Articles

Understanding TCM

A. TCM TerminologyCentral concepts of Chinese Medicine include terminology of 1. Yin/YangYin and yang are the principles used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to explain human physiological functions and pathological changes. Yin and yang express a system of relationships, patterns and functions with regard to a dynamic equilibrium. Yin is the feminine and Yang is the masculine side of nature. Yin signifies female attributes, such as passivity, darkness, cold, and moistness. Yang signifies male attributes such as light, activity, warmth,...

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Acupuncture Helps Relieve Menopausal Symptoms

by Dody Chang, L.Ac. 2011 When you take a holistic approach to this life transition, acupuncture can help tame hot flashes and other discomforts of menopause. To understand how, let’s first take a look at the background and philosophy of Chinese Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine, there are significant times in a woman’s life when she experiences dramatic hormonal fluctuations that challenge her physiologically, mentally and spiritually. These major shifts occur at menarche (the start of menstruation), pregnancy and childbirth, and at...

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Acupuncture Eases Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment

by Dody Chang, L.Ac. While the survival rate for breast cancer has improved significantly due to advancements in treatment, the side effects of these treatments can be taxing to the body and spirit. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture can help to alleviate pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and dry mouth that accompany these life-saving therapies. Acupuncture, which refers to the use of thin filaments on the surface of the body to influence vital energy called “qi,” has been used in Asian medicine for thousands of years. According...

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Considering the Chinese Medicine Approach to Anxiety

by Dody Chang, L.Ac. In Chinese Medicine, the mind, body, and spirit are viewed as a unified system without distinct boundaries separating physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological experiences. Ancient scholars of Chinese Medicine believed that causes of all physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual afflictions are due to disturbances in the flow of the “qi” or “energy” in the body. When qi disturbance affects the mental-emotional aspects in a person, it leads to the disturbance of “shen”. Shen is loosely translated as the...

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The Traditional Chinese Medicine Approach to Colds/Flu

by Dody Chang, L.Ac. According to Chinese Medicine, colds and flu are caused by the invasion of external pathogenic factors attacking the superficial areas of the body via the skin, mouth or nose. The primary therapeutic objective is to intervene before symptoms become entrenched or enter deeper into the body. When used during the early onset of a cold or flu, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can alleviate symptoms, shorten the course of illness, prevent transmission of illness to deeper layers of the body, and prevent further health...

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