Chinese Medicine as an ancient form of medicine

Chinese medicine is an ancient system of therapy that originated in China and is over 2000 years old. Understandably it views the body and mind differently from the Western Medical Model which is a few hundred years old. Although it is old, this doesn’t mean it is inferior or primitive. It is incredibly complex and it is still used all over the world today. 

When I first started studying Chinese Medicine it was repeated to me that it cannot be directly translated to our modern way of understanding the body. It is a new way of thinking (for most of us) about how the body works which also is reflected in nature as we are as much part of nature as the trees and the weather.

Chinese Medicine takes the whole person into account. When treating a client’s symptoms we look at such things as the person’s lifestyle, diet, mental-emotional world, past medical history, outlook on life and current state of health. In Chinese Medicine there are channels/meridians which distribute Qi (lifeforce energy) throughout the body. In simple terms, when the flow of Qi is flowing smoothly a person radiates health and vitality. When a person’s Qi is obstructed in some way there is illness, whether it is mental/emotional or physical. A person’s Qi can be disrupted in many ways. Some examples are an injury, poor diet, emotional issues, physical illness, inflammation or living a life that doesn’t align with who they are.

By needling specific points on the body based on the person’s signs and symptoms, we can influence their Qi and move them towards a more balanced state of being.