Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Chinese medicine is a broad term encompassing many different modalities and traditions of healing. They share a common heritage of technique and theory rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy (Taoism), elements of which are believed to date back over 5,000 years. The first recorded use of TCM is said to have been around 2,000 years ago. The phrase traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is actually a recent development with a specific meaning in the long history of Chinese medicine.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the Chinese government undertook an effort to combine many diverse forms of Chinese medicine into a unified system to be officially defined as traditional Chinese medicine. The intent was to integrate the country’s large workforce of traditional practitioners into an organized health service delivery system. This would aid in providing care for a large population by using familiar and inexpensive methods.

Acupressure

Traditional Chinese pressure-point massage uses finger pressure applied to key points on the body to stimulate energy flow, ease muscle tension, relieve pain, and promote relaxation. Often referred to as "acupuncture without needles."

 

Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese healing technique meant to maintain or restore the body’s balance of energy ("chi"). Administered by inserting fine needles into energy centers (meridians) to stimulate energy flow, acupuncture is used to treat underlying causes of conditions including addiction, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, lower back pain, menstrual irregularities, arthritis, allergies, high blood pressure, and sciatica.

 

Chi

Chi is a Chinese word meaning aliveness, life force energy. or life breath - also known as Ki, Qi or Prana.

 

Chi Gong (also Qigong)

CHEE gong Ancient Chinese method of maintaining health by guiding and balancing energy, or chi, through breathing, movement, and meditation.

 

Cupping

Chinese therapy where heated glass cups are applied to the skin along the meridians of the body, creating suction to stimulate the flow of energy

 

Feng Shui

fung SHWAY Chinese art of arranging buildings, objects, and furniture in optimal positions for achieving a harmonic flow of energy between a place and its inhabitants. Believed to influence health, happiness, wealth, and relationships.

 

Gua sha

Gwah-shah The practice of using a tool to apply pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. This action causes light bruising, which often appears as purple or red spots known as petechiae or sha. The name gua sha comes from the Chinese word for scraping.

 

Qi Gong (also Chi Gung or Chi Kung)

From qi (energy) and gong (the achievement that comes from practice), a group of Chinese self-healing exercises. They combine simple movement, breathing, and mental imagery to relax and strengthen the body and the mind.

 

Tai Chi (also Tai Chi Chuan)

tye CHI Chinese martial art in which practitioners move slowly and gracefully through a series of postures coordinated by their breath. Used to reduce stress and improve flexibility, strength, energy, agility, and well-being. Often described as "meditation in motion."

 

Tui Na

twee NAH Chinese therapy used to balance energy in the body and release toxins with massage and acupressure techniques. An important component of traditional Chinese medicine.