8 - Traditional Chinese Medicine

Question 1

What are some TCM philosophies?

Answer 1

• Prevention is better than cure

- Better to maintain health than to cure disease

Question 2

In general, what are the theories, diagnosis, and treatments of TCM?

Answer 2

• Theory = Qi/Meridians, Yin-Yang
• Diagnosis = tongue, pulse
• Treatment = herbalism, acupuncture, cupping

Question 3

What is Qi?

Answer 3

• Energy/ life force

- Energy (Qi) flow in the body follows certain pathways called meridians

Question 4

What are meridians?

Answer 4

• Aka channels along which Qi energy flows
• 14 main channels connecting the body in a web-like interconnecting matrix of 360 acupoints
• Correspond to different organs (ex: spleen meridian, stomach meridian)

Question 5

What are Yin and Yang?

Answer 5

• Used to describe the opposing manifestations of Qi
• Para vs. symp NS (symp = yang/ fast, active; para = yin/ passive, inactive)
• Health = balance of Yin-Yang of Qi
• Illness = imbalance

Question 6

What is examined during a tongue diagnosis?

Answer 6

• Body (size, colour, shape)

- Coating (colour, moisture, thickness)

Question 7

Why is tongue diagnosis used?

Answer 7

When Chinese medicine began 2000 years ago, there was no way to see inside the body so they used the tongue

Question 8

What is examined during a pulse diagnosis?

Answer 8

Check radial artery pulse to feel rate, strength, and quality

Question 9

What are the 3 spots of pulse diagnosis and what organ does each correspond to?

Answer 9

• Cun, guan, and chi
• Left cun = heart
• Left guan = liver
• Right cun = lung
• Right guan = spleen
• Left and right chi = kidney

Question 10

What can affect a pulse diagnosis?

Answer 10

• Coffee
• Exercise
• Nervous

Question 11

What can affect a tongue diagnosis?

Answer 11

Food/drink that affect the tongue coating

Question 12

Where did chinese herbs originate from?

Answer 12

Discovery that some plants could alleviate or eliminate suffering from diseases

Question 13

Examples of chinese herbs

Answer 13

• Plant – leaves, barks, berries, roots, seeds, stems
• Insects
• Minerals
• Animal products

Question 14

What is the basis for chinese herbal tx?

Answer 14

Individualized base formula w/ individualized modifications based on follow-up

Question 15

What is acupuncture?

Answer 15

Ancient Chinese practice of inserting needles in specific points on the body to manipulate the flow of energy or Qi

Question 16

How does acupuncture work?

Answer 16

• Qi blockage in meridians = illness
• Acupuncture unblocks the blockages to allow Qi to flow freely
• Stimulate nerves that transmit electrical impulses to spinal cord, brain, and body
• Stimulate CNS to release chemicals (serotonins, endorphins) into local or distant areas of body

Question 17

What diseases and disorders can benefit from acupuncture?

Answer 17

• Pain-related concerns (acute/chronic)
• Digestive problems
• Anxiety, depression
• Infertility
• Insomnia

Question 18

What are the risks and side effects of acupuncture?

Answer 18

• Mild, short-lasting pain where needles puncture the skin or bleeding/bruising where needles are removed
• Serious complications (infections, tissue damage) are extremely rare

Question 19

What are the 2 types of cupping?

Answer 19

Fire or pump

Question 20

What are the benefits of cupping?

Answer 20

• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Anxiety, fatigue
• Skin problems
• Migraines, hypertension
• Fever, cold, flu

Question 21

What is the TCM theory of cupping?

Answer 21

• Stimulate internal energy flow, revive weakened organ functions, improve immunity
• Suck out wind, cold, dampness, and blood

Question 22

What is the modern research regarding cupping?

Answer 22

• Strength phagocytic function of WBCs
• Result in blood stasis and autoimmune hemolytic phenomena
• Regulate nerve excitability