Alternative Medicine from the East
67
Eons ago, in the dusty, dim history of mankind, people got sick. And when people got sick, they sought the help of one who knew what to do to make them feel better. Today we call them "doctors," but they've had many names over the centuries.
Chinese medicine, or medicine from the East, is a school of thought that considers the whole person. The medical problem is seen as a symptom rather than a disease. Chinese medicine has always treated the physical and mental aspects of humans. The belief that the body and mind are interdependent is a basic concept. The body can make the mind sick, and the mind can make the body sick, and when either the mind or the body is sick, the other is directly affected.
- American Indian Herbal Medicine
We often associate herbal medicine with the Chinese, but other ancient cultures also practiced herbal medicine. Right here in America, American Indians practiced their own version of herbal medicine.It's... - Chinese Acupuncture
Don't get squeamish here. Yes, there are needles involved, but there is no pain and no blood involved in acupuncture.According to the Acupuncture Bodywork website: "Acupuncture is a medical practice of East... - The Herbal Medicine
There were no medical doctors or corner drugstores in the ancient world, but people got sick. And when people got sick, they wanted to get well, just like we do today. Today, when we aren't feeling well, we...
When a Chinese medicine practitioner is consulted, he begins his examination of his patient the moment he meets him or her. He notes the posture and the condition of the hair, the nails, and the skin tone. He collects dozens of bits of relevant information before he ever even touches his patient.
Then he listens to the patient. He asks questions and then gives the patient time to formulate and deliver information. The Chinese medicine practitioner is LISTENING to what his patient is saying, but he is also noting HOW the patient is saying it.
When a Chinese medicine practitioner examines his patient, he doesn't just examine "what hurts." He examines the entire physical body. The patient may be complaining of a stomach ache, but the Chinese medicine practitioner will also examine his patient's feet, the top of his head, and everything in between.
Chinese medicine is practiced based on chi (the balance of circulating energy in the body). Chi affects the yin and yang (the complementary and opposite forces that make up the life force).
