There is something in this form of medicine

I declare that I know nothing about Chinese medicine, but I am fascinated by alternative medicine.

Whenever I have aches or pains, rashes and bumps I always Google Chinese medicine and 'rash' (for example) and I see what the connecting philosophy is and aim to treat that, and bingo. It does the trick.

So for example, facial acne is linked to stomach heat, this means that your digestion is not functioning properly. So if you looked after your digestion you would find your acne starts to improve. :encouragement:

I read somewhere that a build up of wax in your ears is linked to your kidneys (in Chinese medicine), so whenever I have a lot of ear wax I always see it as an indication I am not drinking enough. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by CharlieH

I read somewhere that a build up of wax in your ears is linked to your kidneys (in Chinese medicine), so whenever I have a lot of ear wax I always see it as an indication I am not drinking enough. :rolleyes:

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Interesting...does the extra fluid reduce the wax?

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Originally Posted by love2shop

Interesting...does the extra fluid reduce the wax?

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I suppose it makes sense in the fact that the dryer you are, the thicker your body secreations will be, resulting in your ear wax becoming more of a problem.

If you are dry, your kidneys will be affected.

There must be something in it, it has served the largest population of people on the planet for many years, and they have a good health record compared to other countries.

Yeah, but we are led to think its the work of the devil in this country :doh and strangely we just seem to go along with it without questioning it.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't agree with some of the substances used within Chinese medicine, for example shark fins, but I think to ignore the concept of Chinese medicine just because their use of animals does not fit in with our own culture is ludicrous.

The term Chinese medicine covers quite a range, which bit are you talking about? Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Tai chi, qi gong, herbs or the five elements?

Qi gong, isn't that a board game? :sly:

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Originally Posted by Esme

The term Chinese medicine covers quite a range, which bit are you talking about? Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Tai chi, qi gong, herbs or the five elements?

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I didn't think beyond the terminology of Chinese medicine, I forgot it is an umbrella term for many different types. I'm not actually sure which speciality my OP fits into, I just remember reading how the Chinese believe that everything is linked up. Maybe five elements or the principles of acupuncture.

I've never heard of qi gong, what is it?

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Originally Posted by Jade26

I've never heard of qi gong, what is it?

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Hi, qi gong is a 3000 year old form of healing, it is a gentle form of exercise that has a repetitive sequence to it.
It is said to aid muscle suppleness, increase bodily fluid movement and promote mental clarity.

This 10 minute video may give you some idea of qi gong

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3K-0JpiJu-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

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Originally Posted by ClaudetteBenner

Hi, qi gong is a 3000 year old form of healing, it is a gentle form of exercise that has a repetitive sequence to it.
It is said to aid muscle suppleness, increase bodily fluid movement and promote mental clarity

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Thank you for sharing the video, it is very similar to Tai Chi, in fact I'm not sure what the difference is. This type of exercise seems more like a meditation in motion.

What are the five elements? and how do they relate in practice?

I don't think anything can withstand centuries of change and still be a significant contender in healthcare, there has always been 'something in it', it is simply that Western medicine doesn't understand it, therefore ridicules it.

Im not sure how this will share, or if it of any help to you...

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Understanding the Five Elements

“Everything that appears in the physical realm is always connected with energy flow at the invisible level.” – Grand Master Lu
On a physical level, your body expresses the energetic imbalances that are happening deep within. Through studying the Five Element Framework, we begin to understand that symptoms are simply the body’s way of talking. For example, the emotion of fear as well as issues with the bones or teeth directly relate to the Kidney. Likewise, worry and overthinking are related to the Spleen and Stomach, as are food allergies, muscular problems and migraines in the center of the forehead. The Five Element theory becomes the key to decoding the body’s messages. That’s when each individual begins the difficult work of delving inward to understand the body from a different perspective—one based on an intuitive knowing, not on fear, worry or concern.

Preventing Dis-Ease
Every human being is born with a gift—the intuitive wisdom to heal the body from all of its ailments. It also has the incredible ability to keep the body in harmony, thereby preventing dis-ease in any form. Prevention is the focus of TCM. However, people often turn to alternative medicines when their bodies are so far out of balance that they are calling out for help. Studying the Five Element Framework helps the individual to reawaken its innate healing ability. It fine tunes our healing powers and ups our healing potential. A true understanding of this framework is like having a secret medical bag in your back pocket. It’s something that’s accessible at any time and in any place.

This ancient and Universal framework embodies so much more than the human being and its emotional and physical components. The Five Elements reflects a deep knowing of natural law and provides a blueprint for understanding all of Nature and our role within it. Interconnections are everywhere. Just as nothing in Nature can truly be viewed in isolation (a plant or animal must be studied within its habitat and within its larger ecosystem), nothing in the human body can be separated. All organ systems have a physical and an energetic function, which relates to the five major elements in Nature. Each of the elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—include categories such as a season, a direction, climate, stage of growth and development, internal organ, body tissue, emotion, aspect of the soul, taste, color, sound . . . the categories are seemingly limitless

Replying to an old post, but still very relevant, I am a huge fan of Chinese medicine and also the first to admit that it puzzles me somewhat. It really requires some level of study, and seems to go against our Western beliefs in medicine. I just wish it came more naturally for me to understand.

I have been using Chinese medicine for a while now and it has had amazing results where conventional medicine didn’t help

More and more people are turning to alternative medicine and Chinese medicine is no exception, it is steeped in history, it works with the body, rather than against it and understands the connections of the whole body.

There must be something in Chinese medicine because they are always busy in our local shop and the Chinese are steeped in culture and tradition so you know that anything they prescribe will be perfect for you

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Originally Posted by Freespirit

There must be something in Chinese medicine because they are always busy in our local shop and the Chinese are steeped in culture and tradition so you know that anything they prescribe will be perfect for you

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Absolutely, it’s been around for centuries and is still going, but I think that unless you have truly studied it, it is probably left to the professionals and get them to treat you. I think Westerners get nervous about going into Specialist Chinese shops, I think they fear looking stupid, not knowing what to ask for.

I use Chinese medicine to help with migraines and it is amazing

Looking at the five elements, let’s say for example ‘lung’ does Chinese medicine suggest that the ‘lung’ impacts on all of those other things in the grey circle? It’s very confusing, and how can the ‘lung’ affect Autumn?

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Originally Posted by Caree

Looking at the five elements, let’s say for example ‘lung’ does Chinese medicine suggest that the ‘lung’ impacts on all of those other things in the grey circle? It’s very confusing, and how can the ‘lung’ affect Autumn?

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:ne_nau: Wow, even your question has fried my brain!

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Originally Posted by Caree

Looking at the five elements, let’s say for example ‘lung’ does Chinese medicine suggest that the ‘lung’ impacts on all of those other things in the grey circle? It’s very confusing, and how can the ‘lung’ affect Autumn?

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So, I can explain parts of it, but not all. the lung element as you refer to is also known as Metal, this represents Autumn. Autumn is all about letting go of things, closing one chapter and allowing another to open, this is seen in nature during Autumn. The lungs represent purity at this time, breathing in the new and expelling the old, and the colon is also represented as getting rid on things that we don’t need. This element is all about cleansing, off loading and letting go, this is true for the grief process, also within this element.

Thank you Colette that is really helpful, I won’t lie, some of it remains a little confusing, but I can understand how the elements are linked. I like the fact the the Chinese look at the human as a whole, but also consider the seasons and the direct affect the environment has on the individual.

So, looking at the five elements, is the idea that you follow that element for the season you are in? Or if you have a lung problem do you follow the element for the lung?

Referring to the OP, I think it would be very unusual for a practice of medicine to last thousands of years for there not to be any substance to it! It has certainly outlived any Western form of medicine!