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TCM Basic
In order to understand Chinese medicine theory, we have to learn about the basic concepts of the uniqueness of Chinese philosophies developed over five thousand years of history. Traditional Chinese medicine based on two important and ancient theories: Holistic concept and differentiation of syndrome.
Holistic concept
Everything in this universe is a whole, intergrated system. Anything inside this universe cannot be separated from each other and they are closely inter-related and inter-dependent. Therefore, human is a whole system, any organs or system in our body are influencing other organs or system all the times whether they are in healthy or unhealthy state. Furthermore, human and the nature is also an inseparatable whole.
Holistic Ideology. Chinese medicine realized that Heart system is the emperor of the body systems; the system consists of liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney as five main organs called Zang. Each main organ consists of its sub-organ(s) to form the system such as liver to gallbladder, heart to small intestine, spleen to stomach, lung to colon, and kidney to urinary bladder, male and female sex organ, and anal. For further information, please visit Zang-Fu Theory. Because of its close relationship, each organ condition will directly or indirectly affects the other organ(s). Therefore, maintaining a good health totally relies on the harmonious of systems and the balance between Yin and Yang.
Human and nature is an inseparatable whole. When natural environment like climate, seasons, day and night, or geographical change, human will be influenced by the changes. In certain range of environmental changes, human can adapt the environment naturally to prevent any change in our body, but when the change is so sudden or beyond the usual range, we will react to the change and feel uncomfortable, but we will get used to the change or if not, we will get sick. Our body and mind will also adapt the change within our body like sweating in summer and also make the change to react to different environment such as wearing more clothes in winter, etc. Moreover, human is also affected by societal environment such as pollution, living pace, working, social pressure, or emotion changes.
Differentiation of Syndrome.Traditonal Chinese medicine emphasizes on differentiation of syndrome or so-called pattern of disease by its signs and symptoms according to Chinese medicine theories. Western medicine emphasizes more on classifying the type of diseases for the application of treatment while TCM will apply specific treatment for the symptoms in different stages that classify a syndrome. For an instant, TCM will treat the cold with different medicines in different stages while Western medicine will use the same medicine for a disease called cold. TCM calls it "Same disease-different treatment" On the other hand, TCM will use the same medicine for different diseases while Western medicine will use different drugs, and TCM calls it "Different diseases-same treatment" We are only to say TCM is more concentrating on this type of methodology instead and there are exceptional cases in Western medicine. Sometimes, emergency curing means is used on alleviating the patients' suffering in a temporary manner.
In conclusion, some TCM concepts are still strange and unexplained to the modern world with ancient beliefs. But most of the philosophies are still worthy to be respected and applicable to use after numerous clinical practices and assessment through the Chinese history.
The above is only the basic concept of traditional Chinese medicine, please subscribe newsletter to learn more about Chinese medicine.
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