Introduction

Chinese medicine has been used for thousands of years as the primary health care system in China before the introduction of western medicine in the late 19th century. Through centuries of constant challenges of diverse health disorders and community needs, centuries of cumulative clinical experiences, skills and clinical observations of the signs and symptoms of the human body have been recorded and evolved into a unique medical system, Chinese medicine (Chinese Medical System).

Chinese medicine is a complete, unique and extensive medical system with its own theories and methods for diagnosis, treatment and disease prevention. 

Chinese medical system includes internal medicine , gynaecology , paediatrics , ophthalmology , orthopaedic , dermatology , urology as well as ENT . 

Although Chinese medicine has become better known in the western countries, it still carries many myths as the dragon hidden in the cloud to the western medical profession. And in many parts of the world, Chinese medicine remains inaccessible.

(Chinese medical system),

dated 722-221 BC

Philosophy of Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is a medical system about moderation, harmony and prevention. It focuses on restoring the body back to its balance by early detection of imbalances in the body, recognises and treats signs and symptoms in the early stage of an illness before the disease occurs. It promotes a harmonious relationship between our health and the environment. 

MODERATION. 
Chinese medicine believes in the importance of moderation in the maintenance of good health. People should exercise, diet and live in accordance with the principle of moderation. 

Respect NATURE & Live in Harmony
Chinese medicine respects the importance of nature to our lives. Thus, we believe people should respect nature and live in harmony with nature , in order to maintain a good health. That is, we should establish our lifestyle in accordance to the rhythms of nature and seasonal changes. We should take care of our natural environment as we would take care of ourselves. 

PREVENTION is BETTER than cure
Chinese medicine believes in prevention is better than cure. As cure to a disease is never as sovereign, as to prevent a disease from occurring in the first place. Thus, we always advise people to regulate their diet and lifestyles in order to prevent illnesses from arising.

Fig. 2. Ancient perception of the organ locations in the body, 722-221 BC

722-221 BC

Branches of Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is branched into many different specialties, two of the most well renowned are acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine . Other specialties include medicated diet therapy, Qi Gong therapy, medicated herbal tea therapy, and so on. 

Chinese Medicine Perspectives

Chinese medicine perceives the human body as a microcosm of nature. Human body itself is part of nature as well as influenced by our natural environment, climate and seasonal changes, diet as well as lifestyle.

Unlike orthodox medicine, each organ is pertained to the ANATOMICAL organ itself, in Chinese medicine, each organ is belonged to an ORGAN system, has its unique features, characteristics and physiological functions. These organ systems interact with each other and interrelate the muscular skeletal body to our mind emotions and soul.

Characteristics of Chinese Medicine

Wholistic. Chinese medicine is a "wholistic" medicine. It assesses and diagnoses the body from gathering all the signs and symptoms and treated the condition as a whole. For example, a person with stress and anxiety may also suffer from ibs, digestive problems as well as binge eating disorder. Thus, the practitioner gathers all the signs and symptoms and prescribe a set of herbs which treat all the related signs and symptoms such as digestive problem, bloating, ibs and binge eating whcih are caused by stress and anxiety.

Individualised. As Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture points are prescribed by the practitioner after a detail consultation and assessment of the signs and symptoms. Chinese herbal medicine/treatment and acupuncture treatment are INDIVIDUALISED to the health condition of that particular patient. Thus, two people with the same condition, eg, headache, may receive completely different treatment.

Synergy. Chinese herbal medication prescribed by the Chinese medical practitioner after the practitioner gather all the health information from the patient, assessed the health conditions. The Chinese herbal medication is individualised to the patient's health conditions and may contain a set of 12 to 15 herbs which are working together to regulate the imbalances of the body.