Chinese Medicine

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 Chinese Medicine
o Chinese Medicine (CM) which is also referred to as
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has had a long
history of development in China and abroad.

o The core principles were initially based on the laws of

nature that were applied from both a ‘vitalistic’ and
‘physiomedical’ perspective.

o To this end, energetic ‘meridian channels’ may be

commonly treated in combination with a detailed
understanding of human anatomy and function.

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Core Chinese Medicine Practices
1. Acupuncture
• Laser

2. Chinese Exercise Therapy

• Qi Gong
• Tai Chi
3. Chinese Herbal Medicine
4. Chinese Dietetics (Diet Therapy)
5. Massage (Tui-Na)
• Acupressure
• Bone Manipulation
6. Moxibustion
7. Cupping
8. Scraping
9. Dermal Hammering
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 Chinese Medicine Substances
Internal Considerations:
o Qi (energy)
o Yang
o Xue (blood)
o Jing Ye (body fluids)
o Yin
o Jing (constitutional energy)
o Shen (spirit)

External/Internal Pathogenic Considerations:

o External Pathogenic Factors (Wind, Cold, Heat, Damp)

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 Core Chinese Medicine Theories
o Yin and Yang Theory
o Heaven, Earth, Man Theory
o Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Theory
o Four Level Theory
o Six Divisions Theory
o Zang Fu Theory

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 Yin Yang Theory
o “Achieving balance” is the core underpinning principle of
this theory:
• Yin represents the nourishing aspects of the body;
• Yang represents the energetic aspects of the body;
o When these core theories are in balance best health is
achieved;
o The further out of balance these principles become the
greater the risk of developing disease; and
o Chinese medicine treatment focuses on balancing these
properties.

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 Heaven, Earth, Man Theory
o Similar to yin yang theory this theory also focuses more specifically on
“achieving balance” and is more widely applied to mental health
complaints.

o The core underpinning principle of this theory:

• ‘Heaven’ represents the future/past and detached from
physical/mental presence;
• ‘Earth’ represents the here/now and grounding of the
physical/mental body; and
• ‘Man’ represents how we achieve balance between these two
aspects.

o Disease is encountered from a Chinese medicine viewpoint when these

become unbalanced.
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 San Jiao Theory
o Similar to yin yang theory this theory also focuses more specifically on
“achieving balance” and is more widely applied to organ based diseases.

o The core underpinning principles of this theory:

• ‘Upper Jiao’ representing the Lungs, Heart and Pericardium;
• ‘Middle Jiao’ representing the Stomach, Spleen, Gall Bladder and Liver;
and
• ‘Lower Jiao’ representing the Kidney (yin and yang), Bladder.

o Disease is encountered when the balance of a particular aspect of the

Upper, Middle or Lower Jiao either raises or lowers.

o Long term dysfunction within one region will (with time) lead to compromise
of the remaining regions.

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 Four Level Theory
o The four level theory illustrates channel physiology, immune function
(Chinese medicine viewpoint) and depth of pathogenic invasion from the
Wen Bing;
o The four levels are described as:
• Wei Qi (Defensive Qi)
• Qi
• Ying (Nutritive Level)
• Xue (Blood)
o External Pathogenic Factors (EPF) and Internal Pathogenic Factors (IPF)
such as cold, heat, damp, wind can commonly attack the body and may be
of seasonal origin;
o Disease is incurred from a EPF when it descends initially into the Wei Qi
level;
o Disease is incurred from a IPF when it effects one of the levels
immediately; and
o Disease worsens as it progress towards the Blood level.
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 Six Division Theory
o The six division theory illustrates channel physiology, immune function
(Chinese medicine viewpoint) and depth of cold pathogenic invasion from
the Shang Hun Lun;
o The six divisions are described as:
• Tai Yang (Channels and Lung);
• Yang Ming (Channels, Stomach and Colon);
• Shao Yang (San Jiao, Gallbladder, Pericardium, and Liver);
• Tai Yin (Spleen and Stomach);
• Shao Yin (Kidney and Heart); and
• Jue Yin (Systemic).
o Pathogenic Factor (PF) disease typically starts at the tai yang level and
descends towards the Jue Yin level; and
o Disease worsens as it descends to each subsequent level.

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 Five Element Theory
o The five element theory illustrates healthy function and also the basic
aetiology towards the progression of internal disease from a Chinese
medicine view point;

o This theory has several cycle of health or dysfunction represented as:

• Sheng cycle (generating sequence) which is defined as the
‘parent/child’ cycle
• Ko cycle (controlling sequence) which is defined as the
‘grandparent/child’ cycle
• Destructive cycle (overacting sequence) which is defined as ‘over-
controlling’ or ‘destroying’ the ‘child’; and
• Anti-Ko Cycle (insulting sequence) which is defined as ‘over-
controlling’ or ‘destroying’ the ‘parent’.

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 Five Element Theory
Heart
Sheng Cycle

Liver Ko Cycle Spleen

Destructive Cycle

Kidney Lung

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 Classical Diagnostic Techniques
o Observation (wang zhen): tongue, facial, skin and gait analysis
o Listening (wen zhen): relates to the patient's voice and
respiration
o Questioning (also wen zhen): covers diet, sleep, excretion and
symptoms
o Palpation (qie zhen): involves taking six pulses on each wrist,
one for each inner organ, and interpreting the depth, speed,
strength and quality of each; Palpation of channels is also
common in acupuncture and tuina practice.

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 Chinese Medicine
Tongue Diagnosis
Kidney o Signs located over specific
Bladder sections may relate to organ
Intestines dysfunctions;
Gall Bladder

Gall Bladder
o Key diagnostic markers:
• Colour;
Liver

Stomach Liver • Geographic Markings;

Spleen • Shape;
• Dryness/cracks;
• Coating;
• Movement; and
Lung • Deviation.
Heart

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 Chinese Medicine
Pulse Diagnosis
Radial Wrist Crease o Signs located at specific
Heart Lung sections may relate to organ
dysfunctions;

o Key diagnostic markers:

• Rate (speed);
Liver Spleen
• Quality (eg. wiry);
• Depth; and
• Rhythm.
Kidney Kidney
Yin Yang

LHS RHS

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 Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
o Diseases are classified according to eight principles:
• Excess (shi) or Deficiency (xu)
• Yin or Yang
• Hot or Cold
• External or Internal
o Modern Chinese medicine practice would then entertain a more
formal diagnosis. Typically this would either be a Jing Luo (channel
pathology) or Zang Fu (organ pathology) diagnosis.

o Treatment principles are then identified (the goals of treatment)

o The treatment is then prescribed.

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