I don’t really know anything about Chinese medicine. What is the history of Chinese Medicine?
How is Chinese medicine different from Western medicine?
Is there proof that Chinese medicine works?
What types of conditions are best treated with Chinese medicine?
How do I choose a qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine?
Where do I go for more information?

What is the history of Chinese medicine?

There are many styles of Asian or Chinese medicine, but the most prevalent is TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine. This style was developed in China in the 1950’s and is a standardized system based on various traditional Chinese systems of medicine. TCM in its current form is a modernized form of the oldest, continually practiced, literate, secular group of medical traditions in human history.

How is Chinese medicine different from Western medicine?

Western medicine emphasizes a structural understanding of the human body while Chinese medicine is more concerned with function.  Looking at structures is extremely useful for evaluating the more mechanical parts of the anatomy, such as the cardiovascular system. Western medicine, however, often breaks down when faced with the management of conditions affecting multiple systems, while TCM is especially well suited for understanding and treating systemic conditions that lack a single cause.

Is there proof that Chinese medicine works?

In allopathic or Western medicine, the concept of evidence is often tied to double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials. In reality, however, many conventional medical procedures are never actually vetted through this process. For example, since sham surgery is thought to be a violation of bioethics, the real benefits of most forms of surgery have never undergone validation through clinical trials.

While positive results from the scientific testing of Chinese therapies continue to accumulate with thousands of journal articles in China being published each year, the best endorsement of Chinese medicine is an unparalleled body of 2000 years of empirical evidence.  After thousands of years of investigation, innovation, and refinement, Chinese medicine continues to offer some of the most effective and safest health care available to humanity.

What types of conditions are best treated with Chinese medicine?

Just a few examples of the hundreds of conditions successfully treated using acupuncture include headache, shoulder pain, neck pain, pain of the hands and arms, abdominal pain, back pain, and pain of the lower extremities. Chinese herbal medicine is used for many other health issues, including joint pain and dysfunction, fatigue, gastrointestinal complaints, and insomnia.

How do I choose a qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine?

The most important credential to look for is the Licensed Acupuncturist designation (L.Ac.). This certifies that the practitioner has completed approximately 3,000 hours of training. Medical Acupuncturists and other practitioners who offer Chinese treatment as a complementary therapy typically do not have the same quantity or quality of training and will more than likely not be able to offer the standard-of-care as established in China.

Secondly, inquire about the circumstances of the treatment session.  You deserve privacy and adequate time to discuss your case and work with your practitioner to form a strategy with the goal of achieving a better quality of life.  A professional medical setting with adequate facilities to safeguard your well-being is essential.

Finally, choose a practitioner that is specialist in Chinese medicine. Although many good TCM practitioners will incorporate some supplementary techniques, beware of the jack-of-all-trades who offers anything and everything to attract more clients. Those who appreciate the breadth of this medicine will have dedicated themselves to exploring its profound depths.

Where do I go for more information?

Ted Kaptchuk’s The Web That Has No Weaver is the classic treatise for the layperson. We also always encourage you to ask us any questions that you may have. Much of the power of Chinese medicine to heal derives from understanding Chinese medical thought to be able to make the best choices for yourself. Your practitioner will help you to understand the wisdom of the Chinese medical perspective to allow you to optimize your health and well-being.