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Chapter 31 - Acupuncture, Herbs, and Ayurvedic Medicine

from Part IV - Wellness Interventions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2020

By
Lucy Postolov  and
Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz
Edited by
Waguih William IsHak
Waguih William IsHak
Affiliation:
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
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Summary

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a rich medical system dating back 2500 years [1]. The philosophical underpinnings and theoretical framework emphasize the ideology of holism within the human body, and extend to the close relationship between the human body and nature [2]. In the core theorem, balance is needed between the opposite influences on the body – Yin and Yang – to prevent disease and achieve good health [3]. Energy flow, called Qi, streams along 12 different meridians throughout the body, which keeps the Yin and Yang forces balanced. “Yin” represents the concept of cold, slow, and passive, and “Yang” represents energy that is hot, fast, and active [4]. Illness is caused by a disruption or blockage among the forces. Cultivating Yin/Yang harmony within the body and with nature is achieved through two main treatment modalities – herbal and manual treatment [2].

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The Handbook of Wellness Medicine , pp. 378 - 393
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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