What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM originated in the country of China over thousands of years before. The practitioners of TCM make use of herbal medicines as well as different mind and body practices like acupuncture & tai chi for treating or preventing health problems. In Australia, people use TCM mainly as a complementary health approach.
Traditional Chinese Medicine mainly encompasses various practices, including moxibustion, acupuncture, tui na, Chinese herbal medicine, tai chai, qi gong & dietary therapy. It is rooted in ancient doctrine of Taoism & dates back to about 3000 years. The ancient beliefs on which Traditional Chinese Medicine is based generally includes the following:
- Human body is the miniature version of the bigger, surrounding universe.
- The harmony between yin & yang basically supports health, and diseases result from imbalance between these typical forces.
- The five elements including wood, fire, metal, earth & water symbolically typify all phenomena and explain functioning of body & how it changes when there is a disease in the body.
- Qi performs a number of functions to maintain the health.
Though the specific number of people who use Traditional Chinese Medicine online in Australia is unknown, it is believed that thousands of people use it each year. Many of the systems of medicine even exist in USA and South and East Asian nations, including Korea and Japan. Some of them have been influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine as well and are same like it in a few ways. However, each one of them have developed typical characteristics of its own.
Is TCM safe?
- As far as acupuncture is considered, the practice is safe only when done by a skilled and experienced practitioner. But skilled hands is not enough. The practitioner also needs to make sure to use sterile needles. However, acupuncture can cause serious side effects if done improperly.
- Qi gong and tai chi are two mind & body practices used in Traditional Chinese Medicine andboth of them are safe.
- If Chinese herbs are contaminated with toxins, heavy metals or drugs, they may have serious side effects. So, make sure that the Chinese herbs that's being given to you are from reliable TCM practitioners.
Is Traditional Chinese Medicine effective?
A number of researches have been conducted in Australia and it has been found out that the methods of TCM work quite well for the conditions that they are actually used.
What is to be kept in mind?
Before using any of the TCM methods for improving the health condition, it is always important for the patient to inform the health care provider about his or her complementary health approaches, if any. The health care provider must get a complete image of what his or her patient does for managing his or her own health. Safe care is ensured with this.
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