Oriental Medicine originated more than 5,000 years ago and is based on the concept of Qi (pronounced “chee”), usually termed energy. Practitioners of Oriental Medicine assess a patient’s symptoms according to a pattern of disharmony by using a set of diagnostic skills. The diagnosis is based on the practitioner’s detailed questioning, palpation, visual inspection, and olfactory-auditory data collection. A treatment strategy is then determined based on discriminating the exact pattern of the body’s physiological response to pathogenic factors.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herb Case Studies
To prompt the healing process, one or more of the following Oriental Medicine treatment strategies are employed:
- Acupuncture: the insertion of very fine, sterile and single-use needles placed in specific acupuncture points to assist in rebalancing organ disharmonies.
- Moxibustion: mugworth is used to warm acupuncture points and accelerates the healing process
- Herbs: prescription of herbal formulas consisting of 5-15 herbs that are individualized for each patient’s condition.
- TuiNa/Acupressure: massaging techniques to activate meridian and organ systems.
- Gwa Sha: rubbing of skin with a ceramic or jade spoon to facilitate the circulation of blood and circulation.
- Cupping: glass or plastic cups create suction on the skin to increase circulation.
- Oriental Nutrition: specific foods can be added or avoided to help strengthening the body.
- Qi Gong: breathing exercises to improve vitality.
- Tai Qi: moving exercises to improve circulation.
