What is traditional Chinese medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is a system of medicine that has developed in China over thousands of years. It sees the body as a whole, where health depends on balance and a free flow of Qi. Acupuncture is its best-known method.
Four ideas worth knowing
TCM describes the body differently from Western medicine. These are the terms you are most likely to hear during a treatment.
- 1Balance: yin and yang
- TCM describes the body in terms of two opposing but complementary forces, yin and yang. Yin stands for what is cool, calm and nourishing, yang for what is warm, active and moving. Health is seen as a balance between the two.
- 2Qi, the vital energy
- Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) is the TCM word for the energy that keeps the body going. An even flow of Qi keeps yin and yang in balance.
- 3Meridians
- Qi is thought to flow along pathways called meridians. There are twelve main meridians, each linked to an organ system. The acupuncture points lie along them.
- 4When the flow is blocked
- If the flow is blocked, like water behind a dam, TCM holds that it can lead to pain, loss of function or illness. Treatment aims to get the flow moving again.
Pulse and tongue reveal the pattern
A TCM diagnosis is built on conversation and examination. Dr. Tian asks about your symptoms, sleep, digestion and habits. She then takes your pulse at both wrists and looks at the colour, shape and coating of your tongue.
Together these form a pattern, and the pattern guides the treatment. That is why two people with the same complaint may have different acupuncture points treated.
Two approaches that complement each other
Conventional medicine and TCM approach health from slightly different angles. Conventional medicine looks for a diagnosis through tests, scans and examinations, and has well-proven treatments for many diseases. TCM asks how the whole body works together and what has upset its balance. The two approaches can be combined.
A whole-body view
Conventional medicine often divides the body into organs and specialities, which allows each area to be studied in great depth. TCM sees body, mind and lifestyle as one connected system. A headache, for example, may be assessed together with your sleep, digestion and stress.
The cause behind the symptoms
In TCM a symptom is seen as a sign of imbalance in the body. The practitioner looks for the pattern behind your complaints and treats both the pattern and the symptoms. Conventional medicine also looks for the cause of an illness, but with different methods.
An individual diagnosis
Conventional medicine makes a diagnosis with tests, scans and examinations. In TCM the diagnosis rests on a conversation, your pulse and your tongue. Two people with the same conventional diagnosis may therefore be treated at different acupuncture points.
How acupuncture may work
There are two ways of explaining how acupuncture works: one from TCM and one from research.
- According to TCM
- The needles stimulate points along the meridians. According to TCM, this clears blockages so that Qi can flow evenly and the body can regain its balance.
- According to research
- Research suggests that acupuncture affects the nervous system. Stimulating the points may influence how pain signals are transmitted and prompt the body to release its own pain-relieving substances. The evidence differs from one condition to another.
Many people find that treatment brings relief, but the effect varies from person to person. Think of acupuncture as a complement to the care you already receive.
Treatments within TCM
TCM includes several methods. They are used on their own or together, depending on the diagnosis.
Acupuncture
At Dr. Tian’s clinicFine, sterile needles are placed in acupuncture points along the meridians. They usually stay in for 20–40 minutes.
Ear acupuncture
At Dr. Tian’s clinicTiny needles or seeds on points in the outer ear. Often used for pain and stress.
Cupping
At Dr. Tian’s clinicCups create gentle suction that lifts the tissue and increases blood flow in tense muscles.
Gua sha
At Dr. Tian’s clinicThe skin is gently scraped with a smooth tool and oil to increase circulation.
Herbs and supplements
At Dr. Tian’s clinicIn TCM, herbs are used both as medicine and in everyday food. In China this is called 药食同源 (yào shí tóng yuán): food and medicine share the same origin. Dr. Tian offers herbs, herbal teas and supplements, and advises you on how to use them as part of your treatment plan.
Acupuncture in Swedish healthcare
Acupuncture has been used in China for thousands of years. In Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) approved acupuncture as a method in healthcare in 1984, mainly for pain. That specific regulation ended in 1993, and today acupuncture is offered both within healthcare and at private clinics.
1984
The year acupuncture was approved for Swedish healthcare
Two ways of looking at the same body
Dr. Tian has worked in both worlds. In China she trained in both conventional medicine and TCM, and in 2008 she completed her PhD in cardiovascular research at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
At the clinic she makes her diagnosis and chooses points according to TCM. She is also happy to explain what is happening in your body in the language of Western medicine. Studies have looked at how acupuncture affects the nervous system and the experience of pain, among other things, but the evidence differs from one condition to another.
She always asks about your diagnoses and medication, and she sees acupuncture as a complement to your regular care. Never stop a prescribed treatment on your own.
Come in for a personal health consultation
Book 30 minutes with Dr. Tian. She listens to your concerns and examines your pulse and tongue. Together you agree on a plan: your first step towards better health.