In general, disease is perceived as a disharmony (or imbalance) in the functions or interactions of yin, yang, qi, xu?, zang-fu?, meridians etc. and/or of the interaction between the human body and the environment. Therapy is based on which “pattern of disharmony” can be identified.Thus, “pattern discrimination” is the most important step in TCM diagnosis. […]
TCM’s view of the human body is only marginally concerned with anatomical structures, but focuses primarily on the body’s functions[ (such as digestion, breathing, temperature maintenance, etc.): “The tendency of Chinese thought is to seek out dynamic functional activity rather than to look for the fixed somatic structures that perform the activities. Because of this, […]
Five Phases theory Five Phases (五行, pinyin: wu xÃng), sometimes also translated as the “Five Elements”  theory, presumes that all phenomena of the universe and nature can be broken down into five elemental qualities – represented by wood (木, pinyin: mù), fire (ç«pinyin: huÇ’), earth (土, pinyin: tÇ”), metal (金, pinyin: jÄ«n), and water (æ°´, pinyin: shuÇ).  In this way, lines of correspondence can be drawn: Phenomenon Wood […]
Jing (Essence)The refined and precious substance that is the material basis for all life. It influences our constitution, reproduction, growth and development, and our longevity. It is the foundation for the production of Qi and aids in the production of marrow. There is both Prenatal and Postnatal Jing. Xue (Blood)Blood is the densest of the vital substances, […]
Huangdi Neijing (simplified Chinese:; traditional Chinese:  pinyin: Huangdi  Neij?ng), also known as�The Inner Canon of Huangdi or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, is an ancient Chinese medical text that has been treated as the fundamental doctrinal source forChinese medicine for more than two millennia and until today. It is comparable in importance to the Hippocratic Corpus in Greek medicine or the […]
Food Therapy Herbal Therapy Exercise: Tai Chi & Qi Gong Acupuncture & Cupping I. FOOD THERAPY “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates circa 431 B.C. Traditional Asian Medicine first employs food as a therapeutic tool. Why? Because we are very pre-occupied with food. Our stomachs will let us know […]
