What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

As a society, Americans are being encouraged to become more aware of their health care options, including costs, risks, practicality and availability. Traditional Chinese Medicine is an option which more people are exploring. It’s important to start this process by first demystifying the approach and its underlying philosophy.

by Jamie Lieber, CA Board Certified Acupuncturist

Jamie Lieber

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic, comprehensive medical practice. It always sees the human body as an interconnected and interdependent system.

Treatment goals focus on treating the root causes of disease through a restoration of balance and harmony.  Direct intervention techniques such as acupuncture, massage, herbal or nutritional therapy are used to create individual treatment plans.

Acupuncture, for example, addresses the imbalance through manipulation of a system of energy lines in the body called meridians. The human body is made up of twelve main meridians which provide connection to the major organs. The TCM practitioner must understand which meridians are being affected in order to provide the appropriate treatment.

Chinese Medicine versus Western Medicine

Initially clients try Chinese Medicine because they’ve had disappointing results with the western medicine approach and treatment. The immediate goal for the patient is relief from painful or uncomfortable symptoms. 

In Chinese Medicine, the complaint is seen as a red flag that something more systemic may be at the root of the problem, rather than an isolated issue.  The ultimate goal of a TCM treatment is to go beyond treating the initial problem and focuses even more on restoring a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

What You can Expect from a TCM Practitioner

Not only does the philosophy and treatment differ from western medicine but so does the terminology and underlying explanations of disease or imbalance. A good TCM practitioner will take the time to explain how and why different patterns, symptoms and diseases present themselves.   I feel that education empowers my  patients to be more actively involved in their own healing.

Patients who better understand the treatment goals and recommended protocols are more likely to work together with their physicians to make necessary changes in their lifestyle.  This helps the patient to stay focused on their health and minimize serious future health issues.

Start Now to Restore Your Balance and Harmony

The New Year is a traditional time to reflect on our lives, goals and accomplishments. However, everything else pales in the absence of good health. Investing time, energy and commitment to self care seems to make more sense as we continue to place additional demands on our bodies and our lives.

Start by addressing just one of thefollowing lifestyle categories. Choose the one (or two) which look to be the easiest in order to begin to restore a sense of balance to your life.  The lifestyle categories are:

1.  Regular Good Quality Sleep
2.   Nutrition
3.  Exercise
4.  Fostering Positive Relationships

Try more non invasive treatments to restore your health when you’re ill and try to minimize your dependence on quick fixes and short term solutions. 

Oh yes, and don’t forget to smile. ;0)

Jamie Lieber is a California board certified acupuncturist, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, and a Shiatsu massage therapist. She received her BA in Kinesiology at the University of Colorado and her MS in Chinese Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) in San Francisco. She has also visited Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou, China which helped solidify her professional goals and approach.

Jamie currently has a private practice in the Marina District of San Francisco. She individualizes treatment for healing and health maintenance, focusing on: chronic illness, pain management and women’s health. Jamie also provides care at a community acupuncture clinic in the Mission District. You can learn more or contact Jamie by visiting her website at JamieLieber.com.

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Posted on 26. Jan, 2010 by SFWJ in Health & Wellness

Tags: Wellness, Women's Health, work/life balance