Traditional Medicine in Asia

(mugwort), a kind of herb in Chinese called
Ai (moxa). Generally speaking, moxibustion
is applied in cold syndrome, deficient
conditions and chronic diseases.
Moxibustion may be used in combination
with acupuncture or separately to effect a
treatment.
Qigong
The term qigong is composed of two
Chinese characters, qi and gong, where
qi can be translated roughly into English
as “vital energy”, and gong as “method”
or “performance”. Qigong is a system of
exercise performed by taking a proper
posture, adjusting breathing and
concentrating the mind and uniting vital
essence and energy and mentality as a
whole for physical training, health
preservation, prevention and treatment of
diseases. 14 Since qi plays an important role
in the vital processes of the human body, it
is natural that regulation of the flow of qi
can be used as a method to preserve health
and prevent diseases. Qigong is different
from physical exercises. The latter is aimed
at building up health or at restoring the
body’s physical functioning by enhancing
strength, whereas the former is focused on
the mobilization of functional potentialities
through regulating the mind and
breathing. In other words, physical exercise
is purely somatic, whereas qigong therapy
is generally psychosomatic. Another
difference between physical exercise and
qigong is that physical exercise expands
energy by tensing up the muscle and
accelerating the heart beat and
respiration, while qigong works to relax,
calm and regulate breathing so as to
accumulate vital energy in the body.
Tuina
The term Tuina is composed of two Chinese
characters, Tui and Na. Tui can be
An overview of traditional Chinese medicine
translated as pressing and dragging, and
Na as grasping. It belongs to external
therapy and has evolved over thousands
of years. As a component of TCM intervention,
tuina is based on a solid theoretical
background, and includes basic theories,
diagnostic methods and syndrome
differentiation of TCM, particularly the
theory of meridians. In addition, tuina is
also involved in a series of different kinds
of specific manipulation techniques.
Tuina has its own specific benefits and
advantages in a wide range of applications.
Tuina is used in both prevention and
treatment of diseases. It may be used in
the treatment of internal and external
conditions, traumatic injury, and musculoskeletal,
gynaecological, obstetric and
paediatric diseases.
Stringent and comprehensive practitioner
training is important. When
performing tuina, the physician must first
concentrate his mind, regulate his
breathing, and actuate the qi and power
of his entire body towards his hands, elbow
or other part of body with the requirement
of treatment, then apply manipulation on
certain points or areas of the patient’s body
to stimulate the flow of qi and blood in
order to normalize the function of zang fu
and balance yin and yang.
Proper use of TCM
In TCM, the conception of the organism
as a whole and diagnosis and treatment
based on overall analysis of symptoms and
signs are two key elements. Diagnosis,
prevention and treatment of illness in TCM
rely on a holistic approach towards the sick
individual, and disturbances are treated at
the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual
and environmental levels simultaneously.
Safety issues are of paramount
concern. Since Chinese medicine is
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