Chinese Medicine As An Alternative For Your Health

Whilst thought of, for thousands of years, as the primary medical system in China, Chinese medicine is considered as alternative medicine in the Western world. Chinese medicine is becoming increasingly popular as people are attracted by the idea of natural healing as opposed to modern medicine and synthetically developed drugs.

Whilst Chinese medicine is thought to date back for 5,000 years the origins are far from clear. The first written document is thought to be Hung-Di Nei-Jing (Cannon of Internal Medicine) and is considered to date back 2,000 years. It is attributed to the Yellow Emperor although the dates and author is still the subject of much debate.

Most people are familiar with the primary methods of healing within Chinese medicine, which are herbal medicine and acupuncture with other methods such as massage, qi gong, or food therapy playing a secondary role. The aim of Chinese medicine is restore harmony and balance to the system and is not so much concerned with the illness or disease.

The primary cause of any illness or disease is disharmony. The philosophy of Chinese medicine is the restoration of the body's harmony and balance and this holistic view of medicine maintains that a well-balanced person is resistant to most everyday illness and disease. Modern medicine on the other hand treats bacteria and viruses directly by the use antibiotics and vaccines.

A contentious relationship exists between Chinese medicine and modern medicine principles even though an increasing number of medical schools are including classes on alternative medicine in their syllabuses. Modern medical practitioners in China are more likely to have a more subjective view of Chinese medicine than older Western doctors.

Even though, the techniques are of value in the west. In fact, drug companies have acknowledged the value of traditional medicines and teams of scientists in many parts of the world are employed to accumulate knowledge from traditional medical practitioners. Additionally, as part of their inpatient and health programmes hospital and clinics are now offering T'ai Chi Ch'uan or qigong are being included in their classes.

Not even conceived as alternative medicine by over three quarters of the world's population, Chinese medicine excels in the areas of prevention of physical and emotional illnesses. For thousands of years it has been seen as form of non-invasive, therapeutic and risk free treatment.

Many people, who have lost confidence in modern medicine and synthetic drugs, are reassessing their views towards alternative medicine and finding satisfaction in Chinese medicine. Significantly an increasing percentage of the population are now depending on Chinese medicine to maintain good health.