Dr. Melissa Dengler, ND

TCMWhat does TCM stand for?

TCMTraditional Chinese MedicineA complete medical system that has been

used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses for more than 2,000 years

Based on a belief in yin and yang When yin and yang are in balance, you feel

relaxed and energizedWhen yin and yang are out of balance, it can

negatively affect your health

Yin and YangWhat are yin and yang?What do they represent?

Yin and YangNatural process of continuous change where

nothing is of itself but is seen as aspects of the whole .

Two opposite, yet complementary, aspects of existence.

Yin and YangYin Yang

Dark or nightLow (Lower body)ColdInside (Inner body)ContractingUnderactiveDeficient/ WeakPassiveFront of the bodyFeminine

Light or dayHigh (Upper body)HotOutside (Outer body)ExpandingActive/ OveractiveExcessiveForcefulBack of bodyMasculine

Yin and YangEven though they are opposed, one has no

meaning without the other.When yin and yang are in balance, there is

harmony and well-being.Long-term disharmony = diseaseA severe imbalance = DEATH

5 Element TheoryTheory helps people understand how natural

changes within body and outside environment affect people’s health.

Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, WoodEverything is created from one or more of

these elements.Humans are a combination of all five.

5 Element Theory

5 Element TheoryThe arrows in the center (star) depict the ko

cycle (control cycle).Wood controls earth by covering it or holding it

in place with roots.Earth control water by damming it or

containing it.Water controls fire by dousing or extinguishing

it.Fire controls metal by melting it.Metal controls wood by cutting it.

5 Element TheoryThe arrows that form a pentagon on the

outside depict the shen (creative) cycle.Water engenders wood.Wood fuels fire.Fire creates earth (ashes).Earth engenders metal.Metal engenders water.

5 Element TheoryThe two rings indicate the solid (yin) and

hollow (yang) organs that are associated with the elements.

QiPronounced “chee”What it qi?How does it work?

QiTCM practitioners believe that there is a life

force or energy, known as qi, in every body.For yin and yang to be balanced and for the

body to be healthy, qi must be balanced and flowing freely.

When there is too little or too much qi in one of the body's energy pathways (called meridians), or when the flow of qi is blocked, illness results.

MeridiansChannels that correspond to organs or

functions on which they appear to act.12 main meridians (bilateral)2 midline meridians (anterior and posterior

midline)Extra meridians that relate to organs and

functions of the body.

Meridians and QiMeridians provide a path for qi to travel

throughout the body.It moves through the pairs of Yin and Yang

channels.The flow of qi is traditionally described as

beginning with the Lung Channel since it is the lungs where qi is formed.

The path ends with the Liver channel where qi rejoins the lung channel and the cycle begins again.

Meridians and QiEach Yin Channel connects with its Yang

counterpart on either the hand or the foot, where the change in polarity reverses the flow.

The paired pathways occupy corresponding positions along the inner and outer aspects of the limbs.

Yin channels join each other on the chest.Yang channels join each other on the hand or

face.

Meridians and QiThe ultimate goal of TCM treatment is to

balance the yin and yang in our lives by promoting the natural flow of qi.

Analogy: Qi is described as the wind in a sail -- we do not see the wind directly, but we are aware of its presence as it fills the sail.

MeridiansZang OrgansYin MeridiansInterior

LungSpleenHeartKidneyPericardiumLiver

Fu OrgansYang MeridiansExterior

Large IntestineStomachSmall IntestineBladderTriple HeaterGallbladder

How does TCM work?Disease (alterations in the normal flow of qi

such that yin and yang are imbalanced) is thought to have three major causes: External or environmental factorsInternal emotionsLifestyle factors such as diet. Through the use

of its therapeutic modalitiesTCM stimulates the body's own healing

mechanisms.

Practices of TCMWhat are some of the practices/ modalities of

traditional Chinese Medicine?

Practices of TCMAcupuncture and acupressure Moxibustion (burning an herb near the skin) Herbal medicine Nutrition Chinese massage (called tui na) Exercise (such as tai chi and qi gong which

combine movement with meditation)

AcupunctureOriginated in China more than 2000 years

ago.Skin is punctured with very small needles at

specific points along meridians for therapeutic purposes.

These acupuncture points are places where the energy pathway is close to the surface of the skin.

Must have a license to practice acupuncture

History of AcupunctureThe earliest recorded use of acupuncture dates from

200 BCE. Until the early 1970s, most Americans had never

heard of acupuncture. Acupuncture gained attention in the United States

when President Nixon visited China in 1972. Traveling with Nixon was New York Times reporter James Reston, who received acupuncture in China after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Reston was so impressed with the post-operative pain relief he experienced from the procedure that he wrote about acupuncture upon returning to the United States.

History of AcupunctureIn 1997, the U.S. National Institutes of

Health (NIH) recognized acupuncture as a mainstream medicine healing option with a statement documenting the procedure’s safety and efficacy for treating a range of health conditions.

There are now hundreds of clinical studies on the benefits of acupuncture now.

Procedure for AcupunctureYou will lie down on a padded examining table, and

the acupuncturist will insert the needles, twirling or gently jiggling each as it goes in.

You may not feel the needles at all, or you may feel a twitch or a quick twinge of pain that disappears when the needle is completely inserted.

Once the needles are all in place, you rest for 15 - 60 minutes. During this time, you'll probably feel relaxed and sleepy and may even doze off.

At the end of the session, the acupuncturist quickly and painlessly removes the needles.

How does acupuncture work?Research suggests that it may produce a variety

of effects in the body and the brain. Stimulated nerve fibers transmit signals to the

spinal cord and brain, activating the CNS which release shormones responsible for making us feel less pain while improving overall health.

Acupuncture may also increase blood circulation and body temperature, affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our immune function), reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and regulate blood sugar levels.

What is TCM good for?Obesity Diabetes and its

complications, such as retinopathy (damage to the retina located in the back of the eye)

High cholesterol Depression Arthritis Back pain

Male and female fertility disorders

Alzheimer's disease Parkinson's disease Digestive disorders

(such as irritable bowel syndrome)

Recurrent cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)

Nausea and vomiting

TCM May be Helpful for:Allergies Asthma Cancer, especially

colorectal cancer Stroke Sinusitis Addictions Pain (including

childbirth and abdominal)

Menopausal symptoms Osteoporosis Infections

(respiratory, bladder, vaginal)

Sleep disorders Stress Constipation Diabetic neuropathy Epilepsy

What to Expect with TCMA TCM practitioner will ask you questions about

your medical history and conduct a physical exam to look for signs of imbalance.

Exam may include: skin, tongue, and hair, as well as other parts of your body (from the brightness of your eyes to the color of your nails), six pulses on each of your wrists and listening to your voice to assess your shen (spirit), and will determine if one or more of your organ networks are affected.

The practitioner will then try to correct any imbalances in your body by providing a combination of the therapies.

How to find a TCM practitioner?The American Association of Oriental

Medicine, www.aaom.org The National Certification Commission for

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, www.nccaom.org

The National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance, www.acuall.org

The Institute of Traditional Medicine, www.itmonline.org

Questions?Any questions on this week’s seminar about

TCM and acupuncture.Next week we will discuss Whole Medical

Systems as categorized by NCCAM.Thank you for your participation!Have a great week!