Naturopath with a federal diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM - Acupuncture

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• Acupuncture (TCM)
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
• Electro-acupuncture (TCM)
• Ear acupuncture (TCM)
• Moxa, moxibustion (TCM)

 

In traditional Chinese medicine, the body, soul and environment are therefore not considered separately from each other, but are seen as an individual unit. Consequently, an illness is always seen as a combination of objective findings (pulse and tongue diagnosis, color of the skin, stool and urine tests) and subjective well-being.

Traditional Chinese medicine is expressed in the regulatory concepts of Qi, Yin and Yang as well as the five elements:

Qi

In the Western world, the term qi is often translated as "energy". However, this only reflects part of the meaning of a Chinese word that seems to defy any clear translation.

The Chinese character qi is actually made up of two words, "vapor/steam" and "rice". This is intended to express the fact that qi can be immaterial like vapor on the one hand and material, as dense as rice, on the other. In Chinese medicine, qi is therefore the basis of all material and spiritual life. So the expression "the qi flows" does not so much mean that energy flows, but simply that the mechanisms of life function. To clarify this, here is a quote from Wang Chong (Chinese physician, 27-97 AD): "Qi forms the human body, just as water becomes ice. Just as water becomes ice, so qi clusters together to form the human body."

Yin and yang

Yin and yang embody the opposites - but also the complementary. One cannot exist without the other. Yin contains the seed of yang and vice versa. These symbols describe the stages of a cyclical movement, with one flowing into the other, just as day passes into night and vice versa.

Yin, for example, stands for the moon, the cold, the night, the feminine and for substance. Typical Yang characters or designations are the sun, warmth, day, the masculine or (disembodied) energy. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is important that yin and yang are in balance, as this is the only way to ensure a person's well-being.

For a better understanding: if a person is neither too hot nor too cold, this means that yin and yang are in balance. However, if they are too cold, this can mean that they have too much yin (e.g. low outside temperature = excess yin) or too little yang (e.g. exhaustion due to loss of energy = lack of yang), which means that they have too much yin = cold in relative terms.

Five elements or functional circuits

Another important concept in TCM is the five elements or functional circles: Water, Fire, Wood, Metal and Earth. Properties such as certain seasons, organs, colors, emotions, taste, climatic factors and much more are assigned to each of these five elements.

Water: winter, kidney, black, fear, salty, cold

Fire: summer, heart, red, joy, bitter, heat

Wood: spring, liver, green, anger, sour, wind

Metal: autumn, lung, white, sadness, dryness

Earth: late summer (or the middle of the seasons), spleen, yellow, brooding, dampness

These five elements support and complement each other, just as the year is made up of the seasons. However, they also control each other and balance each other out, similar to the harmonious flow of the seasons.

The symptoms and (disease) signs assigned to the five elements signal to the TCM doctor which of the five functional circuits is disturbed and where the causes may lie. A simplified example: A patient suffers from a dry cough in the fall. In this case, it is easy for the doctor to see that the metal element is affected. In order to strengthen this functional circuit, he can give the patient herbs or prick meridian points that are assigned to this element. In this context, another important aspect becomes clear: traditional Chinese medicine does not "repair" - rather, self-healing powers are strengthened and activated.

Methods of TCM

Acupuncture

This healing method, which is now also increasingly used in the Western world, involves stimulating predetermined areas of skin - acupuncture points located on meridians - with needles.

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Phytotherapy

In China, the use of herbs to maintain health and combat illness is much more important than acupuncture. In the Western world, however, Chinese herbs are used less frequently, as working with these formulas requires a more in-depth knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine than is the case with acupuncture.

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Tuina (An Mo)

This form of treatment is very similar to acupuncture. However, no needles are used in Tuina, instead the meridians and acupuncture points are treated using special grip techniques.

Qi Gong, Tai Qi

Following basic instructions, the patient should then perform these gentle movement techniques independently. The aim of the exercises is to harmonize and centre the body and mind. Qi gong and tai qi are less a therapy in their own right, but rather an important accompanying measure. Tai qi is also known as "shadow boxing".

Nutrition

Consequentially, certain properties are also attributed to the nutrients. A change in diet is therefore an important factor in traditional Chinese medicine in order to lead a life in harmony and harmony.

Where are TCM methods used?

In China, there are no restrictions on indications, which is clearly demonstrated by the fact that almost every hospital has its own TCM department.

In Europe, acupuncture is often used for musculoskeletal disorders and pain. Due to the scientific proof of effectiveness in certain areas, health insurance companies are also prepared to cover some or even all of the costs in these cases. However, the prerequisite is that the treatment is carried out by a doctor who has an acupuncture diploma from the Austrian Medical Association.

Therapy using herbs and similar substances has shown good results for functional disorders and chronic infections, according to experience reports.

Where can you get information or training?

There is a diploma from the Austrian Medical Association for training in acupuncture. To obtain this diploma, a course with 100 hours of theory and 40 hours of practice (work shadowing) must be completed. The diploma is completed with a practical and theoretical examination. The diploma requires an Ius practicandi (license to work as a general practitioner).

The acupuncture diploma is now widespread in the medical profession. This also means that acupuncture is hardly practiced by some doctors, or only on the side. So don't be afraid to ask the doctor how much experience they have in this field before starting treatment.

Training to become a traditional Chinese doctor (training in phytotherapy, nutrition and traditional forms of diagnosis) is standardized in Austria through a medical chamber diploma.

The training program lasts at least two years with a total of at least 500 teaching units of 45 minutes each; about two thirds of this is made up of seminars and courses and one third of practice.