Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which encompasses many different practices, is rooted in the ancient philosophy of Taoism, dating back more than 5,000 years, and includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage (Tui na), exercise (qigong), and diet.
Starting in the 1950s, these principles were modernised in the People's Republic of China, integrating many anatomical and pathological notions with modern scientific medicine, and today it is practiced side by side with Western medicine in many of China’s hospitals and clinics. Nonetheless, some of its methods, including the model of the body, or concept of disease, are not supported by modern evidence-based medicine.
“Underlying the practice of TCM is a unique view of the world and the human body that is different from Western medicine concepts,” says Kong Tong Sam, the vice president of the Macau Traditional Chinese Medicine Society, who has been an attending practitioner for over 30 years in Tat On Ieong Sang Tong, a TCM medical consultation centre in Bairro Horta da Mitra.
A view based on the ancient Chinese perception of humans as microcosms of the larger, surrounding universe—interconnected with nature and subject to its forces. According to Kong, our human body is regarded as an organic entity in which the various organs, tissues, and other parts have distinct functions but are all-interdependent. In this view, health and disease relate to balance of the functions.
According to Kong, TCM is typically delivered by a practitioner and emphasizes individual treatment, a tailor-made approach that involves a physical assessment inspecting the tongue, skin, eyes, measuring the pulse, looking at the eating and sleeping habits of the patient, as well as many other things. “If considering TCM, always be sure to check the practitioner’s qualifications, including training and licensure,” he says.
At the heart of TCM is Qi (pronounced chee), the energy or life force within you and all around – everything is energy. According to Kong, with thousands of years of direct observation and deep experiential knowledge of Qi, a complete understanding of energy and how it moves and functions in the body and throughout nature, is what places it at the heart of this holistic practice.
Most health issues begin at the level of Qi. According to Kong, before an issue reaches the physical body with visible symptoms (such as indigestion or acid reflux), there has to be a disturbance or imbalance somewhere in that person’s energy body. “When your Qi is in balance and harmony you feel well, which is to say you are not aware of any discomfort,” says the practitioner.
“If one runs out of Chi, his life is meant to come to an end.”
According to Kong, eight principles are used to analyse symptoms and categorize conditions: cold/heat, interior/exterior, excess/deficiency, and yin/yang (the chief principles). The theory of five elements—fire, earth, metal, water, and wood—explain how the body works and these elements correspond to particular organs and tissues in the body.
TCM remedies for summer
TCM teaches us that summer belongs to fire, one of the five elements. Fire is symbolic of maximum activity or greatest yang, which means that it is a time of heat, outgoingness, and moving outward in nature and in our lives. According to Kong, in human anatomy, the heart, mind, and spirit are ruled by the fire element. Thus, top priority should be given to the heart, mind, and spirit for staying healthy in summer.
“Symptoms of summer heat are excess body heat, profuse sweating, parched mouth and throat, constipation and heart palpitations,” says he. According to Kong, summer heat is a yang pernicious influence and described as “uprising and spread out,” meaning it affects the head, causing thirst, a red face, and headache. “The excessive sweating also leads to dark, concentrated urine, and depletion of the body's yin can occur,” Kong says.
When the fire element is in balance, the heart is strong and healthy, the mind is calm and sleep is sound.
When the fire element is imbalanced, we may either lack joy (depression) or have an excess of joy (mania). “Indicators of an imbalance in the fire element include agitation, nervousness, heartburn, and insomnia,” Kong says.
According to Kong, there are two commonly used remedies to eliminate heat: 1) Lily refreshing soup (dried lily petal 50 grams, 100 grams of fresh winter melon, one egg white); 2) barley soup with lotus seed (lotus seeds 20 grams, pearl barley, Semen Euryales, 10 grams, 3 pieces of Tremella fuciformis).
DRIED CICADA SHELL/CICADA MOLTING
Also known as Chan Tui, one of the classic Chinese herbs for dispelling wind and heat from the body.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is sweet and cold in nature and covers the meridians of lung and liver. Main functions are to dispel wind to promote eruption, relieve fever, relieve sore throat, remove nebula and relieve spasm.
Main uses and indications are wind-heat cold, sore throat, celostomia, unerupted measles, itching caused by rubella
CENTIPEDE
Found worldwide, the typical centipede ranges from yellow to red to brown, and is divided into 22 segments, with a pair of antennae and a pair of jaw-like hooks on the head.
It has an unpleasant odor, and is somewhat salty in taste. It is usually boiled, dried in the sun, then smashed into a powder for use in herbal preparations.
Associated with the Liver meridian, it has pungent, warm and slightly toxic properties. Its functions are to clear wind and spasm, and to dissipate toxins and nodules
It is used to treating conditions such as lockjaw, seizures and convulsions. It is also employed to relieve sores and carbuncles on
the skin, and alleviate pain
But be noted that pregnant women are forbidden to use.
EARTHWORM/DRAGON OF LAND
Although earthworms are not herbs, they are nevertheless a vital component of traditional Chinese medicine.
Found virtually worldwide, earthworms live in almost any type of soil that contains the right amounts of moisture and organic particles.
Cold in property, earthworms are effective in clearing the heart, invigorating blood circulation, dissolving stasis, opening up channels, curing stroke, hemiplegia and infantile convulsion
Earthworm has a strong taste that can invariably be salty, "fishy" or both, it may cause nausea and even vomiting in some sensitive individuals. This can be countered by taking earthworm powder, or taking dried earthworm with citrus fruits or other herbs.
