Text

The Concept of TCM
中医的概念

TCM is a science that originated and developed in China. It belongs to the natural sciences and is founded on its unique theories and rich experience. TCM has had more than 2,000 years of development and is influenced by the ancient philosophy of materialism and dialectic method* of analysis. TCM takes holism as a guiding principle. In addition, TCM studies the laws of occurrence, development, prevention and treatment of diseases. TCM is also committed to the study of health improvement and lifespan expansion through life nurturing and rehabilitation. In short, TCM is the ultimate symbiosis* of theory and practice and it is a unique life science with Chinese features.

The Features of TCM
中医的特色

TCM is a science that deals with anatomy*, physiology* and pathology* of the human body. It deals with prevention, diagnosis* and treatment of diseases. Holism and treatment based on syndrome differentiation* are the two unique features of TCM as shown in Fig. 1-1.

Fig. 1-1 The two unique features of TCM

1. Holism 整体观念

Holism is one of the philosophical ideas regarding the human body as an organic whole, which is integrated with the external environment.* Holism is further divided into two categories: the holism of the human body, and the holism of the human body with the natural world.

The Holism of the Human Body 人体的整体性

According to TCM, the five viscera* and six bowels* are linked by meridians*. Viscera and bowels are also connected with other organs* such as mouth, nose, tongue, eyes, ears, external genitalia*, and anus*. Together these tissues* and organs form a unified body.

TCM not only explores the physiological activities of the body from the holistic perspective, but also studies diseases from the organic whole as well. Because an affected organ or tissue is a part of the whole body, the pathological change in a particular place of the body always affects the physiological function of the whole body, which affects the body's yin and yang, qi and blood.*As exterior* and interior* of the body are organically connected, an interior pathological change is usually manifested* on the exterior of the body. Therefore, based on the holistic 'concept and through the four examinations* of TCM, physicians can give the correct diagnosis and proper treatment.

The Holism of the Human Body with Nature 人体和自然界的整体性

The holistic concept applies not only to the body itself, but also to the relationship between the body and the natural world. The natural environment is the material basis for human survival, so changes of the natural world always have direct and indirect impact on the human body. And human activities are changing the natural environment these days.

2. Treatment Based on Syndrome Differentiation 辨证论治

Treatment has to be based on syndrome differentiation, other than disease. In other words, the syndrome has to be identified first in the treatment of diseases. Without recognizing the syndrome, you have no idea how to treat the patient in TCM. Therefore, syndrome differentiation is the most important step in treating patients, while treatment is the method of curing the disease.

Syndrome differentiation refers to syndrome recognition by studying and analyzing relevant information, or symptoms and signs, gathered from the four examinations. We treat disease mainly by treating the syndrome.

It is important to note that "syndrome" is different from "symptoms" and "signs". "Syndrome" in TCM is the generalization of the body's physiological reaction and pathological change caused by a disease at a certain stage in the course of its development. "Syndrome" is composed of a group of symptoms and signs; "symptom" is a subjective feeling of a disorder or disease (such as pain, nausea or weakness); and "sign" is the objective finding of a disease.

One disease may show several different syndromes during the course of the disease, and conversely, different diseases may exhibit the same syndrome in the course of their development. Thus, TCM may treat different diseases with the same formula, and a disease may have to be treated with different formulae at its different stages according to the patient's symptoms and signs.

The Main Branches of TCM
中医的主要分支

Like Western medicine, TCM has many branches including but not limited to* basic theories, diagnostics, internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology* and obstetrics*, pediatrics*, ophthalmology*, otorhinolaryngology*, orthopedics* and traumatology*, therapeutics*, acupuncture, moxibustion*, cupping, medicinal*, formula, nursing, rehabilitation, and life nurturing.