What is Chinese Medicine?

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Chinese Medicine is a complete medical system which came from China over 2000 years ago. "A complete medical system” is defined as a body of medicine whose theory and practice have evolved independently over time apart from Western medicine. 

The fact that Chinese medicine has evolved apart from conventional medicine does not mean it is any less effective, rather, it has allowed acupuncture to flourish and given it the ability to address health concerns Western medicine has a low success rate with, such as: chronic pain, anxiety, chronic fatigue, women’s health and fertility, digestive issues, arthritis, and migraines/headaches just to name a few.

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Chinese Medicine encompasses a wide variety of modalities - there is acupuncture, which is the most widely known of all the modalities. In this post, we will go more in depth with acupuncture and share about Chinese Medicine in upcoming posts. Acupuncture is the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific points of the body with the purpose of stimulating the movement of energy flow, or "Qi" in specific areas or channels, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. When performed properly, acupuncture should not hurt. You may feel sensations of heaviness, pressure, distention or some slight electric movement at the insertion site, with many patients reporting a feeling of relaxation during the treatment. There is also gua sha which is a skin scraping technique to help ease aches and pains, Tui Na which is a form of massage, and Chinese Herbal Medicine, which is the pharmaceutical arm of Chinese Medicine. 

As to how acupuncture works, there are several theories currently being tested. The most widely held belief is that acupuncture stimulates a chemical response in the body through the needle stimulation. In addition to biochemical actions, studies also demonstrate direct effects of acupuncture on the central nervous system, where acupuncture is able to stimulate muscle relaxation. In the brain, acupuncture has been shown to change functional connectivity, which means that acupuncture can help eliminate pain at the source: in the brain by rerouting pain signals. Additionally, acupuncture regulates the branch of the nervous system associated with rest, relaxation, digestion and tissue healing. Simply put, our bodies are constantly striving to maintain homeostasis, or balance; acupuncture works by drawing the body's attention to certain areas that require help in maintaining this balance in order to promote self-healing through balance.
This ability to bring our bodies back into balance is precisely what makes acupuncture so unique. Its ability to get to the root source of the disharmony and not just mask it. Where conventional medicine will seek to treat the problem (and unintentionally cause further problems in the form of “side effects”), Chinese medicine treats the root cause thereby seeking to eliminate the problem entirely. 

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As to who acupuncture can benefit, since Chinese Medicine is a full medical system, it can address pretty much all the same things that Western Medicine can. With the exception of an acute condition, such as broken bones, heart attack, or stroke, though it can absolutely speed up recovery of those disorders. As always, if you or anyone you know has any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Chances are we have the answers and would be happy to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on your healthcare!

A small list of some of the things acupuncture can effectively treat according to the World Health Organization:

  • Allergies / Asthma

  • Anxiety / Depression

  • Arthritis / Joint Pain

  • Autoimmune Disorders

  • Musculoskeletal Pain / Back Pain / Neck Pain

  • Carpal Tunnel SyndromeColds / FluCough / Bronchitis

  • Chronic Pain Disorders

  • Endocrinology / DiabetesFatigue / Immune Deficiency

  • Fertility

  • Digestive Issues / IBS / Gastritis

  • Headache / MigraineInsomnia

  • PMS / Gynecological Problems

  • SciaticaShoulder Pain / Knee Pain

  • Skin Problems

  • Smoking Cessation

  • Stress / Tension

  • Tendonitis

  • Plus much more...

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Alison Unterreiner, DACM, LAc

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Candace Billings