What is Classical Chinese Medicine?

Chinese Medicine is a complete healthcare system, which has diagnosed, treated, and prevented illness for more than 2,000 years. Based on original, ancient traditions of Chinese Medicine that existed before the Cultural Revolution in China, Classical Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive, energy-based healthcare system that is wholistic in nature, unifying body, mind, and spirit. It considers the effects the environment, nutrition, and emotions have on health. A thorough diagnosis and treatment plan addresses each patient individually, thereby enhancing healing. Classical Chinese Medicine can be effective in addressing most health conditions whether they manifest physically, psychologically, emotionally or spiritually.

Acupuncture

Each person’s vital life force, or Qi (pronounced chee), circulates throughout the body in energy pathways called meridians. Disease manifests when Qi becomes weakened or out of balance. Acupuncture is the practice of correcting the flow of Qi by inserting sterile, slender, solid, stainless steel needles into designated points on the body along these meridians.

Herbology

Chinese Herbal Medicine is an extremely important and highly specialized component of Classical Chinese Medicine. Herbal medicine allows the individual to access healing on a daily basis while receiving periodic acupuncture treatments. It has a 2000-year history, augmented by present day scientific research. In Classical Chinese Medicine, it is imperative to treat the person, not the disease. Therefore, herbal formulas are individualized and four patients with the same symptom of headaches would very likely be prescribed four different herbal combinations, each directed to the specific source of the headache.

Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling

For thousands of years, Chinese Medicine has understood the importance of nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise in maintaining good health and recuperating from illness. Western medicine is now also beginning to understand these principles. Many people believe that Classical Chinese Medicine is associated with strict dietary regimes, such as vegetarianism; however, there are no set dietary rules, as each individual has a unique constitution, and nutritional needs must be based on the individual. Exercise requirements are also unique to each individual and dependent on his or her condition.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong (pronounced chee gung) is the practice of using physical and mental exercises to cultivate the Qi of the body. Many forms of Qi Gong have been practiced in China for thousands of years to help maintain health, enhance longevity, and restore balance when one is ill. The breath is an important aspect of Qi gong practice. There are many different Qi gong methods that guide the breath to a relaxed state regardless of the emotions being experienced. The exercises are not strenuous or aerobic yet in their simplicity they work the breath of the body as well as the muscles and joints of the body. Practicing Qi Gong on a regular basis will bring a deeper awareness of the mental, physical and spiritual body.

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