Traditional Chinese medicine or TCM as its many followers call it is a large health care system that consists of Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, dietary advice and exercise. TCM is so unlike the health care system that we Westerners are used to; the underlying principle of TCM is to bring back balance to the “Chi”.

The “Chi” is said to flow throughout the body when we are healthy through what are called Meridian channels, however sometimes these channels can become blocked and the “Chi” cannot flow and this is when symptoms of illness begin to show.

TCM is a system that has been used throughout the world to successfully treat many illnesses with gastrointestinal and gynecological disorders being the most successfully treated disorders.

The five elements of TCM

TCM is made up of five basic elements; this includes the organs within our body. The five elements are water, fire, and earth, metal and wood. When using herbs in Chinese medicine these are divided into five categories relating to taste. These are pungent, sour, bitter, salty and sweet.

The herbal remedies of Chinese medicine

Although the majority of herbal medicines are plant based, some do include minerals. Herbal remedies can come in many forms and the one you are prescribed will depend on the area to be treated and the herbs to be used.

The diagnosis of the problem is made by the state of the patients Yin and Yang and the organs that are affected. A single herb could be used for treatment or in many cases a combination of herbs will be used to compliment each other.

Although the herbs used mainly consist of plant material they should be used with caution and only be prescribed by a practitioner of Chinese medicine. When combined into remedies they can be as powerful as western drugs prescribed by a doctor and when used correctly can either work alone or alongside traditional drugs.

Additional treatment

Along with prescribing herbal remedies the practitioner of Chinese medicine may also advise you to change your diet. Foods are generally classed as either cooling down the body or heating it up and changes to the diet can be an important factor when it comes to healing. Once a diagnosis has been made then acupuncture is commonly used alongside herbal remedies to encourage and restore the “Chi” to proper balance.

The Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang are opposites and equals, for example where there is night there is day, dark and light, cold and hot. For everything there is an equal that keep things in balance. The same is said to happen in your body and if your body becomes unbalanced then illness begins to show as symptoms.

It is the five elements within the organs of the body that affect the balance of Yin and Yang and this is the basis for diagnosis, if the Yang element is depleted then you will be advised to balance them through changes to your diet, acupuncture and herbal remedies.

The Chinese believe that all ailments and illnesses can be cured simply by restoring the Yin and Yang and keeping them both in harmony will lead to a happier and healthier person.