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How the TCM works

How the TCM works

by | 2929,Jun, 2021 | medical

The pathologies seen by the Chinese Medicine

In the preamble, let’s remember a fundamental principle: no doctor cures his patient! It is the patient who is the artisan of his own healing, with the help of his doctor, who practices his art through different techniques.

In this spirit, the Chinese doctor is interested in the health of the patient and not in his illness. He will diagnose the imbalances, potential factors of illness, and use his various tools (acupuncture, tuina massage, dietetics, herbal medicine …) to restore the overall balance of the patient, the condition of health.

However, if one chooses to talk about diseases, Traditional Chinese Medicine – TCM – treats all diseases. In some cases of advanced diseases, TCM will improve the ground of an individual, his general state of health. TCM may also seriously delay the progression of a serious illness. It will have the great merit finally to limit the destructive side effects generated by chemical drugs.

A 5,000 year old medicine

The WHO – World Health Organization – for its part recognizes since June 1979 forty-two diseases that can be treated with acupuncture. This list is of course limiting when one knows the effectiveness and the power of the Chinese Medicine which has been proven for more than 5’000 years. It is gratifying, however, that WHO finally recognizes TCM as a medicine in its own right. It is validated in its status of traditional medicine, and not complementary or alternative. The diagnosis in TCM is different from the diagnosis of Western medicine. It is therefore wrong to try to translate Western terms to find their correspondence in Chinese medicine.

To understand the difference between the approaches of these two medicines, observe two types of images: the first is a photograph, the second is a film. Allopathic medicine will observe a photograph, an apparent situation at a time “T” which is characterized by one or more symptoms. She will make her diagnosis according to what she can observe. Of course, since what is not on the picture can not be taken into account, being invisible!

TCM treats imbalances, source of disease

Chinese medicine, meanwhile, observes a film, an image in motion. During the diagnosis, the TCM will collect information on the patient’s past, his present state of health of course, but also on the potential evolution of his health. She observes the film of life. Through her holistic approach, she observes energy imbalances and their impact on the physical, emotional and psychic dimensions of the patient. Thus Chinese medicine can treat imbalances before they become symptoms or diseases. Who would have the idea to compare cinema and photography. Even if it is possible to shoot a photo of a movie.! … Thanks to its global study of the human being, the MTC does more than cure symptoms, it aims the root of the disease so the root cause . It takes into account all the aspects (emotional, physical and psychic) ​​of the patient.

The TCM is finally a natural medicine, which does not use any chemical medicine, and thus does not induce any side effects in the patient. This is not a small advantage!

To conclude, a little common sense! Chinese medicine, one of the oldest in the world, would it have survived if it had not proven its effectiveness, and provided solutions to all the ills of his people?

Emotion of joy

Emotion of joy

by | 2929,Jun, 2021 | medical

Joy is associated with the fire element in TCM

Joy is the emotion related to the fire element, and to the Heart organ in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Joy, unlike the four other emotions listed by Chinese medicine (fear, anger, sadness, worries) is an emotion that one enjoys feeling. She is perceived as positive, and she is! Indeed, feeling joy and expressing it is natural, it is a sign of good heart health.

However in TCM, the Heart occupies a preponderant place in the general equilibrium since it is considered as “the emperor of the organs”. The Heart therefore guarantees the overall good health of the individual.

Joy is considered pathological only when it is excessive, that is to say when the person is in a state of exaltation, frenzy, that he is agitated, euphoric or laughs all the time very loud. But it is not the major cause of imbalance of the Heart.

The heart is generally an organ sensitive to emotional excesses.

Sadness, although associated with the Lung in the theory of the Five Elements, considerably affects the Qì of the Heart. The Lung and the Heart are closely linked insofar as one governs the Qi and the other the Blood, and both are interdependent. Sadness will generate a void of Qi from the Lung which, in turn, will generate a void of Qi from the Heart.

Likewise, anger, which includes frustration, resentment and even depression in TCM, will affect the Liver first, and indirectly the Heart. Indeed, anger leads to a rise in the Yang of the Liver (Fire of the Liver) which can turn into Fire of the Heart.

Functions of the heart in TCM

The Heart has a blood pumping action. If the Qi of the heart is abundant, the heart will function at a normal rate, ensuring the proper transport of blood in the blood vessels. The pulse will be regular and strong, the complexion pink and bright.

The function of the Heart is to govern the blood and the vessels.

But one of its essential functions is to house the Shen. The Shen represents the spirit which gives an individual his identity, and more generally it represents the overall vitality of this individual. It governs the energy balance of all the organs. The Heart also houses mental activity, memory, consciousness, thoughts and sleep.

The Heart controls perspiration. People who sweat abnormally often have an energy imbalance in this organ.

The Heart opens to the tongue. In TCM, the language and the Heart are connected. A person who knows a fire from the heart will be particularly talkative. Conversely, stuttering, difficulty or weakness of speech, or even aphasia are the result of a deficiency of the heart.

Pathological tables of the heart

If the heart’s Qi is deficient, blood transport will be hindered. The pulse will then be weak, the person will be pale, his tongue will be pale and white. She may experience palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath on exertion.

When there is excess yang energy in the Heart, we speak of “Heart Fire”. The mind is restless, the individual suffers from insomnia, his pulse is rapid, his tongue red. The circulation of Qi is slowed down, and the Heart is affected. This will result in a red face, heavy sweating, hypertension.

Joy allows a good circulation of Qi and Blood, relaxes the spirit, thus promoting the inner peace necessary for the activity of Shen.

The notion of Shen in TCM

The Shén, a fundamental concept in TCM, is related to the heart. It is the life force that animates the body and the spirit. The quality of the shen depends on the balance of the heart. And if the shen is strong the body is strong.

All emotional disorders affect the heart and therefore the shen. It is difficult for many of our patients in these troubled times to find joy. It is therefore not uncommon for us to deal with imbalances of the heart.

The heart being an organ particularly sensitive to stress and emotional excesses, cultivating a “good heart” therefore requires cultivating a calm and serene mind. This is why we offer, in addition to acupuncture and pharmacopoeia, lessons in practices such as meditation, qi gong, tai chi.

The experience and our practice of now fifteen years in TCM has allowed us to verify the positive impact of these practices on our shén.

And since the heart connects us to others, practicing selflessness and kindness are highly recommended!

La tristesse

La tristesse

by | 2929,Jun, 2021 | Traditionnal chinese medicine

Elle est associée à l’élément métal en MTC

En médecine traditionnelle chinoise (MTC),  la tristesse est associée à l’organe des poumons, et à l’élément métal. Cette émotion est plus difficile à vivre que la joie, car elle est souvent associée à des pertes, des deuils, ou des événements vécus comme douloureux.

Et pourtant, la tristesse fait partie de la palette des émotions humaines, et doit donc être vécue pleinement. Chercher à l’occulter, ou la percevoir négativement, ne peut qu’engendrer un refoulement et à terme des déséquilibres énergétiques.

A l’inverse vivre la tristesse avec une intensité trop grande, ou s’y enfermer sur la durée peut également affecter l’équilibre énergétique et engendrer des pathologies des poumons, voire du gros intestin, l’entrailles associée à l’élément métal.

La capacité à vivre ses deuils, à ressentir et accepter sa tristesse, à laisser couler ses larmes à bon escient, sera donc la garantie d’un bon équilibre de l’élément métal, et donc d’un fonctionnement harmonieux du poumon et du gros intestin.

Fonction des poumons en MTC

Les poumons sont responsables de l’inhalation d’air propre et riche en oxygène, et du rejet du gaz carbonique et des déchets toxiques. Les poumons régulent le Qi inhalé avec l’air et le distribuent à travers le corps. Ils contribuent à la circulation du sang et du Wei qi (qi protecteur).

Les poumons aident le qi et les fluides à descendre dans les intestins. Ils sont responsables de l’excrétion des liquides organiques sous la forme d’urine et de sueur.

En MTC, les poumons contrôlent également la peau, régulant l’ouverture et la fermeture des pores et l’activité des glandes sudoripares. Par exemple, pendant l’effort, ou par temps chaud, les pores s’ouvriront pour permettre la transpiration. A l’inverse, par temps froid, ou en cas de vent, les pores se fermeront pour protéger le corps de ces agressions extérieures.

Le système pulmonaire régule également les sinus, les bronches, le nez, la gorge, la voix. De lui dépend la capacité de sentir et de parler d’une voix claire.

Poumons

Pathologies des poumons

Le poumon étant étroitement connecté au cœur, il a aussi un impact, avec le cœur, sur la bonne circulation du sang dans les vaisseaux sanguins. Pour cette même raison, certaines pathologies pulmonaires peuvent évoluer en maladies cardiaques.

Le poumon contrôlant la respiration, une pathologie poumon pourra se traduire par un souffle court, de la toux, un sensation d’oppression dans la poitrine, un manque de désir de parler, une voix faible, une dyspnée, voire de l’asthme.

Comme le poumon contrôle la peau et le système pileux, un déséquilibre pourra se traduire par une peau sèche ou flasque, des cheveux clairsemés ou sans éclat. Les glandes sudoripares étant mal contrôlées il peut s’ensuivre des transpirations spontanées, sueurs nocturnes ou bouffées de chaleur.

Il est dit du poumon en MTC qu’il « s’ouvre au nez ». Donc des rhumes, rhinites, anosmie (troubles ou perte de l’odorat), peuvent se manifester en cas de déséquilibre du poumon.
Enfin, le poumon contrôlant « la voie des eaux », un dysfonctionnement du poumon peut engendrer de l’oligurie (raréfaction des urines) ou de l’œdème.

Le Po ou âme corporelle

Le gros intestin étant l’entrailles associée au poumon en MTC dans l’élément métal, la tristesse mal gérée peut aussi engendrer des phénomènes de diarrhée ou de constipation.

Sur un plan subtil, le poumon abrite le Po, ou « âme corporelle », qui est la partie la plus matérielle de l’âme humaine. Elle permet les sensations : ouïe, vue, toucher. C’est grâce à elle que nous percevons le chaud, le froid, les démangeaisons, les douleurs.

Il est donc particulièrement important de prendre soin de notre tristesse, afin qu’elle n’engendre pas de pathologies du poumon.

Une respiration épanouie

L’âme corporelle ou Po est en lien étroit avec la respiration. Elle est affectée par les émotions comme la tristesse ou le chagrin, qui bloquent ses mouvements. On peut observer alors un souffle court et superficiel, une respiration localisée dans la partie supérieure de la poitrine.

Pour prendre soin de sa santé en général, et de ses poumons en particulier, il est crucial de réapprendre à respirer pleinement. La respiration naturelle du nouveau-né est abdominale. Mais plus nous avançons en âge, plus les tensions, les émotions mal gérées induisent une restriction de notre respiration. Là où nous devrions utiliser le souffle pour faire le plein d’énergie, nous respirons à peine assez pour rester en vie.

Il est donc essentiel de devenir conscients de notre respiration et de lui rendre toute sa mobilité. Pour cela, il convient de pratiquer quotidiennement la respiration abdominale, en inspirant et expirant le plus lentement possible, dans la détente. La pratique du pranayama, en yoga, ou encore la pratique du qi gong, libèrent notre respiration, permettant ainsi au Souffle de vie de nous animer pleinement !