The roots of Chinese Medicine reach back approx. 3000 years. Knowledge and experience was first passed on only verbally. But for 2000 years, knowledge has been documented in written form by doctors and therapists. These documents and books are accessible and have laid the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in which we were trained.
Chinese Medicine rests upon five pillars:
Two central terms in Chinese Medicine are Yin and Yang, which can be translated as “turned away from the sun” and “facing the sun”. Yin stands for structure, substance, earth, coolness. Yang on the other hand represents function, activity, fire and warmth. Both sides must be in equilibrium within the body, otherwise, physical or mental disorders result.
Qi is central to the terminology of Chinese Medicine. It is best translated with “inner breath” or “life energy”. In the terms of conventional medicine, Qi can be regarded as a sequence of vegetative nerve impulses.
The flow of Qi influences the function of organs, psyche, and the vegetative nervous system. The right flow of Qi is of foremost importance to respiratory activity, bowel activity, the immune system, wound healing, skin complexion and much more.
Humans acquire Qi through respiration and food. Regular breathing exercises (Qigong) and the right food (dietetics) lead to a sustainably healthy Qi.
In Chinese Medicine, wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are symbols for specific body functions. Wood stands for the supply of energy, fire symbolizes the use of energy, metal stands for the withdrawal of energy. Water symbolizes recreation and convalescence, and earth, among other things, stands for the moderation of all vital processes. These processes are described by the Heidelberg Model, a scientific foundation for the understanding of vital processes and phases of change.
Traditional Chinese Medicine describes hundreds of acupuncture points which are assigned to certain meridians or circulation channels, also called the meridian system. These points are closely related to the internal organs and the organ system.
According to traditional teaching, the Qi flows along these circulation channels and has an impact on all biological functions. The flow can be disturbed by outside or inside influences and cause disorders and diseases.
Several mechanisms are described to explain the effects of acupuncture from a western perspective. Among them are: