TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE?

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is one of the great herbal traditions of the world, with a recorded history of more than two thousand years.  CHM has retained a strong presence in health provision in china today, where it is practised alongside western medicine in state hospitals throughout the country in the treatment of a wide range of conditions.  More recently it has become increasingly popular in the West, and has expanded rapidly in the UK since the 1980’s.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: is both an ancient and contemporary system of health care that is undergoing continual development as regards illness and disease. We use only plant substances - flowers, seeds, roots and twigs. We do NOT use endangered species, or any animal or mineral product. The herbs also have well documented pharmacological properties and a wealth of modern clinical research.

Acupuncture: Is one of the best known forms of Chinese Medicine in the West.  The acupuncturist inserts fine needles into points which lie along the channels where the vital energy (Qi) and blood flow, to stimulate the body’s own healing response and help restore its natural balance.

Auricular Acupuncture: Is a form of acupuncture therapy, by which specific points on the ear are needled to treat a large variety of diseases, especially associated with addictions.

Moxibustion: Is a technique associated with acupuncture.  Application of ignited moxa (Artemisia Vulgaris) is used to warm acu-points for regulating Qi and increasing blood circulation.

Cupping: Is a therapy of gentle pressure by placing a vacuumed cup or jar onto the affected area or any part of the body surface for treating purposes.

Dietary Therapy: Outlines a basic healthy diet for each individual person, based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine that have been used over the last 3000 years.  Diet sheets are available according to the patients’ constitution, including and excluding foods that may benefit or worsen their particular condition.

What does Chinese Herbal Medicine treatment involve?

Treatment with CHM involves the use of combinations of herbs which are designed to correct the particular disharmony of the individual. The Chinese materia medica contains several hundred commonly used ingredients, including roots, stems, flowers, leaves and barks. The principle is that a balance of ingredients with certain properties is matched to the individual patient's patterns, allowing the practitioner to adapt to the changing needs of the patient.

CHM may be administered in a variety of ways. Most commonly it is prescribed either as a tea, to be made up from raw herbs or from concentrated powders, or as ready-made formula in tablet form. External preparations are also used, including creams, ointments and washes for skin conditions, and compresses for traumatised tissue. Chinese herbal teas tend to be bitter, but most people get accustomed to them quickly.

What does Acupuncture involve?

There are around 500 recognised acupuncture points on the body, of which about 100 are most commonly used. Stimulation of specific areas on the skin affects the functioning of certain organs in the body. However, those areas may not be close to the part of the body where the problem is experienced. For example, although you may suffer from headaches, needles may be inserted in your foot or hand.

Acupuncture bears little resemblance to those needles used in injections. They are much finer and are solid rather than hollow. When a needle is inserted, the sensation is often described as a tingling or dull ache. Needles are left in place for about 20 minutes, during which time the patient may experience a heaviness in the limbs or a pleasant feeling of relaxation.

What can Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture treat?

The possible uses are very wide, and people of any age or constitution can benefit from them. The following conditions are commonly treated:

• Skin disease, including eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, fungal infections, herpes simplex (e.g. cold sores), herpes zoster (shingles)
• Respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, cough; allergic rhinitis (Hayfever), perennial rhinitis and sinusitis
• Digestive complaints, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease
• Gynaecological problems, including pre-menstrual syndrome, painful periods, irregular menstruation, poly-cystic ovaries, menopausal syndromes, endometriosis, infertility
• Urinary conditions, including cystitis and prostate problems.
• Rheumatological conditions, including rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis
• Headaches and migraines
• Chronic fatigue syndromes and M.E.
• Anxiety, insomnia, palpitations and depression
• Hepatitis and HIV: some promising results have been obtained for Hepatitis C, and supportive treatment may be beneficial for HIV
• Metabolic disorders, including diabetes and thyroid conditions, may benefit from supportive treatment
• Musculoskeletal problems: sciatica, low back pain, neck and shoulder tension, and other painful conditions

Are Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture safe?

Serious adverse effects from CHM are very rare, and it has a very good safety record. However, ‘natural’ does not in itself mean safe. It is therefore essential that you are treated by a practitioner who is trained to a high standard, who complies with UK laws which have banned the use of certain toxic herbal ingredients, who monitors each case carefully to ensure that the patient has no unusual reactions to treatment, and uses suppliers with a proven record of reliability.

It is also important that your practitioner takes note of any drug treatment that you may be receiving, in order to ensure that there is no incompatibility between such treatment and particular ingredients in the CHM prescription.

RCHM demands high standards for admission, imposes stringent rules on its members, and is actively engaged in initiatives to ensure quality control of herbs and herbal products. The public is therefore well-advised to seek help from RCHM members.

All members of the BAcC must observe a Code of Practice which lays down stringent standards of hygiene of sterilisation for needles and other equipment. These procedures have been approved by the Department of Health and provide protection against the transmission of infectious diseases.

Patients who have been treated by a BAcC member are eligible to donate blood through the National Blood Service, and a certificate can be produced by the practitioner.

What about endangered species?

The RCHM has always condemned the illegal trade in endangered plant and animal species, and its members are subject to strict rules which prohibit the use of any such material.

About the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine

The RCHM was set in 1987 to regulate the practice of Chinese herbal medicine. It now represents over 500 fully qualified practitioners. The majority have graduated from a UK educational institution affiliated to the RCHM. Most are also qualified acupuncturists and members of the British Acupuncture Council. RCHM members are subject to a Code of Practice, a Dispensary Code and a scheme for Continuing Professional Development, and are fully insured.

The RCHM is a present actively engaged in preparations for the statutory self-regulation of herbal medicine in the UK. It is anticipated that this is very important change will be enacted by parliament in the near future, allowing closer links to be established between the registered CHM community and the NHS.

What about the British Acupuncture Council?

The BAcC was formed in 1995 by the amalgamation of five separate organisations whose membership agreed that a single body should represent and govern its professionally qualified acupuncturists.

The BAcC currently has more than 2,000 members.