Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the application of fine needles, and sometimes moxa, to specific
points on the body that affect the underlying energy (qi) flow within the meridian
system of the relevant organs of the body.
Acupuncture combined with Tui Na is a very powerful and effective form of treatment.
Originating in China, Tui Na (pronounced 'twee-nah') is recorded in the Yellow Emperor's
Classic of Internal Medicine since 2300 B.C. as one of the five major therapies
of the time. Tui Na uses the TCM theory of channels and collaterals and the flow
of the Qi energy as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of
massage and manipulation techniques, Tui Na seeks to establish a more harmonious
Qi energy through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body to naturally
heal itself. Tui Na has remained an organized and systematically developed system
of massage since that time.
Qi Gong
Qi gong (or ch'i kung) is an internal Chinese meditative practice which uses slow
graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques to promote the circulation
of qi within the human body and enhance a practitioner's overall health. There are
more than 10,000 styles of qigong and 200 million people practicing these methods.
There are three main reasons why people do qigong:
1) To gain strength, improve health or reverse a disease
2) To gain skill working with qi, so as to become a healer
3) To become more connected with the "Tao, God, True Source, Great Spirit", for
a more meaningful connection with nature and the universe.
Diet
Diet is critical for daily health and well-being and can play a major factor in
the treatment, or cause, of a complaint. Once a person's underlying pattern of health
is diagnosed then food can be recommended to help assist the body recover as effectively
as possible. Within Chinese Dietetic practice, food is identified as having a particular
thermal nature and this coupled with the cooking method used can help to restore
qi to a higher level. Foods to avoid are also suggested to ensure that a person's
diet does not hinder the affect of other forms of treatment, e.g. Qi Gong, Tui Na
etc.
Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. The first herbalist in Chinese tradition
is Shennong, a mythical personage, who is said to have tasted hundreds of herbs
and imparted his knowledge of medicinal and poisonous plants to farmers. The first
Chinese manual on pharmacology, the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong Emperor's Classic
of Materia Medica), lists some 365 medicines of which 252 of them are herbs, and
dates back somewhere in the 1st century C.E. Han dynasty. A more palatable version
of Chinese herbs comes in the form of Patent herbs - pill like doses of Chinese
Herbs.