Project made by: Vivien Soarece, Florentina Tobosaru , Ruxandra Tudor Gr 211

Introduction
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated in ancient China and has evolved over thousands of years. TCM practitioners use herbs, acupuncture, and other methods to treat a wide range of conditions. Herbal remedies and acupuncture are the treatments most commonly used by TCM practitioners. Other TCM practices include moxibustion, cupping, massage, mindbody therapy, and dietary therapy. The TCM view of how the human body works, what causes illness, and how to treat illness is different from Western medicine concepts.

 China was one of first countries to have a medical culture. With a history of 5,000 years, it has formed a deep and immense knowledge of medical science, theory, diagnostic methods, prescriptions and cures. The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, the oldest received work of Chinese medical theory, was compiled around the first century BCE on the basis of shorter texts from different medical lineages. Written in the form of dialogues between the legendary Yellow Emperor and his ministers, it offers explanations on the relation between humans, their environment, and the cosmos, on the contents of the body, on human vitality and pathology, on the symptoms of illness, and on how to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in light of all these factors

History

Main principles
The Physiology of Chinese medicine holds that the human body's life is the result of the balance of yin and yang. Yin is the inner and negative principles, and yang, outer and positive. The key reason why there is sickness is because the two aspects lose their harmony. Seen from the recovery mechanism of organs, yang functions to protect from outer harm, and yin is the inner base to store and provide energy for its counterpart.

 In the TCM view, a vital energy or life force called qi circulates in the body through a system of pathways called meridians. Health is an ongoing process of maintaining balance and harmony in the circulation of qi. The TCM approach uses eight principles to analyze symptoms and categorize conditions: cold/heat, interior/exterior, excess/deficiency, and yin/yang (the chief principles). TCM also uses the theory of five elementsfire, earth, metal, water, and woodto explain how the body works; these elements correspond to particular organs and tissues in the body.

Wu Xing (five elements)

Phenomen on Direction Color Climate Taste Zang Organ Fu Organ Sense organ Facial part Wood east green/blue wind sour Liver Fire south red heat bitter Heart

Earth center yellow damp sweet Spleen Stomach mouth

Metal west white dryness acrid Lung Large Intestine nose between eyes, middle part sclera

Water north black cold salty Kidney Bladder ears cheeks (below cheekbone ) pupil

Gallbladde Small r Intestine eye above bridge of nose iris tongue

between bridge of eyes, lower nose part inner/outer upper and corner of lower lid the eye

Eye part

Four Methods of Diagnosis

Observation indicates that doctors directly watch the outward appearance to know a patient's condition. As the exterior and interior corresponds immediately, when the inner organs run wrongly, it will be reflected through skin pallor, tongue, the facial sensory organs and some excrement. Auscultation and olfaction is a way for doctors to collect messages through hearing the sound and smelling the odor. This is another reference for diagnosis. Interrogation suggests that doctors question the patient and his relatives, so as to know the symptoms, evolution of the disease and previous treatments. The taking of the pulse and palpation refer that doctors noting the pulse condition of patients on the radial artery, and then to know the inner change of symptom. Doctors believe that when the organic function is normal, the pulse, frequency, and intension of pulse will be relatively stable, and when not, variant.

Different Types Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture Acupuncture is perhaps the most well known and widely used type of Chinese medicine. Acupuncture involves the use of needles, which are placed at specific points and left in the body for a short period of time. With proper needle placement, it is believed that the body releases endorphins and engages nerve endings in the body. This helps to block pain and restore the bodys functions for optimal health. Some acupuncturists also incorporate the use of heated herbs as part of their practice.

 Chinese Massage Chinese massage involves the manual manipulation of the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments in the body. When done properly Chinese massage can promote proper circulation which is essential to good health. The rolling movements and pressure treat injuries and help promote healing. Massage as part of TCM helps to balance yin and yang. This balance helps to stabilize emotions and improve mental health.

 Herbal Medicine The herbal medicines in TCM are used by practitioners in a variety of ways. They are typically blended in a specific combination to treat many ailments that can afflict the body. The herbal medicine may be found in various forms including teas, pills, extracts, powders, or pastes.

 Qigong Qigong is a series of movements and postures that utilize the bodys qi. Qi (sometimes called chi) is the vital energy or life force that connects the entire being. The breathing and postures work to restore the bodys flow of Qi. This helps prevent disease and improves overall wellbeing.