.  It is this relationship within the body and between the organ systems that allows for internal disharmony to be identified.  If there is disharmony between the different organ systems in the body, patterns will emerge and the different syndromes will become clear for the TCM practitioner.  Once the syndromes are identified and treated, the balance can be re-established within the body and symptoms can be relieved.

Evaluation of a syndrome includes a variety of factors including symptoms, history, pain,  pulses, temperature, excess, deficiency, location, skin color, systems effected, discharges, nature of the illness, tongue diagnosis, etc., as well as the degree between the pathogenic factor (if there is one) and the body’s resistance to it.

Treatment is not based solely on the symptoms, but on differentiation of patterns and syndromes.

Therefore, people who present with identical symptoms may be treated in a variety of different ways depending on the pattern or syndrome.

In addition, people with different symptoms may have the same pattern or syndrome and therefore be treated in similar ways.

TCM encompasses a wide variety of different therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, herbal and dietary therapy, moxibustion, massage, breathing and movement exercises.

The practice of acupuncture is based on the theory of meridians.  There are energy pathways called meridians running vertically along the length of the human body, each one linking to a specific organ system.  Symptoms are caused when energy flow is obstructed at certain points along these meridians.  Acupuncture therapy stimulates meridian flow to harmonize and balance the body.  According to this theory, Qi and blood circulate in the body through these meridians which connect the internal organs with external organs and tissues.  By stimulating certain points on the skin the underlying meridians can be affected and the flow of Qi and blood can be regulated to treat a variety of symptoms, conditions and syndromes.  The points used are called acupuncture points or acupoints.

The acupoints are located along each of the meridians.  There are 14 major meridians that are most often used which correspond to the 12 major organ systems in the body as well as the two main extra meridians that run along the midline of the front and back of the body.  Along these meridians there are over 300 acupoints, each with its own unique therapeutic action.  Different acupoints are selected for treatment based on the client’s specific requirements.  Once selected, the needles are inserted and then retained for about 15-30 minutes.

The needles that are used to stimulate the points are extremely small.  They are so small that 10-20 of them can fit in the end of an 18 gauge hypodermic needle, the kind most commonly used for taking blood.

The needles do not cause any discomfort and most people do not even feel them being inserted.  Only disposable, single use, sterile needles are used for each client.

Millions of happy acupuncture recipients across the globe have been touting the health benefits of this therapy for thousands of years.  Over the past few decades there has been an increase of interest within Western medicine to incorporate acupuncture into a more mainstream role as numerous studies focusing on acupuncture have consistently proven the positive results of the therapy.

Acupuncture is finally getting the recognition it deserves in the US.  More people than ever are enjoying this successful, time tested mode of therapy and will be for many years to come.