Chinese healing practices are based on long-held cultural beliefs.
Chinese culture is steeped in ancient traditions that originated thousands of years ago. Methods of healing draw from this rich cultural history and place a heavy emphasis on the spiritual aspects of life. In effect, healing methods are holistic in approach, treating the whole person in body, mind and spirit.
History
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional oriental medicine (TOM) make-up the two healing approaches used within the culture. According to the , TOM was practiced up until the early 1900s, before Western medicine began to exert an influence. TCM came into practice during the 1920s and 1930s as the Communist party of China took shape. The limited resources at the time made it difficult for people to receive standard medical treatments. As TCM remedies and treatments were inexpensive, yet proven methods, the government of China established TCM as an official form of medical treatment.
Qi Energy
Within Chinese culture, Qi energy is viewed as a continuous stream of life force energy that flows through all living things, according to the Foundation. The overall health of the body relies on a balanced and free flowing Qi, with sickness and disease resulting from blocked energy channels within the body. Healing practices are designed to unblock these channels, which allows life energy to flow to and through affected areas. The concept of opposing forces--yin and yang--can also hamper Qi energy flow and are addressed within the healing process.
Basic Elements
The connection between the human body and nature represents a fundamental belief within Chinese culture, according to the Alternative Medicine Foundation. As such, the natural elements--fire, water, earth, wood and metal--are incorporated within the view of the human body and how it operates. In effect, each organ and sensory ability is associated with one of the five elements. Healing methods use the five elements to identify a person's personality type in terms of how they approach life issues and how this approach affects one's overall health status.
Guiding Principles
According to the Alternative Medicine Foundation, Chinese culture views Qi energy, moisture and blood as the three vital materials that make up the body. Moisture works as the body's lubricating material while blood is the fluid that feeds the muscles, bones, nerves and organs. Energy imbalances within the body are identified using the eight guiding principles of yin/yang, interior/exterior, cold/heat and deficiency/excess. These principles provide a means for determining what condition a person's Qi energy, moisture and blood are in. Chinese healing practices base their treatment methods on how the eight guiding principles interact within a person's life.
Oriental Therapies
Oriental therapies are designed to incorporate the philosophies and beliefs held within Chinese culture, according to ChinaTown Connection, a culture-based resource site. Techniques like massage, acupuncture, exercise, acupressure and herbal treatments work to restore Qi energy flow within the body and flush out any existing toxins that may be blocking a person's flow. The overall goals work to balance yin and yang forces, balance the body's inner and outer energies and restore a natural connection or flow between the body and the mind.
Tags: Alternative Medicine, Alternative Medicine Foundation, Medicine Foundation, Chinese culture, energy flow