Instead, it used strategies passed down from generations to generations that helped in understanding an illness from a wide experience of their impact and association with the human body. Traditional Chinese Medicine is different from modern medicine. It did not need technology or information about pathogens.

MODERN MEDICINE - If a patient has excessive bowel activity for example, modern doctors will apply diagnostic techniques to eliminate observable pathologies e.g. dysentery or ulceration and if the tests come back negative, they state it as “irritable bowel” with implicit physiological cause. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE The TCM on the other hand, would evaluate the nature of the symptoms, their chronicity, severity, and other qualities and then might conclude the problem to be:  sluggish digestive metabolism,  unwholesome diet,  suppressed anger,  emotional disruption,  one or more various forms of debility,  cold in the stomach or in the bowel,  imbalance of heat and cold in the body,  damp heat (e.g. hepatic disease),  or digestive imbalances

Another difference would be that like homeopathy, TCM does not consider bacteria or viruses as the cause of a disease or symptom. If an organ is weak, it is vulnerable and therefore can be attacked by anything. In this case, the weakness of the organ or body is the problem and treatment is done accordingly. Another difference would be that like homeopathy, TCM does not consider bacteria or viruses as the cause of a disease or symptom. If an organ is weak, it is vulnerable and therefore can be attacked by anything. In this case, the weakness of the organ or body is the problem and treatment is done accordingly.

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) Concepts in TCM Qi, the essential life force: Qi (or Chi) permeates everything. It is transferable. e. g. digestion extracts qi from food and drink and transfers it to the body. Breathing extracts qi from the air and transfers it to the lungs. These two forms of qi meet in the blood and form “human qi”

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) Qi, the essential life force It is the quality, quantity and balance of qi that determine human’s state of health. Food and air affect health, so diet and breathing exercises are very important. These aspects are considered first before herbs are introduced

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) Yin and Yang The theory of yin and yang still permeates all aspects of Chinese thought Yin: negative/passive/dark/female/water Yang: positive/active/bright/male/fire

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) Yin and Yang They are always in balance, where yin becomes weak, yang is strong and vice versa. Both contain the seed of each other: their opposites within themselves.

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) The Five Elements The earth is divided into wood, fire, earth metal and water. They dominate everything on earth, and each is associated with a vital organ of the body: Heart: fireLiver: wood Spleen: earth Lungs: metal Kidneys: water

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) The Vital Organs The organs are also considered to be yin and yang and are paired. meridians Meridians Coupled organs are connected by meridians, or energy channels, through which qi flows. Meridians are not associated with the nervous system and can not be seen physically. They are stimulated with herbs and by acupuncture and will have a direct effect on a particular organ as well as a toning effect on the system.

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) Causes of Disease Bacteria, viruses and chemicals are not considered to be cause. If an organ is weak, it may be attacked and therefore the weakness is the cause and must be rectified. It may be a result of an external forces and internal emotional factors

Other Chinese Treatments Acupuncture is a well-known Chinese therapy. It involves the careful insertion of needles that only pierce the superficial layer of the skin in certain areas of the body known as “acupoints” or acupuncture points. There are many different forms of acupuncture, for example electro-acupuncture which involves an electric current applied to the needles after they are inserted. Another well-known therapy is the typical massage

Cupping – a type of Chinese massage where a lit match is inserted into several glass “cups” which is removed before being placed on the body. The heated air inside the cup expands and once placed on the skin, cools down to create low pressure and the cup sticks to the body via suction. It can be used with massage oils as well

metabolic activitiesAffected body systemTridosha CatabolismCentral nervous system (CNS) vata MetabolismEndocrine systempitta AnabolismImmune axiskapha The tridosha has recently been redefined as an equilibrium, balance and coordination between the three vital body systems,the tridosha can also be considered to govern all metabolic activities:

Reference: Heinrich, M.; et al: Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmacy, (2004) For example: When vata is out of balance, the metabolism will be disturbed, resulting in excess catabolism, which is the breakdown or deterioration process in the body; excess would therefore induce emaciation. When anabolism is greater than catabolism (excess kapha), there is an increased rate of growth and repair of organs and tissues.

Health is maintained by taking steps to keep the Tridosha (vata, pitta, and kapha in balance. Many of the drugs prescribed in Ayurvedic medicines are herbs and patients may have to take them as (tinctures, inhalations, pills, capsules, or powder) or by combining them into their diet in a prescribed fashion.

The main principles that guide Ayurvedic medicinal formulation are: synergy, opposition, enhancement, protection and balance. Each of these principle is summarized below : Synergy is the enhancement of the effectiveness of herbs and minerals with similar or complementary action when combined together. Opposition is the counter-balancing of an undesirable effect of a herb or mineral by adding another ingredient with the opposite action. Enhancement is the promotion of the efficacy of the main ingredient by either increasing its activity or its absorption or by the addition of other ingredient to a formation. Balance describes when the antagonistic action constituents of a formula are considered to counteract each other.

They are widely used herbs and are considered remedies that have diverse action and therefore effect many systems of the body leading to a positive effect on health--- panaceas in other words.

Examples of Herbs of Ayurveda and Their Uses Botanical nameEnglish nameEffect on doshaMedical use Nigella sativaBlack cuminPacifies vata and kapha Digestive, antiseptic Ocimum sanctum Holy basilPacifies kapha and vata Expectorant, febrifuge, immunomodulator Piper nigrumBlack pepperPacifies vata and pitta Digestive, respiratory disorders