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Formation of Diseases and Holistic Approach According to Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that dates back thousands of years and approaches diseases from a holistic perspective. In this understanding, the human body and soul are treated as a whole, and diseases are associated with disruption of the flow of energy (Qi) in the body.

The Root Cause of Diseases: Qi Imbalance

According to Chinese Medicine, when the Qi (energy), Blood and Yin-Yang balance in the body works correctly, a person is healthy. However, when external factors (weather, environmental conditions) or internal factors (emotional stress, nutrition, lifestyle) disrupt this balance, diseases occur.

The causes of diseases are grouped under four main headings:

Emotional Factors: Emotional imbalances such as stress, sadness, anger affect the functioning of organs.
Environmental Factors: External factors such as cold, heat, humidity and wind disrupt the body balance.
Lifestyle: Irregular diet, lack of sleep and inactivity invite diseases.
Energy Blockages: Blockages in the meridian channels in the body prevent the organs from functioning properly.

Holistic Approach: Balance of Body, Mind and Spirit

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, diseases are seen not only as a physical problem but also as a mental and spiritual imbalance. Therefore, the treatment process focuses not only on the symptoms but also on the root of the disease.

According to the holistic approach, the body is based on 5 basic elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and organ systems. Each element is associated with specific organs and imbalances between these elements lead to physical and emotional problems.

Meridian Therapy and the Importance of Energy Balance

In Chinese Medicine, meridians are channels through which Qi energy circulates in the body. Blockages in these channels cause diseases by preventing the flow of energy. Meridian Therapy opens these energy blockages and:

Regulates the flow of energy in the body,
Supports the healthy functioning of internal organs,
Reduces stress and emotional imbalances,
It strengthens the immune system.

Natural Methods for Holistic Health

Traditional Chinese Medicine uses natural methods such as herbal treatments, acupuncture, meridian massage and breathing exercises to achieve physical, mental and spiritual balance. These treatment methods aim to reach the root cause of diseases by activating the body's own healing power.

The basic philosophy of Chinese Medicine is to "take precautions before getting sick, rather than treating diseases." Therefore, it is possible to live a healthy and balanced life with small changes in lifestyle and natural therapies.

Philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine

While questioning the structure of man, ancient Chinese thinkers discovered that there was a close connection between man and the universe. While explaining the laws of the universe and nature, they evaluated that man also came from nature and was an inseparable part of nature and interpreted human structure accordingly. Chinese thinkers believed that everything in nature was composed of energy and that these energies created each other in a cycle. They explained the cycle with Yin-Yang, the balance of two opposing forces. In addition to Yin-Yang, the Chinese determined 5 main classes to explain and classify natural events. Each class - wood, fire, earth, water and metal - created each other. Every event in nature, such as seasons, directions, climates, internal organs, emotions, colors and sounds, is related to the five classes we call the Five Elements (Wu Xing). In fact, everything is composed of a changing and developing energy.

According to this idea originating from Taoism ; everything we see is a reflection of the Yin Yang energy that forms the universe. Everything is made up of Qi, which is the reflection of Yin-Yang on earth and is defined as life energy. As in every being, there is Qi in the human body. Qi circulates in 12 meridian channels in the human body, each governed by an organ. The meridians, which are concentrated near the surface of the skin, form acupuncture points. With treatments such as needles and massages applied to acupuncture points, the flow of Qi and Yin-Yang in the body are balanced and the body heals itself.

Traditional Chinese medicine also talks about blood circulation along with qi circulation in the body. The book Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine), which is 2000 years old, talks about blood circulation in the body, that blood is pumped through the body by the heart, and that the rate and strength of this circulation can be felt in the wrist. Thus, the basic diagnostic method of traditional Chinese medicine, the diagnosis of disease by pulse, emerges.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Terms Traditional Chinese medicine is based on some theories, thoughts and terms that make up Chinese culture. Let's explain them briefly now...

YIN YANG

Yin means moon (darkness) and Yang means sun (light). Yin represents terms such as cold, negative, water, night, while Yang represents terms such as hot, positive, fire, day. In fact, the two opposite and opposing poles in the universe create each other. One cannot exist without the other. When we examine traditional Chinese medicine from this perspective, we can see that the human body is also composed of opposing but complementary elements, like Yin Yang. The organs and tissues of the body are classified as Yin and Yang according to their functions or locations. For example; upper body versus lower body, internal organs versus body surface, arteries versus veins, absorption versus excretion, sensory system versus motor system, etc. These units, which interact with each other, live in mutual balance, and if one dominates the other, the problems we call diseases emerge.

5 Elements(Wu xing)

In ancient times, the Chinese tried to make sense of the natural events in the universe, the transformation and change in natural events. As a result of these efforts, they found 5 forms in which the qi energy, which they thought was a part of everything in the world, manifested itself. Another name for these 5 forms is the 5 elements. Each element represents the season, climate, taste, character, emotions, and concept found in nature. In short, everything in the universe occurs in the form of the 5 elements; wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The 5 elements work together. They have their own internal order and patterns. The rules that govern these five elements include the cycle of mutual production, the cycle of mutual restriction, excessive restriction, reverse restriction, and the balance between production and restriction.

Let's talk a little about the production cycle for a better understanding; in this cycle, it talks about the elements creating each other, that is, wood burns easily and creates fire. Fire creates ash and creates soil. Soil creates metals thanks to the minerals it contains, and when metal heats up and cools down, it creates water drops. Thus, metal creates water. Water grows trees and creates wood. The cycle continues in this way. According to the 5 element theory, everything in the universe is classified according to these rules and substances show the characteristic features of the element they belong to.

Yin Yang and 5 element theories are closely related to each other. Both of these theories are still used to explain natural events. Traditional Chinese medicine also classifies our bodies according to these 2 theories and the characteristic features of the organs are determined according to these classes. Let's explain with an example table:

Above he talks about the orderly relationship between the elements, nature and the human body.

Meridians (Jing-Luo)

Meridians can be called the paths that carry qi to the organs, bones, tendons and skin in the human body; in other words, to our entire body. Meridians should not be confused with blood vessels. Although the exact locations of meridians have not been determined anatomically, traditional Chinese medicine has been using meridians for centuries in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The qi flowing through meridians in our body is concentrated at certain points and we call these points acupuncture points. Each acupuncture point is connected to the organs and tissues in our body through a special meridian. When acupuncture points are blocked, the balance of the qi energy flowing in our body is disrupted, which deteriorates our mental and physical health.

QI(Life energy)

The life energy flowing in our body is called 气 (qì). In traditional Chinese medicine, qi provides the health and strength of the human body. When qi leaves the body, death occurs. Our body cannot sustain life without qi. Therefore, qi is of great importance to human life. In fact, qi is very similar to what we define as the soul.

Disease Diagnosis Using Traditional Chinese Medicine

We have said that traditional Chinese medicine adopts a holistic approach to medicine. According to the holistic approach; our body gradually gives us signals of existing problems, but we only become aware of them after the problems progress. When we go to the doctor because we have a headache, we learn that our headache is due to a problem in our kidneys. Since traditional Chinese medicine doctors know which organ in the body will show which type of symptom, they can detect and treat diseases that we are not even aware of. Traditional Chinese medicine uses 4 methods to diagnose diseases. These are asking questions, observing, listening/smelling, and diagnosing with the pulse. Let's examine these 4 methods now.

Question Asking Method

Because our lifestyle and the environment we live in affect the yin-yang balance within us, traditional Chinese medicine doctors ask patients questions about these issues. They examine issues such as the environment they live in, their sleep patterns, whether they are cold or not, whether they have a fever, their appetite, thirst, headaches. They also review the patient's past illnesses and make a diagnosis. For example, a patient with a headache is asked exactly where the pain is on their head. If the pain is concentrated in the middle of their forehead, it indicates a problem with the stomach meridians. The doctor then selects a treatment method to be applied to the stomach meridian and applies it.

Observation

Observation, which is one of the traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic methods, focuses more on the face and tongue. It determines which internal organ is problematic according to the changes and symptoms in the face color and skin. Our tongue also allows us to detect problems in our body with its color, teeth marks and cracks.

Listening and Smelling Method

During the examination, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor listens to the patient's speech, breathing, and coughing, and checks for specific sounds such as hiccups. Again, during the examination, he looks at whether the patient's body and mouth smell, determines where the patient's qi flow is impaired, and applies treatment methods accordingly.

Pulse

We mentioned that 2000 years ago, the Chinese discovered that blood is pumped by the heart. This method, which is done by touching three points on the wrists, diagnoses diseases by looking at values such as pulse rate, beats per minute and pulse strength. This method is the most commonly used method by traditional Chinese medicine doctors. It takes years to learn this method because it requires a lot of knowledge and experience to apply it correctly.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment Methods

Traditional Chinese medicine approaches diseases differently and also applies techniques that are quite different from Western medicine as a treatment method. Traditional Chinese medicine treats diseases by balancing the deficiency of Yin Yang forces and the imbalance of qi flow in the meridians. Some of the treatment methods applied are; acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, massage, medical nutrition, moxa therapy (also known as moxibustion or heat therapy) and qigong.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the flow of qi in the meridians is concentrated at certain points on the surface of the skin and these points form acupuncture points. When there is a blockage in our meridians, these points are intervened to restore the qi and Yin Yang balance and the body heals itself. By inserting acupuncture needles into the acupuncture points, the qi and Yin Yang balance circulating in the meridians is restored.

Cupping

In this method, patients are treated with a vacuum process that is done by heating glass bottles and placing them on the skin. Traditional Chinese medicine uses this method to remove the yang energy that is dominant in the body. It is used in the treatment of diseases such as cough, bronchitis, and colds. We cannot say that the cupping method is a method that originated in China. Because this method has been used in Europe and Africa for thousands of years.

Herbal Treatment

Geleneksel Çin tıbbı insan vücudunun da doğanın bir parçası olduğunu düşünüyor ve vücutta eksik olan qi ve Yin Yang’ın bitkilerden sağlanacağını söylüyor. Geleneksel Çin tıbbının tarihinde bitkilere de oldukça önem verildiğini ve bitkilerle yapılan ilaçların kayıtlarının tutulduğunu görüyoruz. Çin tıbbı bitkisel ilaçları hazırlanırken yapılacak küçük bir oran hatası ilacı etkisizleştiriyor. Bu yüzden geleneksel Çin tıbbı eczacılığında ilaçların reçetesi çok önemli. Geleneksel Çin tıbbı eczacılığındaki en büyük çalışma; Li Shizhen’in 27 yıl boyunca kayıtlarını tutarak yazdığı Bencao Gangmu(本草纲目) adlı kitabı.

This book describes 1,894 different plants and their success in treating diseases. Although the plants used in traditional Chinese medicine treatments are mostly known to be bitter, bottled medicines can be sweet. It is still possible to find Chinese medicine drugs widely in China. In fact, when doctors prescribe medicine, they ask the patient, “你想开什么药? 中药还是西药? (What medicine do you want? Western medicine or Chinese medicine?)”

Massage

Chinese massage, which is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment method, regulates balance by activating the qi and blood flow in those points when applied to certain points. Massage also regulates the nervous system and increases blood circulation. Since hormones such as endorphins and serotonin are secreted during massage, pain is reduced, tissue healing increases, metabolism is accelerated and finally, massage increases flexibility by allowing muscles to stretch. Traditional Chinese medicine includes different types of massage such as foot massage, tuina, acupressure.

Medical Nutrition

In traditional Chinese medicine, medicine and nutrition are considered as a whole. It is against the logic of traditional Chinese medicine to just take medicine when you get sick and get better. Traditional Chinese medicine sees prevention as the best treatment method before the disease even exists, and Chinese food culture is shaped accordingly. Just as there are etiquette rules in every society when eating, the Chinese also have these rules, and the rules are shaped by Chinese medicine and philosophy. Some of these traditions are as follows;

Do not overdo it when eating
Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables
Make sure the vegetables are cooked
Eat sitting down and in a quiet place
Chew well
Eat slowly (慢慢吃 “eat slowly” is used instead of bon appetit in Chinese )
Focus on what you eat, enjoy the food you eat
Skipping meals
After lunch, take a nap.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, there are healing dishes on the tables of the Chinese according to the seasons. Let's explain by giving an example:

Since yin energy increases in winter , yang energy needs to enter the body. Therefore, foods with high yang energy are preferred. “Ginger chicken soup” is consumed fondly in winter as a food with high yang energy.

In the spring months, life emerges and plants grow. Therefore, yang energy is higher than normal. In this season, the body needs to be cleansed. Therefore, it is recommended to eat less meat and fat and consume refreshing drinks, green seasonal vegetables, asparagus and vinegar.

Since yang energy is high in the summer months, traditional Chinese medicine recommends consuming refreshing drinks and vegetables in the summer months. Tomatoes and cucumbers are some of the recommended foods in the summer months.

During the autumn months, life decreases and qi energy returns to the earth. It is thought that eating vegetables and fruits during these months will protect health. Pumpkin soup is one of the favorite dishes of the Chinese for the autumn month.

Moxa Therapy

Traditional Chinese medicine doctors have been using moxa therapy along with acupuncture as a treatment method for thousands of years. With this treatment, by burning hot wormwood on acupuncture points, yang energy is provided to the body and the disturbed yin-yang balance is restored to the body. Wormwood is used not only in moxa therapy but also in the production of herbal tea and medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qigong

We mentioned that the best treatment in traditional Chinese medicine is to prevent illness. Although Qigong is a martial art, it helps to increase the Qi energy in the body and helps to maintain health by increasing body resistance. Qigong has been practiced by the Chinese for thousands of years. Today, it is possible to see hundreds of people doing Qigong and Taijiquan exercises on the streets of China early in the morning.