In partnership with Primary Children’s Hospital Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes many different practices. TCM is rooted in Chinese writings and family practices passed down from generation to generation. Today, TCM and Western medicine are practiced together in many hospitals and clinics around the world. In TCM, the body is a whole whose parts have separate jobs but work together. TCM practitioners believe there is a life force or energy, called qi [CHEE], that flows throughout the body in energy pathways What are some different kinds of called meridians [muh-RID-ee-uhns]. TCM treatment? The goal of TCM treatments is to regulate and • Acupuncture [AK-yoo-punk-cher]: Very thin encourage the proper flow of qi through the body needles are inserted into the skin on the acupuncture meridians. How does TCM work? • Acupressure: Fingers or small tools are pressed Picture a free-flowing river. As rocks, sticks, and on points on the acupuncture meridians. branches enter the river, the water gets choppy and • Acutonics: A tuning fork is placed on points cluttered. If there are too many rocks, sticks, and on the acupuncture meridians. branches, the river can dam up and the water pools • Cupping: Small suction cups are placed on and stands still. points on the acupuncture meridians. TCM providers believe that qi flows throughout the • Gua Sha [GWA SHUH]: The skin is rubbed or body in meridians just as water flows down a river. scraped with special tools. Internal and external stresses are like rocks, sticks, • Shoni Shin [SHOW-nee SHIN]: Needleless and branches in the water. Some stress is okay, but, acupuncture used for children; metal tools when the body gets overloaded, the qi gets choppier are brushed or tapped against the skin on and chaotic. If the qi dams up completely, it can lead the acupuncture meridians. This treatment originated in Japan. to major health problems. • Tui Na [TWEE NAH]: Gentle and fluid body Special tools, needles, and herbs are used to get the movements encourage the proper flow of qi qi moving, release dams, and help chi flow through through the body. the body’s meridians. • Qi Gong [CHEE GUNG]: Specific body movements move energy through the body. • Chinese herbal medicine: Custom teas or patented formulas help promote healing. 1 Notes Intermountain Healthcare complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Se proveen servicios de interpretación gratis. Hable con un empleado para solicitarlo. 我們將根據您的需求提供免費的口譯服務。請找尋工作人員協助 © 2016-2020 Intermountain Healthcare, Primary Children’s Hospital. All rights reserved. The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. More health information is available at 2 intermountainhealthcare.org. Patient and Provider Publications LTA355 - 02/20 Also available in Spanish..