Chinese medicine, which traditionally has included both the use of acupuncture and herbs, is one of the oldest and continually used medical systems in the world. It is a well developed form of health care that evolved not in a laboratory, but in the clinical setting.
There is extensive medical literature, both theoretical and clinical, going back over 2000 years. Some of this literature is focused on wellness and prevention of illness, a topic that is talked about and increasingly practiced in our modern world. Other classical Chinese medical literature focuses on the treatment of illness. Much of what was useful then is still useful today.
In fact, some of the ideas and treatments from the classical literature give us new ways of approaching modern diseases.
Why acupuncture is a useful medicine today
Chinese medicine addresses not just the symptoms of an illness, but the underlying cause as well. It calls on the body’s own healing mechanisms and is generally free of side effects. While Westerners often consider acupuncture only useful for pain relief, Chinese medicine is actually a complete system of medicine. It successfully treats numerous kinds of internal medical problems, emotional issues, gynecological disorders and many of the types of problems for which people seek out a Western physician. Additionally, acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other types of therapies, and is useful in counteracting the side effects of aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation.
Finally, while it is effective for both chronic and acute conditions, Chinese medicine not only treats illness, but prevents it as well. Most of us agree that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and one of Chinese medicine’s great strengths is its focus on enhancing wellness and preventing illness!
