| Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history | | | | and dryness is moistened. |
| of over 4,000 years. For centuries, millions of people | | | | Advantages of TCM |
| in China have relied on TCM for their health and | | | | Western medicine has approached health and a well |
| treatments. | | | | being from a very different angle and viewpoint. It is |
| What is TCM | | | | reactive, rather than proactive. Science and |
| TCM joins the power of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, | | | | symptoms is the main drivers. Western medicine |
| and energetic exercises to correct imbalances found | | | | examines and dissects to determine the conditions of |
| in the body. This not only allows the body to heal | | | | the body and attempts to introduce external, often |
| itself but also helps to prevent other illness. TCM has | | | | synthetic drugs to restore health. TCM on the other |
| been used to treat various ailments, from acne, | | | | hand, focus on why the body is not functioning |
| cellulite, dandruff, gout, insomnia, menopause, weight | | | | properly and attempts to use individualized organic |
| loss and wrinkle to other more serious health | | | | herbal formula to rejuvenate and to restore the body |
| conditions such as arthritis, cancer, cholesterol, | | | | to its natural state. Modern drugs may cause side |
| depression, diabetes and heart diseases. | | | | effects in the long term and creating another disease |
| Ying and Yang | | | | while treating the other. |
| Chinese believe that the imbalances of organ energies | | | | Disadvantages of TCM |
| (or Qi) may cause disease that affects the health. | | | | One of the shortcomings of TCM is the lack of |
| The TCM approach is fundamentally different from | | | | research in the area of toxins and heavy metals. This |
| that of modern Western medicine. In TCM, the | | | | is because TCM was established centuries ago when |
| understanding of the human body is based on the | | | | the world was not polluted by industrial waste or |
| holistic understanding of the universe as described in | | | | toxic chemicals. The lack of standardization in Chinese |
| Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily | | | | herbs and the possibility of toxicity present some of |
| on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes. | | | | the major disadvantages in dealing with traditional |
| The goal of TCM treatment is to adjust and | | | | Chinese herbs. Numerous cases of potentially toxic |
| harmonize Yin and Yang - wet and dry, cold and | | | | levels of arsenic and mercury in Chinese traditional |
| heat, body and mind. This is accomplished by | | | | medicines have been reported. It is advisable to |
| regulating the Qi, Moisture and Blood in the Organ | | | | purchase traditional Chinese medicine from reputable |
| networks. Weak organs are strengthened. Congested | | | | sources and those which has met FDA guidelines or |
| channels are opened to flow, heat is cooled, cold is | | | | strict local health certifications. |
| warmed, tightness is softened, agitation is calmed | | | | |