ABOUT TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE What is Traditional Chinese Medicine? Traditional Chinese Medicine was originated in ancient China and has a history of over two thousand years. Influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy, culture, and science and technology, Chinese medicine uses the theory of Yin and Yang and the theory of Wu Xing to explain the mechanism of balancing the function of the body. Theory of Yin and Yang While the direct meanings of yin and yang in Chinese are positive and brightness versus negative and darkness, Chinese philosophy uses yin and yang to represent a wider range of opposite forces that are complementary and contradictory that cannot exist without each other. Together, the yin and yang make up the life energy, called “Qi”. Qi is a type of energy that flows through the body through invisible sets of pathways called meridians. The theory of Yin and Yang is fundamental to Theory of Wu Xing the practice of TCM, where the most basic The theory of Wu Xing, the five elements (wood, fire, level of TCM treatment is to seek the balance earth, metal and water) interprets the relationship and of yin and yang in each person. the constant movements and cycles between the physiology and pathology of the human body and the Theory of Zang Fu natural environment. The chart below outlines how the There are two types of internal organs: the natural changes within the body and the environment zang (yin) organs, and fu (yang) organs. Zang affect your health. organs include: the liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney. Fu organs include: the gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large Wood Fire Earth Metal Water intestine and bladder. Late Season Spring Summer Summer Autumn Winter Linked to the theory of Wu Xing: the theory of Zang Fu explains the physiological function, Zang/Yin pathological changes, and the mutual Organs Liver Heart Spleen Lung Kidney relationships of each organ (refer to chart Fu/Yang Gall- Small Large under Theory of Wu Xing). Each organ has Organs bladder Intestine Stomach Intestine Bladder their own characteristics and functions; zang organs mainly store the vital substances (qi, Direction East South Middle West North blood and body fluids), while the fu organs perform the functions of receiving and Taste Sour Bitter Sweet Pungent Salty digesting food, and transmitting and excreting waste. Tissue Tendons Vessels Muscles Skin/Hair Bones Linked to the theory of Yin and Yang: if there Blue / is an imbalance between the zang-fu organ Colour Green Red Yellow White Black system, signs and symptoms that correspond Sense with the zang or fu system will be affected. Organ Eye Tongue Mouth Nose Ear 1 Who can practice traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture in Ontario? Only registered members of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario are allowed to: • use the protected title(s) of “Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner” and/or “Acupuncturist”, and the designation(s) of “R. TCMP” and/or “R. Ac”; • perform the following authorized controlled acts: 1. Perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis and below the surface of a mucous membrane for the purpose of performing acupuncture. 2. Communicate a TCM diagnosis identifying a body system disorder as the cause of a person’s symptoms using TCM techniques. What to expect at a typical TCM visit When visiting a TCM practitioner and/or 3. Assessment acupuncturist, patients should expect the Listening and Smelling: The TCM practitioner will following procedures: after the patient gives listen to the sound of the patients breathing, voice, consent to treatment, the practitioner will and the quality of cough. The practitioner will also gather information of the patient's medical observe any breath odour. history, perform assessments and provide a diagnosis and treatment plan. Touching: The TCM practitioner will perform a palpation of the body to discover body temperature, 1. Consent Form body moisture, pain, and strategic acupuncture points. Practitioners are required by law to explain the proposed treatments to their patients and to Tongue Diagnosis: The TCM practitioner will make receive their patients’ informed consent for the observations of the patient’s tongue, by examining the proposed treatment. A patient has the right to colour, coating, and shape. The practitioner will also receive sufficient information in order to make observe the patient’s face, eyes, etc. an informed decision on whether to accept treatment. Practitioners must ensure that their Pulse Diagnosis: The TCM practitioner will take the patients know, understand and consent to their patients pulse. This is an important aspect of the TCM assessments or treatments before any practitioners in diagnosing illness, and in some cases, treatments begin. can indicate a problem or weakness before symptoms occur. Each wrist has three positions along the radial Consent must be informed by means of a artery that represent each organ of the body. There meaningful dialogue between the practitioner are 28 different pulse characteristics pertaining to and the patient. Consent may be obtained in position, depth, rate, width, strength, quality, and writing or verbally, or it may be implied. rhythm. However, the College strongly recommends written consent in the form of a signed and 4. Diagnosis and Treatment Plan documented Consent to Treatment form. Based on the patient’s medical health history and assessment, the TCM practitioner will provide a TCM 2. Information Seeking diagnosis on the imbalance in the body using the The TCM practitioner will gather information theories of yin and yang and the five elements. about the patient’s medical health history and family health history. In addition, the A detailed explanation of the diagnosis will be practitioner will record any medications explained to the patient on how to remove what is currently taking, and any current symptoms by excessive and/or replenish what is deficient from the inquiring about the patient’s energy levels, body. The TCM practitioner may use a combination of sleep patterns, appetite, thirst, sweating, chills herbal medicine and treatment modalities, such as or fever, and any complaints of body pains, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and tui bowel habits, urine and menstruation. na, as part of the treatment plan. CTCMPAO - About Traditional Chinese Medicine 2 What type of treatments do Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners perform? Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners use a number of treatment options based on the patient diagnosis. This may include a combination of herbal medicine and treatment modalities, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and tui na. Acupuncture Moxibustion Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, metal needles to Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which stimulate specific points of the body that reach mugwort (a commonly used herb) is burned on meridians. These stimulation points are called (direct moxibustion) or near the skin (indirect acupuncture points or acupoints. Traditional Chinese moxibustion). The purpose of moxibustion is to medicine holds that there are 365 commonly used heat acupuncture points in order to stimulate acupuncture points on 20 meridians on the human the flow of qi and strengthen the blood. body. Typically, it takes 15 to 30 minutes of There are two types of direct moxibustion: manipulating the needles in these acupuncture points scarring and non-scarring. In the procedure of and 30 to 60 minutes of retaining the needles. By scarring moxibustion, the moxa is placed on an doing so, it regulates the flow of qi throughout the acupuncture point, burned and remains on the body and restore health to the mind and body, thus skin until it burns out completely. In the balancing the yin and yang. The insertions of needles procedure of non-scarring moxibustion, the are manipulated either by the hand or by electrical moxa is placed on an acupuncture point, stimulation, called electroacupuncture. burned, but extinguished or removed before it Is it safe? Does it hurt? burns the skin. Needles inserted during an acupuncture treatment There are several forms of indirect moxibustion. should be painless. Every patient experience is One method is to light one end of a moxa stick different; patients may experience bruising, and hold it close to the acupuncture point for a bleeding, needle site pain and sensation, or needle few minutes until the area turns red. Another fainting. However, these symptoms may be method uses both acupuncture needles and expected (minimal bleeding) and desired (tingle, moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupuncture tight sensation - "de qi response"). Patients should point and retained. The tip of the needle is then inform the practitioner if any discomfort arises. wrapped in moxa and burned, generating heat Is dry needling the same as TCM acupuncture? to the acupuncture point and its surrounding Dry needling is a technique used by Western area. The moxa is then extinguished and the practitioners such as physiotherapists, needle is removed. chiropractors, and occupational therapists etc. Is it safe? Does it hurt? based on strictly body anatomy in opposed to TCM The risks of heat therapy include burns, blisters, principals. Thin metal needles are inserted in scarring and allergies. It is important for specific muscle trigger points to release tension and practitioners to be aware of the patients’ pain. Dry needling does not apply any TCM tolerance to heat. In the case of direct principals nor diagnosis. Hence, dry needling moxibustion, patients should experience a practitioners are not necessarily receiving the same pleasant heating sensation deep into the skin. level of training as set out by the standards of our However, if the patient experiences strong pain, College. In other words, those who practise dry blistering and scarring, it may indicate that the needling might not meet the requirements to use the moxa is left in place for too long. Therefore, title of "Registered Acupuncturist" or "Registered indirect moxibustion is growing in popularity Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner" in the because there is a much lower risk of pain or province of Ontario.