Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic medical approach used to diagnose, heal, and prevent illnesses. New York-based traditional Chinese medical doctor Deng Zhenqiu says Chinese medicine is rooted in ancient Chinese culture. [Deng Zhenqiu, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of 3,000 years—with a written record of 2,000 years." Deng talks about the origins of the term Chinese medicine. [Deng Zhenqiu, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "Some people consider the term 'Zhong Yi' as meaning Chinese medical practice, hence the name Chinese Medicine or Zhong Yi. Actually, the first character, Zhong, also means to bring the unbalanced Yin and Yang back to the middle and balanced way. Just like what Confucius means by saying 'Zhong Yong' in the Doctrine of the Mean." Deng, who has been practicing Chinese medicine for 25 years in Manhattan's Chinatown, explains that in addition to balancing Yin and Yang, Chinese medicine also uses the five elements theory. [Deng Zhenqiu, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "The Five Elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth . Metal corresponds with the lungs. Fire to Heart, Wood to liver, water to kidneys, and earth with the Spleen. Traditional Chinese medicine uses the theory of the Five Elements—mutually reinforcing and neutralizing each other—to treat illnesses." Today, the two most common Chinese medical practices in the Western society are herbal medicine and acupuncture. Traditional Chinese medical doctor Zhang Yi has been practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine for nearly 27 years from her clinic on East Broadway, Manhattan. Zhang speaks about how acupuncture works—that it's based on the concept of the flow of energy through the body along "pathways" called meridians. [Zhang Yi, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "If any energy pathway was found to have a problem, acupuncture is applied to unblock the acupuncture points to allow a smooth energy flow and the illness can be healed." Zhang says the diagnosis process starts from the moment the patient arrives. [Zhang Yi, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "When a patient enters the room, I will look of his or her posture. If the patient appears tense around the abdomen, it may mean he or she has some problem there. The next step is to examine the eyes. Some people have red eyes. Some find it hard to keep their eyes open. Then I will feel his or her pulse. This is to find out if the patient suffers from a weak Yin, or a weak Yang, or if any of his or her organs have problems. Then I'll look at the tongue." Deng says Chinese medicine uses a different approach to Western medicine. [Deng Zhenqiu, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "Chinese medicine is different, it looks holistically. If you've a headache, they look for the reasons. There're many different reasons for a headache. If it's a cold, it can be caused by chill, or heat. Chinese medicine looks for the exact causes. Then it balances the Five Elements and Yin and Yang. The healing effect is really good." Zhang says traditional Chinese medicine treats the root of the problem. [Zhang Yi, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "Let's take a cough as an example. Western medicine will give medicine to discharge the phlegm. These drugs often make the patients drowsy and affect their work whereas Chinese medicine does not have such side effects. Instead Chinese medicine focuses on strengthening the spleen...because a weak spleen will cause a build-up of phlegm, which leads to coughing." The two different approaches complement each other. [Zhang Yi, Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor]: "If there's an epidemic of illness, western methods can treat it faster. For chronic illness, or the start of an illness, then Chinese medicine is better." Today, traditional Chinese medicine plays an increasingly important role in Western society. More individuals are now seeking traditional Chinese medicine as a holistic approach for health and healing.

• published: 04 Aug 2012
• views: 30994