Chinese Medicine, The Kinder and Gentler Approach...

Taking the long view: Chinese Medicine, the kinder and gentler approach

In Chinese Medicine we take a holistic approach to supporting health and treating disease. It is though the integration of mind, body, and spirit that health and longevity are allowed to thrive.

The model of promoting health and prevention of disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the idea of maintaining a free flow of qi (our life force), blood, and fluids, as well as freeing and fostering an emotional equilibrium of the mind. These are all considered fundamental requirements for abundant health.

An important herbalist of ancient China, Zhu Danxi, stated that:

“So long as the qi and blood enjoy harmonious flow, none of the hundreds of diseases can arise.  Once qi and blood are depressed and suppressed, diseases are produced.”

This ancient philosophy underscores the view that a sound mind and abundant qi are the basis for health and longevity while a deficiency of qi and a weakness of the mind are the main causes of illness and aging. When life is irregular and lifestyle choices don’t support good health, the body is less resistant to disease.  Healthy living and a healthy mind create a strong, sound immune system that serves as a major player in preventing disease.

The book Yi Qing Xiao Lu states that “One should always enjoy simple pleasures such as sunshine in the winter or shade in summer, beautiful scenes on a bright day, walking cheerfully, singing in the woods, listening to birds…” In other words, one should enjoy activities that cultivate joy and relaxation as well as interest in life.

Preserving Balance

It is through the balance of yin (still) and yang (active), the cultivation and maintenance of qi, and the preservation and conservation of a tranquil mind that health and mental well-being can flourish. My patients are often reminded of an image of a scale -- when all is in balance health is abundant, but when the scale is tipped out of balance health is elusive or far from reach.  Keeping the health scale in balance by making wise daily health choices is one of the most important messages that can be taken away from TCM.

So often we live out of balance, creating many disharmonies in the body: sleep disorders, digestive distress, headaches, muscular skeletal imbalances, hormone imbalances, anxiety, and stress disorders.  The diseases of lifestyle irregularities in the country are on the rise with obesity, type two diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, cancers, and drug and alcohol abuse all major burdens and drains on our healthcare system and our country. This is where TCM can have an important impact on healthcare in our society.

TCM helps us all make healthy lifestyle choices that are more in alignment with living in moderation in diet, work, social commitments, and helps with finding deep meaning in life itself. TCM is a slow medicine that helps the body heal before having to use strong allopathic intervention such as powerful prescription drugs or surgery.

Western allopathic medicine is a very important piece in the health care system when there are life threating situations and serious diseases that need strong intervention.  But this medicine takes the near view and works to eradicate the disease without taking into consideration how and why the patient got to this point in the first place. In many cases, if patients simply lived in balance and adjusted their lifestyle choices, they could avoid many diseases all together.

The Long View

The practice of TCM embraces the entire essence of the patients’ body, mind and spirit when formulating a treatment plan. Taking the long view is looking at the whole, rather than merely focusing only on the symptom or the disease.  

The chief complaint that a patient presents is viewed within the context of the patient’s constitution, age, lifestyle, and mental state when considering treatments. The “ten questions” that are at the heart of the intake in Chinese Medicine take into consideration sleep patterns, digestive health, energy levels, reproductive health, emotional history, as well as the presenting health issue.  This information is woven into the overall patterns of disharmony to be addressed during treatment.

And acupuncture is only one aspect of TCM that is used in the treatment of diseases and disharmonies of the body and mind. The use of herbal medicine, massage called Tui Na (Chinese medical massage), meditation and breathing exercises, exercise such as Tai Qi and Qi Gong, dietary recommendations, and lifestyle changes that require the patient’s participation in their own healthcare are all important in the treatment and prevention of disease.

As a practitioner of TCM I feel like a detective looking for the root causes of the diseases or conditions that my patients present.  Each patient has their own unique history, and it is only by delving into the underlying causes that treatment can be fully effective. It is only when there is an integration of body, mind, and spirit, as well as the full participation of the patient’s responsibility for their own healthcare that deep healing can begin.

Chinese Medicine can be seen as a powerful tool that incorporates preventive healthcare within our present system, as well as to serving as a partner with western medicine to integrate the long and near view of disease -- for both viewpoints can help in the long term betterment of healthcare in our country.

Taking the preventive healthcare mindset has the invaluable reward of living with more radiant health throughout your life, and this is the path that Chinese Medicine leads you towards.

Some parting words from the wise ancients:
“If you do not make good use of this free and precious life, what good does it do to possess a human body?” Shabkar

Taoism and Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine is rooted in the ancient philosophy of Taoism, a philosophy which suggests that a part can be understood only in its relation to the whole. Chinese Medicine uses this holistic approach -- a person who is living in harmony with nature has mental, physical, and spiritual balance. And when an imbalance occurs, the complete physiological and psychological aspects of the patient are taken into consideration in the diagnosis.  The treatment seeks to restore balance and harmony to the body.

In Chinese Medicine there is a systematic way of distinguishing the patterns of disharmony, understanding the relationships between all the signs and symptoms of these imbalances, and prescribing treatment that restores balance. This is a medicine of prevention and cultivation of longevity. 

Because of the importance of Taoism to acupuncture, it was not surprising that “Philosophy of Chinese Medicine” was my first required course in the Masters of Traditional Chinese program. My eyes were opened to a new way of viewing health and treating disease.

The “Tao” meaning “the way” or the “path” is the concept of living a righteous way of life that is balanced, simple and in tune with nature. Lao Tzu is considered one of the founding fathers of Taoism and in his book the Tao Te Ching one can find his profound teachings on the subject of living the Tao way.  The three treasures that illuminate the teachings of Lao Tzu are: living with compassion, in moderation, and with humility.

                                                            

Yin and Yang

Yin and yang theory comes out of the Taoist philosophy. This is another way of viewing the world and seeing that all things are parts of a whole. Yin moves into yang, and yang moves into yin, and this is the natural flow of life. The constant transformation of yin into yang and yang into yin is the source of life, and the basis of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

The character of yin is that of the shady side of the slope. Yin is the cold, the rest, the darkness, the moon, the inward, and the feminine. The character of yang is the sunny side of the slope. Yang is the warm, the active, the light, the sun, the vigor, and the masculine.

We are always in a state of yin moving into yang and yang moving into yin. They cannot be separated as they depend on each other for definition. Chinese Medicine seeks to balance the yin and yang.

Lao Tzu sums up this way of viewing the intertwining of these two opposites:

“Being and non-being produce each other;

Difficult and easy complete each other;

Long and short contrast each other;

High and low distinguish each other;

Sound and voice harmonize each other;

Front and back follow each other.”

Nei Jing

The Nei Jing, or the “Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor,” is another classical medical text that contains the knowledge and theoretical formulations that form the basic foundation of the Chinese medical tradition. This text posits that diet, lifestyle, emotions, and environment all have impact on health and wellbeing. The Nei Jing text states:

“In treating illness, it is necessary to examine the entire context, scrutinize the symptoms, observe the emotions and attitudes.”

The Nei Jing suggests medicine should promote the cultivation of life force, or what is known as qi. The most important message in the text describes how to preserve, as well as create, more qi in our daily lives though healthy lifestyle. The text suggests that exercise, herbs, meditation, tai chi, acupuncture, acupressure, diet, and breathing exercises are the tools that promote longevity and vibrant health.

Breathing Arts

The ancient Taoist believed that “Breathing Arts” held the secret to longevity as well as the gateway to advanced knowledge and special powers.  The breathing techniques are passed down for us all to practice. One breathing technique is called the Microcosmic Orbit, which helps circulate energy (qi) through energy points, or meridians.

The flow of qi begins at the navel on the Ren Meridian (front of body) and then travels down to the perineum and up the spine on the Du Meridian (back of body). From there it travels to the head, down the front through the tongue, the throat, and then down to the navel again. These two channels carry a strong energy current that can have powerful effects on regulation of the body.

Learn the Microcosmic Orbit

To begin the Microcosmic Orbit breathing practice sit upright with your feet placed firmly on the floor, hands relaxed on your lap. Once comfortable, bring your focus to your "dantien" (energy center) just below your navel, and visualize a light of energy beginning to grow at your dantien. Next, focus and make your breath smooth, even, and flowing deeply into your dantien. Now you are ready to start the circular breathing pattern. 

Exhale a breath of light and qi into your "Hui Yin," the pelvic floor or the genital and anus area, and then into your coccyx.

Next inhale and draw the breath of light and qi up into your spinal column. Use one single inhalation to bring the energy all the way up to the center of your brain.

On the next exhalation feel the flow of qi come down the center of your face like a waterfall, down through the heart center, and begin the next cycle of breathing.

Try completing ten cycles and built your practice from there.

Enjoy cultivating greater qi, energy, health, and mental clarity. 

More about Meridians

The meridian system in acupuncture is the very foundation of Chinese Medicine, and was mapped out more than 2,000 years ago. The meridians represent the principal pathways that qi, blood, and fluids are circulated throughout the body, tissues, and organs, providing them with nourishment and energy. These pathways are vital in the communication among the organs, muscles, glands, and digestive and endocrine systems, as well as the brain. It is this communication that makes the body a unified whole.

Acupuncturists believe that when qi flows freely, there is no pain or disease. But when there is stagnation of qi, pain, disease, or disfunction shows up in the body. It is up to the acupuncturist to maintain this free flow of qi, blood, and fluid in the body. This is where the knowledge of meridians is most important, and most helps patients maintain abundant health.

How Do They Work?

Meridians are complicated to understand, and take years to fully comprehend. I’ll try to simplify the theory here to illuminate the process. There are twelve paired yin and yang meridians, and two unpaired channels. Each of the twelve meridians are bilateral and are associated with an organ of the body.

The two unpaired meridians are the Governing or Du meridian, and the Conception or Ren meridian. The Governing meridian runs along the center of the spine, along the back of the body, and represents the yang or the masculine aspect of the meridian system. The Conception meridian runs along the center of the front of the body, and is the yin or feminine aspect of the meridians.

These two opposite channels represent the yin and yang at the center of the body. Balancing the yin and yang of the body is fundamental for life’s vitality and these two meridians are very important and useful in regulation of these energies. The Conception (yin) meridian can be used to increase fertility, regulate the menstrual cycle, and treat impotence. The Governing (yang) meridian can treat all the organ systems of the body, regulate the hormones, and increase stamina and adrenal functions.

The Points Involved

Each meridian has its own specific acupuncture points that regulate the body. It is the work and artful practice of the acupuncturist to choose the most effect point prescription that will balance and regulate a patient’s imbalances. Each acupuncture point has its own unique influence on the body and its own function.

There are 361 points along the traditional meridians and then hundreds of extra points, like the auricular (ear) points and the scalp points, just to further complicate learning this vast network of intersecting points. In the West we learn acupuncture points as numbers, but for the Chinese speaker the points often have poetic names that give insight about the acupuncture points themselves.

For example, acupuncturists learn that Stomach 36 is a great point for increasing stamina, immunity, and regulating digestion. The Chinese name is “Leg Three Li” meaning that by stimulating Stomach 36, one can relieve fatigue sufficient to allow one to walk three more miles (li is miles in Chinese).

Acupuncturists also learn that qi circulates in each meridian at specific times of the day. For example, the Stomach and the paired Spleen meridians receive their most abundant qi from seven to nine a.m., and nine to eleven a.m., receptively. The morning hours are one of the strongest digesting times of the day, one more great reason to eat a good breakfast. This flow of qi begins with the Lung meridian and ends with the last point on the Liver meridian, and then once again this flow of qi begins anew through the meridian system.

The Science Behind The Needles

This flow of qi circulating through our bodies is what connects us to the universal life force. We now have exciting stereo-microscope photographs and images that show tubular structures 30 to 100 mm wide that overlay the acupuncture meridian system, called Bonghan channels. This may be the empirical evidence necessary to explain how acupuncture works.

In “Mind and Nature”, Gregory Bateson states that this could be the very system that controls growth at the embryologic level of development. Charles Shang, MD also noticed the physiological similarities between acupuncture points and the embryological organizational center. He found both are areas of high electrical conductance, high density of gap junctions, and cellular organelles that facilitate cell-to-cell communication. This points to the Eastern knowledge that meridians are the information super-highways of the body.

The acupuncture meridian system is a unique system of organization that is capable of carrying an enormous volume of information throughout the body. It is by regulating and keeping these systems balanced that health is kept at its optimal level.

For more information about Bonghan Channels, take a look at my previous blog post here.