19 - Traditional Chinese Medicine Flashcards
TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine
What provinces have TCM practitioner and acupuncturist licensing programs?
BC, Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland, and Quebec
How is TCM managed in Manitoba ?
Manitoba is not subject to government regulation. Practitioners must quality for membership in a regulatory association.
CMAAC
Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada
In a province where acupuncture and/or TCM is NOT governed by a regulatory body, what does someone have to do to be certified ?
Completed AT LEAST a 3 year full time acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine course that equals a minimum of 1900 hours of full time study, plus 500 Clinical hours, from an education institution approved by CMAAC or registered by a provincial Department of Education (in Nova Scotia, the Department of Labour and Advanced Education) and/or FTCMCC (Federation of TCM Colleges of Canada)
TCM originated in ancient China and has been practiced for over ____ years
2000
What is the oldest received work of Chinese medical theory?
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon
List 3 historical TCM physicians
- Bian Que
- Hua Tuo
- Li Shizhen
List 3 points about Bian Que
- The earliest known Chinese physician
- Skilled in feeling pulse and acupuncture
- Prevention is better than cure
List 3 points about Hua Tuo
- The first person in China to use anesthesia during surgery
- Developed “Wuqinxi” (exercise of the five animals)
- Better to maintain health than to cure disease
List 2 points about Li Shizhen
- Regarded as the greatest Chinese physician and and pharmacologist
- Best known for writing “Compendium of Materia Medical (Bencao Gangmu”
List 2 theories of TCM
- Qi/Meridians
- Yin-Yang
List 2 things used in diagnosis of TCM
- Tongue
- Pulse
List 3 treatments used in TCM
- Herbalism
- Acupuncture
- Cupping
What is Qi?
- A basic concept of TCM (pronounced as “chee”)
- Most closely translated as “energy”
- Energy (Qi) flow in the body follows certain pathways called meridians or channels
What are meridians?
- Meridians (also called channels) are networks of pathways along which Qi energy flows
- 14 main channels connecting the body in a web-like interconnecting matrix of 360 acupoints
- Meridians correspond to different organs
*Illness occurs when Qi flow is blocked or obstructed
What is Yin-Yang ?
- Yin and Yang are terms used to describe the opposing manifestations of Qi.
- Parasympathetic (yin) vs sympathetic (yang) nervous system
- Changing and transforming to each other
- Health = Balance of yin-yang of Qi
- Illness = Imbalance
What is Yin associated with?
- Cold
- Dark
- Interior
- Structure
- Fatigue
- Chronic
What is Yang associated with?
- Hot
- Bright
- Exterior
- Function
- Insomnia
- Acute
How do we diagnose using the tongue?
Look at:
Body: size, color, shape
Coating: color, moisture and thickness
How do we diagnose using the pulse?
Checking the radial artery pulse to feel the rate, strength, and quality
Describe Herbalism
- Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts
- Chinese herbs originate from he discovery that some plants could alleviate or eliminate suffering from diseases
Where do we get herbal material?
- Plant: crude and prepared leaves, barks, berries, roots, gums, seeds, stems
- Insects
- Minerals
- Animal products
Describe Herbal Treatment
- Individualized base formula with individualized modifications
- Formula modified in follow-up
- Short term symptom treatment
- Long-term tonic treatment
What are some safety issues with herbal medicine?
- Misidentification
- Self-prescribing
- Substitution
- Medication interactions
- Contamination
- Allergic reactions
- Adulteration
How is herbal medicine sold ?
- Dry extracts (pills or capsules)
- Teas
- Syrups
- Oils
What does “Acupuncture” mean?
Acu = needle
Acupuncture = means to puncture with needles
Describe Acupuncture
- An ancient Chinese practise of inserting needles in specific points on the body to manipulate the flow of energy or Qi
- One of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world
- It became widely known in North America in 1970’s
-Feels like a mosquito bite and then just pressure, not really painful
How does acupuncture work?
- Qi blockage in the meridians results in illness
- Acupuncture unblocks the blockages to allow the Qi flow freely
- Acupuncture integrates different systems of the body and promotes self-healing
- Treat a person as a whole, not just the symptoms
- Stimulate nerves, which transmit electrical impulses to the spinal cord, brain and the body
- Stimulate the central nervous system to release chemicals (serotonins, endorphins, enkephalins) into local or distant areas of the body
What can acupuncture be beneficial for?
- Pain-related concerns (acute/chronic)
- Digestive problems
- Anxiety/depression
- Infertility
- Insomnia
Risks and side effects of acupuncture ?
- Safe when conducted by a qualified practitioner
- Mild, short-lasting side effects do occur in some cases, however, including: pain where the needles puncture the skin, bleeding or bruising where the needles are removed
- Serious complications, such as infections or tissue damage, are extremely rare
- Only occur as the result of practice carried by a practitioner who has not been properly trained
What is cupping?
Cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine in which local suction is created on the skin
2 ways to perform cupping?
- Fire cupping
- Pump cupping
What can cupping be used for?
- Muscle pain & stiffness
- Anxiety, Fatigue
- Skin problems
- Migraines
- Hypertension
- Fever, Cold & Flu
How does cupping work?
- Stimulate internal energy flow, revive weakened organ functions, and improve immunity
- Suck out wind, cold, dampness and blood
- Strengthen the phagocytic functions of white blood cells and the reticuloendothelial system
- Result in blood stasis and autoimmune hemolytic phenomena
- Regulate nerve excitability, dual-direction regulation
Compare TCM and Western Medicine
TCM:
- Individualized
- Experience-based
- Summary of clinical observations
- Emphasizes the role of the body in healing
- Herbs and natural agents
- Behavior of the system as a whole
- Works to maintain health
Western Medicine:
- Standardized
- Evidence-based
- Results of empirical evidences
- Mainly relies on medication and procedures
- Pure chemical compounds
- Structure and function of the parts
- Manages disease
