TCM Medicine is an ancient form of medicine that has been around for over 2000 years. TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine, which focuses on the flow of Qi (energy) through channels in the body called meridians. TCM also takes into account how every organ and system interacts with one another to maintain balance in the body.
TCM uses herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietary changes to treat a variety of conditions. TCM can be used to help relieve symptoms related to chronic pain disorders like arthritis or fibromyalgia; digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome; respiratory problems such as asthma or pulmonary fibrosis; cardiovascular diseases including hypertension or atherosclerosis; immune-related conditions such as diabetes mellitus type II or autoimmune diseases; neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or depression; and even cancer.
TCM has also been used to help women with fertility issues, menopause symptoms, menstrual cramps, PMS-related symptoms, etc.
TCM practitioners will often recommend TCM dietary changes as well to help support the TCM treatment plan because TCM’s work is best when patients are taking care of themselves holistically instead of just focusing on one symptom at a time (which is usually what happens in Western medicine).
Is this safe?
TCM medicine is pharmacologically safe when they’re prescribed by professionals.
There are some medications that TCM practitioners will avoid in their patients because they can be contraindicated with certain TCMs, but this also varies depending on the patient’s specific condition and other factors so it’s best to consult with a TCM professional before self-prescribing any new medication or herbal supplement.
If you do not have an existing relationship with a practitioner, here are three things to get to know about TCM:
First of all, there are two types of Chinese medicinal systems – Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which uses herbs, acupuncture, dietary changes, etc., and Japanese traditional medical system called Kampo which uses a mixture of TCM and Western medical practices.
Secondly, TCMs are not regulated by the FDA so it is important to be aware that quality standards can vary from one practitioner to another.
Lastly, TCMs have been used for thousands of years but due to lack of clinical studies about their safety or efficacy, there isn’t much scientific evidence behind TCM treatments yet. However, this could change in the future if more people choose TCM as an alternative treatment option instead of conventional Western medicine alone.
In conclusion, while you should definitely explore other options when dealing with chronic pain because nothing works 100% for everyone’s condition there are many benefits associated with TCM therapies such as affordability compared to certain surgeries or prescriptions medications so before you make a decision TCM should be explored as an option.