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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system steeped with
cultural tradition. TCM views the human body as an integrated whole, but
also as inseparable from nature. Similarly, each part of the body is seen
as components of their own discrete systems, and also the body as a whole.
The simplest theory to understanding the system of traditional Chinese Medicine
is to view the human body as composed of three concentric cylinders. The first
and innermost cylinder contains the internal organs, known as zang-fu.
The second cylinder symbolizes the flow of energy or qi
through the body, or the channel system. The third and outermost cylinder
is the surface of the body which serves as as the environmental interface and
the signaling system of inner dysfunction. There are other principles
central to traditional Chinese Medicine for which a brief introduction is
available: Yin, yang, and the five
elements, the four basic life
materials, the channel theory,
and the zang-fu organ system. Please
click here to see a combination table of all the
above elements of TCM.
Not only does TCM differ from western medicine in theory, but also
practice. An elaborate system of disease, including etiology,
pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, govern the art of traditional Chinese
medicine.
Etiology
In the model of traditional Chinese medicine, pathology or disease is said to
result from aberrant or stagnant flow of qi within the organs and
channels. Qi itself may be excessive or deficient but the body’s
symptomatology reflects qi imbalance in the body. Etiology was due to one
of two causes: climatic or external factors pertaining to yang, or
internal dysfunction related to yin. (As stated in the oldest written
record: The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.)Current TCM
ideology identifies seven emotions as the main endogenous or internal cause of
disease. Diet, which was previously thought to cause endogenous disease,
is now considered a non-endogenous, non-exogenous etiology.
Exogenous factors
| Wind May be endogenous or exogenous
Yang pathogenic factor
Affects yang organs
Abrupt onset |
Heat Usually climactic
Yang pathogenic factor
Attacks yang aspects of body
Abrupt onset with dissipation |
Cold May be endogenous or exogenous
Prevalent in winter
Yin pathogenic factor
Suppresses yang systems
Abrupt onset, accompanied by pain and contraction
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| Dampness May be endogenous or exogenous
Prevalent in winter
Yin pathogenic factor
Affects yang systems
Tendency to persist, accompanied by heaviness |
Dryness Mirrors climate of autumn
Yang pathogenic factor
Affects yin and yang systems
Characterized by fluid depletion |
Fire Occurs year-round
Yang pathogenic factor
Affects yin and yang systems
Often lead to diseases of wind; may transform from any
other exogenous disease
Abrupt onset, associated with hemorrhage
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Endogenous factors
The seven basic emotions of joy, anger, sadness, pensiveness, grief, fear, and
fright, are each linked to a particular zang organ. Therefore, excess or abrupt changes in emotion can disrupt organ function, thus
constituting disease. Please see the table below for a summary of the
emotions and their associations.
| Joy Expression of the heart, but may also affect lungs (part
of the triple burner)
Excessive joy results in scattered heart qi and
inability to concentrate.
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Anger Expression of liver
Excessive anger causes liver-lung imbalance and symptoms
of dizziness, headache, flushing, red eyes, foreign body in throat,
feeling of suffocation, and mental depression.
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Sadness Affects the lungs
Excess causes stagnation of lung qi and symptoms of
chest fullness and depression
If protracted, may lead to fire, disrupting essence of
the lung. May also affect spleen. |
Pensiveness Attacks the spleen, although originates in the heart
Excess causes lack of appetite and depression. If
severe, may show symptoms of decreased heat in spleen and heart: oral
ulcerations, yellow-coated tongue with red tip, decreased appetite, and
constipation. |
| Grief Affects the lungs
Excess causes stagnation of lung qi and subsequent
hypo-functioning of internal organs
Produces symptoms of pallor, lack of appetite,
depression, suffocation in chest, difficulties with urination and
defecation. |
Fear Attacks the kidneys
Excess is considered an extention of timidness and
causes hypo-functioning of internal organs
Symptoms include desire for solitude, listlessness,
incontinence, and low back pain. |
Fright Affects the heart
Excess causes symptoms like palpitations and mental
restlessness.
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Non-endogenous and non-exogenous causes are identified as trauma, irregular diet, insect or animal bites and infections. Also included are entities
such as stagnant blood, excessive phlegm or fluids, and excessive sexual activity or
physical exertion.
Diagnosis
Traditional Chinese medicine has specific methods to arrive at a diagnosis of symptom-complexes. A symptom-complex is a whole body sum of function at a
particular stage in an illness. The symptom-complex detected by the practitioner allows the identification of the etiology, involved organs, and
channels. Eight guiding principles are used by practitioners to delineate disease: internal/external, heat/cold, deficiency/excess, and yin/yang.
The components of a complete examination are as follows:
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Interrogation: Patient is questioned regarding a review of symptoms and daily habits
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Visual inspection: Patient is visually examined, noting the tongue, skin,
eyes, hair, nails, etc.
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Auditory and olfactory observations: Practitioner must listen to the patient:
breathing, speech, cough; he must also observe for mouth or body
odor
Of the above techniques, most emphasis is placed on pulse palpation and tongue inspection.
Treatment
Treatment of disease is aimed at restoring balance and flow of qi, based on a patient’s symptom-complex and organ/channel involvement.
The intent is to restore balance to all systems. The basic approach is to
remove the offending agent and treat the opposite organ. Zang organs may
be treated to relieve symptoms of their corresponding sensory organs. There are
various means by which TCM treats disease: acupuncture, herbs, massage,
diaphoretic therapy, emetic therapy, warming, heat reduction therapy, tonifying
(energy replacement) therapy, and elimination therapy.
For further internet resources, please see:
www.acupuncture.com
www.acupuncture.edu
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