Fatima University Medical Center

Department of Family Medicine and

Community Health

Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
PGI Patricia C. Caparroso
July 5, 2023
Consultant: Dr. Angel Erich Sison
 What is
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine?
(TCM)
 It is an ancient medical system that has
been used for thousands of years in China
to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.

It aims to restore the bodyʼs balance

and harmony between the natural
opposing forces of yin and yang, which
can block qi (life force) and cause disease.
 The Human Body is a Unified System

● Chinese medicine sees the human body as

the sum of various parts that are linked to
one another.
● Every organ, main and collateral channel, qi
and blood flow are interdependent.
● When there is a change to any one part,
the other parts will be affected as well.
History of
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
 Timeline

Traditional
Warring States &
Chinese
Zhou Dynasty
Medicine in the
Modern Era
Shamanistic
Huangdi Neijing
Shang Dynasty
(Yellow
Emperorʼs
Inner Classic)
 Shamanistic Shang Dynasty
- Origin of Chinese medicine (1766-1122 BC)

- Religious deity: Shang Di

- Belief: Illness was caused by upsetting an

ancestor and being cursed or a demon entered
the body and caused illness

- Scapulimancy: writing on ‘oracle bones’ &

shaman interpreted cracks in the shells or
bones to reveal the will of the ancestors
Warring States & Zhou Dynasty Period

- Philosophy and Science began to overlap around

this time (475-221 BCE)

- The beginning of intellectual reform “Zhuzi Baijia”

(Various Teachers, One Hundred Schools)

- Began a shift of ideas that changed explanations

of observable phenomenon away from shamanist
viewpoints to a systematic and comprehensive
medical framework
Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic)
- outlined core concepts and medical knowledge of
Chinese Medicine including Acupuncture and
Moxibustion as the main tools for correcting
imbalances and treating illness

- explained the concepts of disease (400-260 BCE)

- good health was linked to the movement of ‘qi’

and ‘blood’

- Illness was attributed to stagnation, deficiency,

excess or improper movement of qi or blood,
causing imbalances of yin and yang.
Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Modern Era

- TCM & acupuncture developed over the

next few centuries becoming a standard
medical therapy in China along with
massage, diet, herbal medicine, bleeding
and moxibustion

- Today in China most hospitals offer

integrated Western and Chinese medicine.
 BASIC
CONCEPTS
of Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
 YIN- YANG
Every object or phenomenon in the
universe consists of 2 opposite aspects,
yin and yang

The 4 aspects of Yin and Yang:

1. Opposites
2. Interdependent
3. Mutually consuming
4. Inter-transformative
 •
Yin Yang Classifications of the body

Yin y
Upper body
Head
Low\9rbody g
External
body

Six
Lateral Back hollow
side of body
organs
limbs

Qi
lungs

P,roteotive -·
q1 •
Functional -·.
aspect •e
'' '
.' ''
'
YIN- YANG
FIVE ELEMENTS
Ancient people believed that the physical
universe was made up of the 5 elements
which support & oppose one another &
maintain the balance in the ecosystem.

Chinese medicine uses the 5 Elements to

explain the health of the human body.

There are constructive & inhibitive

relationships among the 5 Zang (vital
organs)

If one element/organ is infected, it will

affect the others and cause disease.
Classification of Internal Organs:
● ZANG ORGANS (5): ● FU ORGANS (6):
1. Heart 1. Small Intestine
2. Gallbladder
2. Liver
3. Stomach
3. Spleen 4. Large Intestine
4. Lung 5. Urinary Bladder
5. Kidney 6. Pericardium & Blood vessels
(Triple Energiser)
● Generate life and are ● Take in excesses & transform
reservoirs of vital energy water & nutrients without
& the essence of life storing them
MERIDIANS AND COLLATERALS

- Meridian or Jing lou is a channel through

which Qi (Vital Energy), Blood & Bodily Fluids
flow.
- Network that connects the organs, limbs &
joints through the entire body.
- It is an interface between exterior & interior of
the body
- By applying TCM modalities on Meridians, we
can directly correct the disease state of the
body or activate the self-healing function
 JINGMAI
- the collective system of the main meridian channels
- purpose is to regulate the flow of qi throughout the
body

Main Meridian Categories:

1. Twelve Major/ Primary Meridians- Each correspond to
a Zang or Fu organ and are the main pathways that
transport Qi and Xue (blood) throughout the body.
2. Eight Extraordinary Vessels- No direct link to the
Zang & Fu organs. They connect the 12 Major
Meridians.
3. Twelve Divergent/ Distinct Meridians-
Supplementary passages that connect the Wei
(defensive) & Yuan (parental) Qi.
 LUOMAI
The luomai or collateral vessels are the branches of the Jingmai

3 Categories:

1. Fifteen Connecting Collaterals-Connect the interior and

exterior meridians together.
2. Muscular Collaterals-Distribute the qi of the twelve major
meridians to the tendons, muscles, and joints.
3. Superficial Collaterals-The collaterals on the superficial
areas of the body, where functions of the major meridians
manifest themselves.
Methods of
Diagnosis in
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
1. INSPECTION
- aims to observe a patient’s body, specific body parts, secretion
and discharges to collect data for diagnosis
- A person's complexion and his vital organs share a close
relationship. Any changes in the blood and qi circulation in the
vitals will be reflected in a person's physical appearance,
including observing the person's energy level and the color of his
face and tongue.
Inspecting the Face
INSPECTING THE TONGUE
2. AUSCULTATION & OLFACTION
- Aims to understand patients’ conditions by listening to the patient's tone of voice,
breathing patterns and taking a sniff of the patient's breath
2. AUSCULTATION
3. INQUIRY
- Aims to collect information regarding the disease occurrence, development, present
symptoms and other info including life habits, hobbies and family histories, etc.

● Focus on the chief complaint and try to obtain an overall understanding of the patient’s
condition.
● Ask nicely and patiently.
● Do not mislead the patient with hints

CONTENTS OF INQUIRY
Ask about the body if it’s cold/warm, four limbs, appetite, thirsty, sleep, sweats,
urination, bowel movement, energy and if the patient is female, ask about menstruation.
 4. PULSE TAKING & PALPATION
- A method of touching, palpating or pressing the
patient’s body to obtain medical information.

1. Feeling the pulse

2. Palpating or pressing body areas
(skin, swellings, limbs, abdomen, etc)

Changes in Pulse are used to determine the level of

Qi and blood in the body.

Good Health:
- Pulse is slow, steady, rhythmic, strong.

With Disease:
- Pulse is very fast or very slow
 Methods of Pulse-taking
Time and length of pulse-taking
The best time for pulse-taking is in the morning.
It takes 3–5 min to feel the pulse.

Posture of pulse-taking
To sit up or lie supinely in a fully relaxed state.
To extend the arms naturally at the same level as the heart.
Place a cushion beneath the wrist to relax the wrist.

Finger technique
Feel the patient’s right hand using the left hand or vice versa. Place the middle finger on the
guan region first, and then place the index finger on the cun region and ring finger on the chi
region. Place the three fingers in an arc to feel the pulse, using the most sensitive sites of
the finger pulps.
Modalities in
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
Cupping
 CUPPING
● a cup is attached to the skin to cause
local congestion through the
negative pressure created by
introducing heat in the form of an
ignited material

● The cup is usually left in place for

3 - 15 minutes

● Used to dispel stagnant blood &

lymph, improve Qi flow, treat Respi
diseases like colds, pneumonia,
bronchitis, back, neck, shoulder and
other musculoskeletal pains
 CUPPING METHODS
Fire cupping
- Alcohol-soaked cotton is ignited and placed in cup then
removed. Cup is then placed on skin & negative pressure
"sucks" the skin up.
Dry cupping/Vacuum
- cup is placed on the skin, then the air inside the cup is
suctioned out
Wet cupping
- cup is placed on the skin for 3 mins, cup is removed, the skin
is punctured with a triangular-tipped needle, cups are placed
again, & blood is drawn out in the suction process
Moxibustion
 Moxibustion
● The use of lit moxa wool, a moxa stick or moxa
cone to burn an Acupoint, thereby regulating
the Qi and blood through the heat

● Salt, sliced ginger or garlic can be used to form

a barrier between the ignited moxa and skin.

● Moxa warms the collaterals & meridians & helps

expel cold and dampness.

● Used to treat yin, interior, yang deficiency &

cold syndromes & restore balance of Yin & Yang

● Used to treat pain, cancer, stroke, constipation,

and hypertension
 What does Moxibustion do?
Warm Nourishing

- benefits of warming Yang, tonifying qi, nurturing

blood, and relieving depletion

Warm Dredging

- activating blood, dissolving stasis, promoting qi,

dredging channels, and relieving pain;

Warm Melting

- reducing phlegm, eliminating stagnation,

removing wind, dispelling dampness, drawing
out poison, and purging heat.
Gua Sha
 Gua Sha
● “scraping metabolic waste or toxins”

● Ancient folk remedy in which the lubricated

skin of the person seeking treatment is
repeatedly “press-stroked” with a
smooth-edged instrument in a methodical
manner to produce bruising

● Used to treat chronic pain, improve

circulation, reduce stress, drain lymphatics
● Petechiae and bruising may take 3 to 10
days to heal
Qigong
● Qigong is an art and skill to train qi.

● the practitioner gets physical and

mental self-exercise
● the practitioner must associate his
mind, postures and breathing and act
on the whole organism.
● It enables the body to produce an
"energy-storing" reaction, reduce
energy consumption and increase
energy accumulation, producing the
effects of regulating yin and yang,
dredging the channels and collaterals
and emitting external qi.
Tai Chi
● Valuable in promoting health,
developing combat and
self-defence skills, and
improving concentration and
overall well-being

● Combines certain postures,

gentle movements, mental
focus, breathing, and
relaxation originated from
China

● Improve balance and stability

in older people and those with
Parkinson's disease
 Foot
Reflexology
 Foot Reflexology
● There are 6 main channels and 66 Acupoints on a
foot and these are correlated to many organs in
the body.

● Through the stimulation of these acupoints, it is

possible to unblock congestion in the
corresponding region of the body & maintain
good health or treat disease.

● Used to boost blood circulation, increase

metabolism, promote hormonal balance, expel
harmful toxins, relieve exhaustion

●
Foot Reflexology
Tui Na
Massage
 Tui Na Massage
● A hands-on body treatment that uses
Chinese Taoist and martial arts principles to
bring the eight principles of Traditional
Chinese Medicine into balance.

● Tui Na means “Push & Grasp”

● brush, knead, roll, press, and rub the areas

between each joint to attempt to open the
body's defensive chi (Wei Qi) and get the
energy moving in the meridians

● Used to treat pain, stress or digestion

problems
Acupuncture
- Insertion of needles into superficial
structures of the body at acupuncture
points (acupoints) and manipulation

- Relieves pain and treats (and prevents)

various disease

- After inserting the needle into the

acupoint, move the needle in a variety of
ways to exert varying degrees of
stimulation on that acupoint. (Lift and
thrust; Rotate; Flick, Rock the needle)
Acupoint

● a node where bundles of nervous tissue intersect.

● specific sites through which the qi of the zang–fu organs

and meridians is transported to the body surface

● There are 720 acupoints in the body, 108 are vital

acupoints.

● Certain ailments may be treated by stimulating acupoints.

Commonly Used Acupoints
Commonly Used Acupoints
The Acupuncture Needle
 Three-edged Needle
- round handle, triangular body, sharp
tip

- used to puncture blood vessels for

blood letting

- to promote the smooth flow of chi

and blood in meridians, dispel blood
stasis and eliminate heat.

- to treat blockage of the meridians,

blood stasis, high fever, loss of
consciousness, sore throat, local
congestion or swelling.
 Cutaneous Needle

● A bunch of needles attached to a

handle like a hammer

● used in the treatment of peripheral

neuropathy.

● The affected area would be lightly

tapped starting at the toes or fingers
and then up the legs and arms.
 Fire Needle

- inserting a red hot needle into

acupuncture points on the body.

- Heated needles are applied on

Ashi points (tender spots)

- can activate the meridians,

promote blood circulation, and
regulate skin immunity
 Electro-acupuncture

Pulses of weak electrical

current are sent through
acupuncture needles into
acupuncture points in the
skin.
 Laser Acupuncture

stimulation of traditional
acupuncture points with
low-intensity, non-thermal
laser irradiation
 Acupoints
in Ear
Acupuncture
 Traditional Chinese Medicine

● Ancient Chinese believed that humans are

microcosms of the larger surrounding universe,
and are interconnected with nature and subject to
its forces.

● Any imbalance to Qi can cause disease and illness.

● The various modalities of TCM aims to restore the

bodyʼs balance and harmony between the natural
opposing forces of yin and yang.
References
 QUIZ
1. It is ancient folk remedy in which the lubricated skin of the person
seeking treatment is repeatedly “pressstroked” with a
smooth-edged instrument in a methodical manner to produce a
moderate bruising.
2. It is a therapeutic method in which a jar or a cup is attached to the
skin surface to cause local congestion through the negative
pressure created by introducing heat in the form of an ignited
material.
3. It is also known as reflexing points or unfixed points/Tender spots.
4. It is a method that uses moxa cones which are tapered with the tip
of the cone at the top and the flat at the bottom made of moxa
wool.
5. It’s a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese Taoist and
martial arts principles and translates to “Push & Grasp” in English.
 QUIZ
1. It is ancient folk remedy in which the lubricated skin of the person
seeking treatment is repeatedly “press-stroked” with a smooth-edged
instrument in a methodical manner to produce a moderate bruising:
Gua Sha
2. It is a therapeutic method in which a jar or a cup is attached to the skin
surface to cause local congestion through the negative pressure
created by introducing heat in the form of an ignited material: Cupping
3. It is also known as reflexing points or unfixed points/Tender spots :
Ashi points
4. It is a method that uses moxa cones which are tapered with the tip of
the cone at the top and the flat at the bottom made of moxa wool:
Moxibustion
5. It’s a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese Taoist and martial
arts principles and translates to “Push & Grasp” in English. Tui Na
 Xiè Xiè
for listening