Chinese Acupuncture Clinic

1. What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

Chinese Medicine is a traditional medical system that has been used for well over 2,000 years. According to Chinese medicine, our body can easily lose its balance or harmony due to internal weakness or external invasion or trauma, which results in pain, illness or disease.

A traditional Chinese diagnosis is used to identify the cause of the disease and to find out where the imbalance lies, and then natural treatment techniques are used to restore the body's harmony and balance. The treatment methods used are typically acupuncture, Chinese herbs and acupressure (therapeutic massage) as well as other associated techniques.

2. Why is TCM a natural treatment?

Whereas modern medicine mainly relies on chemical drugs and surgery, TCM uses natural methods. Chinese herbs are natural products such as roots, leaves, stems, seeds etc.. Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny disposable needles in acupuncture points and channels, in order to stimulate the body's own healing processes.

TCM's holistic understanding of the body seeks to re-establish the physiological balance of the body, thereby largely avoiding the serious side-effects of modern medicine.

3. How is a diagnosis made?
Diagnostic information is gathered by four methods of examination: looking, listening, asking and touching. Traditionally, the most important information comes from careful inspection of the tongue, and from taking the pulse. The state of the tongue, its colour and its coating, will tell the practitioner about the state of patient's health. The practitioner is trained to recognise 29 different pulse qualities at 3 different locations on each wrist, and these will yield further information about the patient's energetic condition.

4. What kind of conditions can be helped by acupuncture and Chinese medicine?

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine have been used for over 2000 years to help patients suffering from many kinds of health problem. Their curative effects are applicable to a wider range of conditions than you might imagine. The TCM system is fully adaptable to the stresses of 21st century life. The following are just a few examples of the types of problems we may see in our clinic.