Oriental or Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM is a way of understanding humanity in relationship with nature- as a part of all the natural cycles and elements that we see in the world around us. Its basis is the Daoist perspective.
The Dao
The prior state of unity before separation. The Dao/ Tao, the oneness, the way, that which cannot be described. And from the Dao arises duality Yin and Yang.
Yin and Yang
Yin are the feminine, moistening, cooling, dark, intuitive, passive, descending, night time and earthy qualities. Whereas Yang, it’s polar opposite are the Masculine, drying, warming, light, logical, active, ascending, daytime and heavenly qualities. The variations of interplay between Yin and Yang give rise to the many thousands of things- all that we know as life, seen and unseen.
Humanity
In Oriental Medicine the role of humanity is connecting Heaven and Earth. For the body, emotions and mind to conduct the forces of Yin and Yang – Feminine and Masculine. And to grow through the 5 phases of life that cycle through all aspects of being and are reflected each year in the 5 seasons.
The 5 Elements
5 phases and 5 seasons, reflected in every aspect of humanity- our organs, our senses, our physical systems, emotions, colour, sound, odour and in the patterning of our life story.
We each have a Winter quality, the desire to retreat, to be still and recharge our reserve tanks. This is the Water element, and is our ability to reflect deeply beyond the surface ripples of life and develop the insight to be able to recognise how to ‘go with the flow’ and be carried graciously in life.
The Spring in us is our impulse to create our dreams, ideas or visions. Inspired as the plan unfolds, we get a burst of energy like a flush of new spring growth. This is the Wood element, a very popular mode in our culture. A mode that if we constantly employ, will drain the reserves of water and the ability to recharge deep down to our roots.
The Summer in us is the attraction to connect with others, enjoy the warmth and joy of life, have fun and be playful- this is the Fire element. It is easy to see when someone is on fire- the same also when someone has lost their fire- we see a persons fire as light and energy, in the sparkle of the eyes and beauty of a smile.
Next is Late Summer, expressing the qualities of the element Earth. It is the season when food is most abundant and ripe. Nurturing is key for Earth, either through food or the emotions of sympathy and empathy. It is so easy to see the human psyche linking these two concepts within the Cosmological being of Mother Earth. Also common amongst us is the tendency to nurture others and not ourselves… to give and not receive. In time the face develops ‘over nurturing others’ lines, wrinkles that run vertically in a row above the Earth’s facial feature- the mouth.
Then there is Autumn- the Metal element. It is associated with the lungs and large intestine- our ability to receive and let go. Metal is a refining phase- discerning what is valuable and precious. It is reflected in our inspiration, aspiration and inhalation / exhalation.
These Elements need to be in harmony and relationship with each other so that we may cycle through the phases, conducting the forces of Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine).
Diagnosis
These are a few threads from the rich tapestry of Oriental Medicine. Every aspect of your life is revealing your relationship with these 5 phases, Yin and Yang, and ultimately our prior state- the Dao, the way of life or what ever you would like to call it.
Each pattern of disharmony is made up of…
- An organ system(s) and Meridian(s)
- Whether it is affecting your Yin (substance), Blood (similar to the Western idea of Blood but infused with many other qualities), Yang (function) or Qi (underlying what will manifest as function).
- And a the effectiveness of your conductivity, ie Liver Qi Stagnation, Kidney Yin Deficiency, Blood Stagnation in the Uterus
Treatment
The art of the practitioner of Oriental Medicine is to be able to use all of these signs of your life and state, to understand how to respond to you.
The various health giving practices of Oriental Medicine are Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Meditation, Qi Gong and Nourishment.
Meridians and organ systems
For those that need a more physical approach to get your head around TCM, there is the meridian theory. A system of energy flows through the body, like streams, that when free flowing and full are vital and self regenerating. But when blocked or depleted develop disease and disharmony in any and every area of our lives.
These meridians traverse the entire body, and are intimately linked with each of our organs. Acu – points on each meridian provide an opening- a place where we can communicate with that flow and organ system. Each Acu- point has certain functions that it stimulates. Initiating stimulus is like providing a suggestion to the body, mind and emotions. These points are engaged by touch, colour, sound, intention, visualisation or puncturing- the last of which is commonly known as Acupuncture.