Julie Downs

SHY 300 75

September 25th, 2019

In reading about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I discovered so much about the

beliefs and practices that are used to help people. It is amazing to see the difference between this

and traditional western medicine. As a science major, I believe it is extremely important to

investigate other forms of treatment to fully understand all available options. By researching

TCM, I can now better comprehend it usefulness and origin.

When looking at the major theories of TCM, there are three components; yin and yang,

the twelve organs and their associated Five Elements, and Vital Substances. All of these are vital

to the foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Yin and yang are ever changing energies

defined by four aspects; opposite of each other, dependent on each other, able to consume each

other, and able to transform into each other. Practitioners will often observe one’s yin and yang

Qi to see if an imbalance is present and see what can be done to restore them back to

equilibrium. I really enjoyed the book’s elaboration on how yin and yang effects life cycles. It

explains that when we are young we are very yang which is related to high energy but when we

become adults we become mostly yin or low energy. When reflecting on my current life, I feel as

though I am mostly yin and having a very difficult time finding my yang.

The next component of TCM’s major theories is the twelve organs and their associated

Five Elements. The elements and their associated organs are; wood related to liver and gall

bladder, fire related to heart and small intestine, earth related to spleen and stomach, metal

related to lung and large intestine, and water related to kidney and bladder. Each element and

organ effect each other making the treatment of more than one to be very successful in keeping
the whole body healthy. They are all interrelated and play their part in making sure the proper

care and nourishment is being used.

The last part of the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is Vital Substances. These

include; Qi, blood, Jing-essence, body fluids, and Shen or Mind-spirit. Qi is loosely translated to

“energy” that has the ability to move, transform, warm, protect, and raise things up. Qi is very

closely related to organs but when our Qi is lacking an imbalance can be found in our bodies. An

example would be when we are sick our Qi may not be protecting us. The next vital substance is

blood which is highly related to Qi. Chapter one explains it is a dense version of Qi that has the

ability to nourish and moisten our body. Their relationship is summarized using this quote, “Qi

moves blood and blood nourishes Qi.” The liver, spleen, and heart are all highly reliant on blood

to remain functional. Another vital substance is Jing-essence which is defined as our

constitutional strength we are born with. This substance explains why some people are more apt

to fighting diseases than other. Body fluids are taken quite literally in that they are the fluids in

our body. They are categorized as either light or heavy. Light fluids lubricate the skin and

muscles while heavy fluids will work deep in the body to nourish areas such as the spine and

brain. Lastly, Shen is a rarified form of Qi which is defined by its abilities to; enable us to think

clearly and to be mentally focused, facilitate our ability to sleep soundly, allow us to have good

memory, and give us the ability to be conscious. Shen is deeply related to the heart. Based on our

Shen’s interaction with the heart is can release a feeling of peace and tranquility or cause anxiety

and stress.

When disease arises, its’ causes are divided into three main areas; internal, external, and

miscellaneous. Internal causes can include feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, shock, and joy.

Weather patterns such as wind, cold, damp, and heat are all external causes. Lastly,
miscellaneous causes may be fatigue, exercise, diet, and trauma. Knowing these causes will help

a practitioner understand the origin of one’s condition in order to treat it.

Physical markers are also used to conclude a diagnosis. One way is taking one’s pulse.

By doing this, the practitioner can get a better understanding of the person’s Qi as well as which

organs may be afflicted. Another marker is the tongue as it is thought to be the first place signs of

an illness appear. A person’s tongue looks healthy by being red, moist, fitting comfortably in

mouth, and covered by a thin white film. However, when it is lacking these characteristics the

person may be manifesting an illness.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has several treatment options such as Chinese herbs,

acupuncture, cupping, and guasha. Chinese herbs are used by taking plants with helpful

chemicals and using these qualities as natural remedies for conditions such as headache, rash,

and fever. Many times these remedies are created by boiling the plants into tea but have also

been used topically. Acupuncture is a treatment that involves a practitioner taking ultra-fine

needles and inserting them into points along the patient’s channels of the body to help enhance

Qi balance. The heart channel, gall bladder channel, and the bladder channel all create specific

landmarks on the body that can be used to help treat an individual. Acupuncture has been proven

to be successful in treating conditions such as depression, arthritis, tennis elbow, and

hypertension. Cupping is the act of creating a suction between the cup and skin which is thought

to remove congestion in the body. Joint pain, backaches, and upset stomach can all be improved

with cupping. Guasha is a treatment in which the body is massaged with oil then gently scraped

with a blunt edged tool. This is thought to clear pathogens from the body as well as improve joint

pain.
 Overall, I am very surprised about how little I knew about Traditional Chinese Medicine.

I was not aware of its major theories or diagnosis procedures yet I was pretty familiar with its

treatment options. In addition, I was very interested in how TCM looks at the body differently

than traditional western medicine. After completing this research, I believe TCM would make an

extremely effective health care option. I find that doctors are so easy to throw medications at you

without looking into other options. But with TCM, they are focused on fixing the whole person

not just curing symptoms. I would say the central principle of TCM is to have a healthy mind,

body, and soul. I am a huge activist for not just physical but mental health and I believe that

Traditional Chinese Medicine care for all of the body’s needs. It takes a very holistic approach to

wellness which is irreplaceable for a person to reach complete health.