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TCM Terminology
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): A whole medical system that was documented in China by the 3rd century B.C. TCM is based on a concept of vital energy, or qi, that is believed to flow throughout the body. It is proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive energy). Disease is proposed to result from the flow of qi being disrupted and yin and yang becoming unbalanced. Among the components of TCM are herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, and remedial massage.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): A group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered an integral part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine.
Conventional medicine: A whole medical system practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Other terms for conventional medicine include allopathy; Western, mainstream, and orthodox medicine; and biomedicine.
Qi: A Chinese term for vital energy or life force. In traditional Chinese medicine, qi (pronounced "chee") is believed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical balance, and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang.
Blood: The red fluid in the body which is derived from essential qi. This essential qi comes from the food absorbed by the spleen and stomach. Which then becomes red blood after being transformed by construction qi and the lung. The make is simple blood is more than red liquid in our body, it is essence and flows to all parts of the body. Through the heart and the lung blood carries nourishment to the entire body, there are many different relationship and functions of blood in TCM.
Acupuncture: The practice of puncturing the body with fine needles (steel, gold, silver) at specific points in order to regulate construction, defense, qi and the blood. Acupuncture creates harmony and balance by regulating specific mechanisms in the body to prevent or heal illness.
Channels: Channels or Meridians are pathways of qi and blood throughout the body.
Meridian: A traditional Chinese medicine term for each of the 20 pathways throughout the body for the flow of qi, or vital energy, accessed through acupuncture points.
Acupuncture Points: A point on the surface of the body where qi and blood of the channels and network vessels gather and pass.
Gua Sha: Gua Sha is a method of treating repletion heat distention patterns. The skin on the back, limbs or other area of the body is lubricated and the scraped with a ceramic spoon or similar objective. The area is scraped until the red papules become fully visible to releasing heat.
Moxa: The prepared leaves of mugwort used in a technique called moxibustion. Moxibustion is heat therapy preformed by a method of burning moxa (prepared mugort) to heat the skin or a needle that is inserted. Moxibustion is commonly used in Chinese medicine to treat cold and dampness disease.
Needles: Acupuncture needles are very fine needles that are sterilized and used only once.
Tuina: Tuina is a form of Chinese bodywork which it's origin dates back to 100B.C.. Bodywork has always been an integral and respected tool of a TCM practitioner. The hand techniques within this system can manage qi flow within the human body thus having a wide array of healing possibilities.
Cold: Cold is an element TCM practitioners relate to on many different levels. It is important to understand your nature so you can be treating accordingly. You would not want a patient that has extreme cold to be taking medicinals and foods with cold properties.
