Traditional Chinese Medicine uses the theory of five elements (Fire,
Earth, Metal, Water and Wood), to interpret the connection between the
physiology and pathology of the human body. These five elements are in
constant movement and change. The five elements explain the connection
between material things, the human body and the natural world.

The Chinese believe that the human body has organs and tissues that
have properties similar to the five elements.

The five elements have the following processes, functions and
characteristics:

Fire - heat, flaring, ascendance, draught and movement

Wood - flexibility, germination, harmony, softness and extension

Metal - firmness, cutting, strength, cleaning up and killing

Earth - changing, nourishing, producing, and growing

Water - flowing, descending, cold and moisture

According to the five elements phenomena such as flavors, Zang, Fu,
Senses, Tissue, Directions, Changes and Color are explained as
follows:

Wood is sour, the Zang is the liver, the Fu is the gall bladder, the
Senses revolve around the eyes, the tissue is the tendon, the
directions are east, changes are found in germination and the color is
green.

Fire is bitter, the Zang is the heart, the Fu is the small intestine,
the Senses revolve around the tongue, the tissue is vessels, the
direction is south, the changes are growth and the color is red.

Earth is sweet, the Zang is the spleen, the Fu is the stomach, the
senses revolves around the mouth, the tissue is muscle, the direction
is center, the changes transform and the color is yellow.

Metal is pungent, the Zang is the lungs, the Fu is the large
intestine, the senses revolve around the nose, the tissue is hair and
skin, the direction is west, the changes reap and the color is white.

Water is salty, the Zang is the kidneys, the Fu is urinary, the senses
revolve around the ears, the tissue is bone, the direction is north,
the changes are store and the color is black.

There is a close relationship between each of the five elements that
includes mutual promoting and restraining under both physical
condition and pathological conditions.

Basically, wood promotes fire and fire promotes earth and in turn
earth promotes metal and metal promotes water with water promoting the
generation of wood. There is a cycle of endless promotion and
restraining of functions between the five elements. Without mutual
promotion there would be no new growth. Without mutual restraining,
there would be no change and development of normal harmony between
relationships. Movement and change exists according to the Chinese
through this mutual promoting and restraining. When the normal pattern
of promoting or restraining is broken a violation occurs within the
five elements creating disharmony and illness within the body.

There are four areas that are involved in making a diagnosis in
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). These areas are Observation,
Listening and Smelling, Questioning and Palpation (touching).

Observation involves looking at the patient’s complexion, eyes, gait
(overall physical appearance), tongue, and also the openness and
overall emotional demeanor of the patient.

Listening and smelling involves paying attention to the sound of the
patient’s voice and breathing, noticing any body odors or breath
odor.

Questioning involves gathering of information both past and present
complaints that the patient may have as to appetite, bladder, bowel
movements, digestion, emotional status, history of family health,
pain, patterns of sleep, physical environment, sweating and work.

Palpation (touching) involves assessing body temperature, presence of
moisture or pain/sensitivity, and the taking of the patient’s pulse.
There are a total of twelve pulses that are taken by placing 3 fingers
on each wrist that correspond with each of the meridians. There are
fourteen pulse characteristics: empty, full, rapid and slow…. etc.).
These characteristics are compared to the 12 pulses to determine which
organ is not working.

The purpose of treatment is to restore the balance of Yin/Yang. The
common therapies used to restore balance are: acupuncture, exercise,
diet and herbal remedies.

Listening and smelling involves listening to the sound of the
patient’s voice and to his breathing.

If the patient has a loud assertive voice, he has a yang pattern. A
patient with a timid and weak voice suggests a yin pattern. A patient
who presents with a restless and heavy breathing pattern is in an
excess syndrome. A patient with a shallow breathing is in a deficient
condition.

The sound of a cough can also suggest either a yang or yin pattern by
being loud and sudden or weak and persistent.

Another important part of these aspects of diagnosis is the smelling
part. The odors given off by the body and the excretions of the body
are important clues in diagnosis. It takes many, many years of
experience to be able to accurately use this aspect of diagnosis.
There are two different classifications of smell. The first is Yang
(hot, excess), which includes rancid or rotten smells. The second is
Yin (cold, deficient), which includes the strong, fishy aromas.
Generally any unusual odor indicates an illness.

The diagnosis takes into consideration the entire body, seeking to
understand the flow of balance and to detect if that flow is
disrupted; where it is that that imbalance is occurring. The two
theories (yin and yang and the five elements) are used to make the
diagnosis. The four areas observation, listening and smelling,
questioning and palpation are excellent diagnosing aids.

Acupressure and acupuncture are often confused as they sound similar
and acupressure is sometimes referred to as the “needleless
acupuncture”. They are in fact both Chinese forms of healing that
make use of the same points of the body with the difference that
acupuncture inserts needles into the points, and acupressure
stimulates the points using pressure from fingers.

Acupressure is used to stimulate certain points on the body to trigger
the release of endorphins (chemicals produced by the body to relieve
pain). When endorphins are released into the body, not only is pain
blocked, both the flow of blood and oxygen are increased to the
affected area. When this happens the muscles in the area relax which
also promotes the healing process.

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine concept. It is believed
that a single symptom is an expression of the whole body’s condition
and therefore the acupressurist must not only focus on relieving the
symptom of pain, but must look to the source of that pain to truly
help the individual to restore balance. The source may be a shoulder
or neck problem and is really the area in need of healing.

Acupressure not only relieves pain, it can rebalance the body in that
it can lower stress, and strengthen the immune system. It has also
been used to relieve tension in the chest for easier breathing and
also to help pregnant women have quicker less painful deliveries.

There are many advantages as well as disadvantages to acupressure.

Advantages:

Cost effective as there are no special equipment needs

Can be performed anywhere

Self-acupressure is possible to be learned and applied

Safe as long as instructions from a licensed health care professional
are followed

Properly done, acupressure can increase blood circulation, reduce
tension, and allow the muscles of the body to relax and therefore
promoting healing

Disadvantages:

Bruising and discomfort can occur when acupressure is applied too
abruptly or with too much force.

Special care should be taken when applying pressure to points near or
on the abdomen, armpits, throat, or groin areas.

Special care needs to be taken when acupressure is done on pregnant
women or those who have recently suffered scars, burns, infections or
skin lesions.

A licensed health care professional must always be consulted prior to
acupressure.

Acupressure can benefit the body not only because it relieves tension,
but because acupressure can increase circulation which can strengthen
the body’s ability to resist disease.

Acupressure can also help to prevent further deterioration by
increasing mobility of joints.

Acupressure has been used to relieve symptoms such as headaches,
insomnia, depression, toothache, menstrual pain, digestive disorders,
nausea, morning sickness, motion sickness, stress and body pain.

The manner in which acupressure is applied is similar to receiving a
massage. The fingers, thumbs and sometimes, blunt objects are used to
massage the points of the body for 5 to 15 minutes. Some of the
techniques used in acupressure involve rubbing, percussion, vibration,
kneading and different body parts are used to do the massage including
fingers, hands, feet, elbows and knees. The acupressure can be
performed while the patient is sitting, lying down or standing.

You may have seen the word qi used in reference to Chinese medicine.
The word “qi” means energy. The Chinese people believe that qi is a
form of fundamental energy that is found in the universe and is
essential for health and vitality. The word “gong” means skill so
putting the two words together you get “the skill of attracting
energy” which is what qigong means.

Qigong is an ancient system of healing the uses exercises or movements
together with positioning, breathing techniques and meditation to
improve the body’s supply of qi, and to promote well-being within the
body.

Chinese scholars believe that qigong is perhaps 5,000 years old and
were first practiced by monks.

Acupuncture first became popular in the 1970s and helped to bring to
light other Chinese traditional therapies including qigong.

Today approximately 60 million Chinese and hundreds of thousands of
Americans practice qigong.

Traditional Chinese medicine and qigong share many concepts including
the concept that the body has energy patterns. The Chinese believe
that qi flows through the human body in channels or meridians. There
is a meridian for each of the 12 major organs within the human body.
Certain points along each meridian are stimulated to either increase
or decrease the flow of qi.

It is believed that qigong can not only improve balance and flow of qi
but increase the quantity and volume of qi.

The same points are used in qigong that are used in both acupuncture
and acupressure.

One important concept in the practice of qigong is that there is a
relationship between mind and body and that the mind is present in all
parts of the body. This idea explains how qi can be moved throughout
the body.

There is also a belief that there is a relationship between yin and
yang (opposites) that both interact and influence each other’s
actions. The goal of qigong is not only to balance qi, but also to
balance yin and yang.

There are many different exercises and exercise combinations involved
in performing qigong. Instruction is given to those wishing to learn
these techniques by instructors in classes.

There are four major components of qigong: posture (standing, sitting,
lying down and a combination of the three). Movements by include
stretching, slow-motion exercises, thrusts, jumping up and down, and
bending. The combination of movement and positions are used to tone
the body and to strengthen it also.

Breathing techniques and meditation are used to relax muscles,
stimulate the mind and to move qi throughout the body.

Qigong has two forms (internal and external). Individuals perform
internal qigong and qigong masters who pass along qi to their patients
using qigong techniques perform external qigong.

Practitioners may use a combination of qigong, acupuncture and herbal
therapy to care for their patients.

In China practitioners use external qigong along with acupuncture and
herbal medicine and other forms of Chinese medicine to help patients
heal and return to full health.