There are many ways to develop an understanding and appreciation of Chinese Medicine: historical, mythological, philosophical, psychological, metaphysical, and technological. Different approaches appeal to different people and each one offers a fascinating insight to this dynamic and age-old practice, now referred to as Traditional East Asian Medicine.
Classical Chinese Medicine emerged from the philosophy, practices and metaphysics of Taoism, Shamanism, Confucianism and Buddhism. It is indigenous to South East Asia and generations of doctors, scholars, herb cultivators, foragers, pharmacists, body workers, moxibustionists, martial artists, philosophers, dharma teachers, villages, and family lineages contributed to and helped evolve the treatments that benefit us today.
The majority of Chinese society has agrarian roots and as such many of the ingredients used in Chinese Medicine were developed as a result of regional ecosystems, seasonal changes and climatic challenges. Chinese Medicine is regenerative, sustainable and cyclical by nature. It evolved by responding to the physics of natural lore harmonious to vital life and health, as well as the mechanisms behind how disorder and disease arose. Chinese Medicine frames these functions within the physics of Yin Yang and the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These five elements, or phases, describe the relationship between elements of nature and the vital life force or ‘Qi’ that flows through them.
A vast herbal pharmacopoeia is used in Traditional East Asian Medicine including more than 2000 plants, fungi, minerals, insect and animal species. These are arranged into formulas and administered via broth, tea, powder, pill or tincture. Practitioners use these in tandem with techniques such as acupuncture, moxibustion, meditation, and movement therapies such as Tai Chiand Qi Gong. We also employ more vigorous martial arts, massag, orthopedic and abdominal bodywork modalities.
The art and science of Chinese Medicine stems from the concept of holism. This framework understands the body as an organic whole of component parts that are in constant physiological and pathological relation. In practical terms, this means treating the body as a unit made of mind, body and spirit. The notion of holism also places the body in another relational system with its external environment. Alongside these interconnected systems, holism in Chinese Medicine acknowledges that there are aspects of the universe that are inherently unknowable, mysterious to the intellect, yet which can be observed, experienced or embodied
Continually evolving, Chinese Medicine has, over time, integrated elements of Western bioscience-based medical perspectives but they are not all compatible. At the same time, Traditional East Asian Medicine does not seek to be absorbed into a Western medical model. What is at the heart of this practice is the understanding that each person is uniquely different and that the path to clearing pathology and promoting vitality can accordingly take different forms and approaches. As a minority medicine in Australia with origins dating back over 2000 years, Chinese Medicine has so much to contribute to public health that is yet to be fully utilised.
So what are some of the basic premises?
The Whole and its Parts.
Humans experience the world through their own subjectivity, yet we are embedded in an ecosystem of relations.
A part contains the Whole.
The Whole is made up of parts.
We are a creation event that is happening now
Chinese Medicine is based on the observation of cycles. Regenerative cycles, unceasing transformations and renewal of life that we see expressed through rhythms and patterns such as moon and ocean tides, solar and planetary cycles, seasons, lifespans, digestive processes, sleep rhythms , menstrual cycles, and planting and harvest cycles.
All based on change ; emergence, development, dissolution, evolution,
It’s spiral rather than a circle; as creation (negentropy) and destruction (entropy) move though the arrow of time.
All changes involve Qi, are Qi.
Chapter 42 in Dao De Ching speaks to life spontaneously arising; that there is no external intelligence imposing order, but an implicit order emerging from life itself.
To cure illness you need to seek the root
Practitioners ask what is at the root of the pathology? We are driven to address the cause rather than limiting treatment to symptom management. Symptom management is important but by looking for the root cause we can investigate and perhaps bring to light the many facets of a patient's life that may be impacting their pathology. This may extend beyond physiology to their external environment or emotional issues.
Prevention is better than cure
With the diagnostic and observation techniques practitioners develop, they are attuned to noticing sub-clinical signs before they manifest into bigger pathologies and prefer to intervene early.
The Human Position
Chinese Medicine is a practice that works to assist humans with their suffering. It encourages people to practice preventative medicine alongside cultivating Qi in daily life so that the unique intelligent expression that is manifesting as you can fulfil its natural lifespan. However, even with the best circumstances and intentions, life happens and with it comes illness, stressful and traumatic experiences, and the sometimes difficult processes of personal transformation and aging. Support from loved ones, community or a practitioner can help support individuals in times of vulnerability, adversity and illness.
