Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine

 

The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine's Approach

Chinese medicine involves several integrated therapeutic methods, three of which we offer at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM):

• Acupuncture
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Tui Na

We train acupuncturists in our BSc (Hons) acupuncture courses and intend to train Chinese herbalists again when the legal status of herbs is clarified by the government. 

Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Chinese acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into the energy channels of the body. Herbs are ingested in the form of tinctures, powders and decoctions of plant materials. Both use the underlying theory of Chinese medicine to make a diagnosis and are designed to rebalance energy and thereby restore health. However, they work somewhat differently.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing. The earliest acupuncture books were written over two thousand years ago and today, worldwide, there are over three million practitioners.

Acupuncture began with the discovery that stimulating certain areas of the skin affected the function of specific internal organs. It evolved into a system of healing as the connection between the skin and organs was better understood and more sensitive ways of stimulation were devised.

In the West, acupuncture has been misleadingly—publicised as being good only for specific conditions, for example, pain or weight loss. In fact, it is effective for a large variety of conditions and is used to benefit the body, mind and spirit due to its power to stimulate our own healing response. This overall therapeutic effect is one of its great strengths.

 The Tradition of Chinese Herbal Medicine

The origin of the Chinese herbal tradition is said to stem from the legendary emperor Sheng Nong, who lived around 3,500 B.C. The tradition has three important features:

• Herbs are prescribed based on Chinese medicine
• Formulas rather than individual herbs are typically prescribed
• Safety and effectiveness

Herbs are Prescribed based on Chinese Medicine

The therapeutic actions of all formulas and individual herbs are described in terms of the theory of Chinese medicine. This means that a diagnosis, phrased in the language of Chinese medicine, already points to various formulas or individual herbs.

Herbal Formulas versus Individual Herbs

The practitioner usually prescribes formulas rather than individual herbs. Formulas are groups of herbs working together synergistically. A group of herbs is usually safer and better adapted to deal with a complicated clinical condition.

Tradition Ensures Safety and Effectiveness

The long Chinese tradition ensures both the effectiveness and safety of prescriptions given by trained practitioners.

Herbal formulas prescribed under the tenants of Chinese medicine give Chinese herbal medical practitioners a deep understanding of patients’ health problems and a safe effective method for treating many ailments, both physical and mental.

 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
& Five Element Acupuncture

What Is Integration?

Acupuncture stems from an age-old system of healing that originated in China. Its theory is contained in ancient texts, and its practice has been the subject of continuous study and clinical assessment over thousands of years and billions of patients. It has truly stood the test of time.

Acupuncture theory derives from two fundamental concepts:

• Yin/Yang theory
• The Five Elements

These two profound ideas have shaped Oriental medical theory and practice for millennia, and continue to do so today. The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM) trains acupuncture practitioners in an integrated style. This style brings together the strengths of yin/yang theory (using Traditional Chinese Medicine) and the Five Elements (using Five Element constitutional diagnosis) in one integrated whole, acupuncture course.

Why Integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
with Five Element Acupuncture?

We believe that an acupuncture practitioner is best equipped to treat someone if they understand both their illness, and the nature of the person suffering from the illness. To achieve this, we teach an integration of two different styles:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture

In this respect the degree course taught at our college is unique.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), based on yin/yang and Eight Principle theory, is the mainstream style practised in China. It concentrates on the symptoms of a patient's illness. It is well suited for treating a wide range of physical and psychological conditions. It is also very effective when treating musculoskeletal problems, which many of our patients suffer from. Based on a combination of questioning and observation, as well as pulse and tongue diagnosis, it provides an effective framework for treating complaints such as headaches, gynecological problems, digestive complaints, chest conditions and many other illnesses.

To diagnose the problem the practitioner asks specific questions and looks for patterns arising from the signs and symptoms. For example, in the case of headaches, the practitioner may ask: "When does the headache come on?", "Where exactly do you feel it?", "What does it feel like?", "Is it affected by bright light?". The answers help the practitioner to find the cause of the patient’s disharmony, and treat it.

Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture

Our Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture course focuses on the person who has the illness, rather than the illness itself. A combination of our genetic inheritance and the first few years of life leave all of us with subtle imbalances in our qi that affect our health and wellbeing.

The practitioner detects these imbalances by observing a person closely, concentrating on four crucial aspects:

• The emotion they are expressing most inappropriately;
• The colour that can be observed on their face, particularly on the lower temples beside the eye;
• The odour emitted by their body;
• The sound present in their voice, particularly a tone that does not fit with the emotion being expressed.

Together these indicate which of the Five Elements might be the constitutional imbalance of the patient: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, or Wood.

By incorporating both styles, the practitioner creates a wider range of treatment possibilities and touches the patient deeply. Patients feel better, more vital and deal with the problems that caused them to seek treatment.

Book a Treatment or
Train to become an Acupuncturist or Chinese Herbalist

To book a treatment at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM), click here.

To learn more about acupuncture and Chinese herb courses at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM), click here.

 

 

"What our graduates say"