Traditional Chinese Medicine at Sino Hospital
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) It’s a holistic approach to health that has been practiced for thousands of years in China and other parts of Asia. TCM includes various practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping therapy and tai chi. It’s based on the concept of balancing the body’s energy (qi), yin and yang and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) to maintain health and treat illnesses.
Diagnostic Methods
Our TCM department provides a wide range of services tailored to meet the individual needs of our patients, including:
- Observation: Includes looking at the tongue, skin, posture and other physical characteristics.
- Inquiry: Asking the patient about their symptoms, emotions, diet, and lifestyle.
- Palpation: Feeling the pulse at various points on the body and palpating certain areas to detect imbalances.
Common Treatments in TCM
Acupuncture
Involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to balance the flow of qi.
Benefits of Acupuncture:
- Balances the flow of qi to alleviate pain and treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions.
- Commonly used for pain relief, including headaches, back pain, arthritis, and migraines.
- Helps manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Improves digestion and supports overall well-being.
Herbal Medicine
Uses a wide variety of herbal products in formulas tailored to the individual’s condition.
Benefits of Herbal Medicine:
- Treats a wide range of conditions, from common colds to chronic diseases.
- Supports the immune system, enhances energy levels, and balances the body’s internal systems.
- Often used to address issues such as digestive disorders, respiratory problems, skin conditions, and hormonal imbalances.
Electro Acupunctue
Is a modern variation of traditional acupuncture that involves the application of a small electrical current to the acupuncture needles. This technique enhances the effects of traditional acupuncture by providing a continuous and often stronger stimulation to the acupuncture points.
Benefits of Electro Acupunctue:
- Enhanced Pain Relief: It’s particularly effective for chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, sciatica and back pain.
- Improved Muscle Function: often used in rehabilitation to improve muscle function and recovery. It can help restore muscle strength and reduce muscle spasms.
- Treatment of Neurological Conditions: such as stroke, Bell’s palsy and nerve pain. The electrical stimulation helps regenerate nerve function and improves motor skills.
- Reduction of Inflammation: The technique has anti-inflammatory effects, which can be beneficial in treating conditions like tendinitis, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.
- Increased Blood Flow: The stimulation promotes blood circulation, which aids in healing and tissue repair.
- Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Like traditional acupuncture, electroacupuncture can help reduce stress and anxiety. The electrical current may enhance the release of endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood elevators.
- Treatment of Fertility Issues: It can improve blood flow to the reproductive organs and regulate hormonal balance.
Cupping
A therapy that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which is believed to improve the flow of qi and blood.
Benefits of Cupping:
- Improves circulation and blood flow to the area where the cups are placed.
- Helps relieve muscle tension, promote relaxation and reduce inflammation.
- Often used for pain relief, respiratory issues like bronchitis and to boost immune function.
- Some athletes use cupping for muscle recovery.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is a modern technique used by physical therapists and other healthcare practitioners to treat muscle pain and dysfunction. While it may appear similar to acupuncture, it is based on Western medical principles and focuses specifically on musculoskeletal issues.
Benefits of Dry Needling:
- Pain Relief: Targets and releases muscle knots (trigger points) to reduce pain and tension.
- Improves Muscle Function: Enhances muscle flexibility and strength, helping recovery from injuries.
- Myofascial Pain Treatment: Eases chronic pain in muscles and surrounding tissues.
- Speeds Up Recovery: Promotes blood flow and reduces inflammation, aiding in faster healing.
- Helps Neuromuscular Disorders: Relieves symptoms of conditions like headaches and TMJ by relaxing tight muscles.
- Chronic Pain Management: Reduces sensitivity in muscles, making it easier to manage ongoing pain conditions.
Gua Sha
Scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to improve circulation and relieve various health issues.
Benefits of Gua Sha:
- Pain Relief: Eases muscle and joint pain by breaking up muscle tension and promoting blood flow.
- Reduces Inflammation: Helps alleviate conditions like chronic pain and arthritis by reducing inflammation.
- Improves Circulation: Increases blood flow to the area, which can speed up the healing process.
- Boosts Immune Function: Stimulates the body’s immune response, potentially helping to fight off colds and respiratory issues.
- Facial Rejuvenation: When applied to the face, it can promote a healthy glow and reduce puffiness.
Tui Na
Chinese therapeutic massage involves various manual techniques, including kneading, rolling, pressing, and rubbing the body, to treat musculoskeletal issues and promote overall health.
Benefits of Tui Na:
- Pain Relief: Alleviates pain in muscles and joints by targeting specific pressure points and muscle groups.
- Improves Circulation: Enhances blood flow, which helps in healing and reduces muscle stiffness.
- Reduces Stress: Promotes relaxation by releasing tension and calming the nervous system.
- Restores Balance: Helps balance the body’s energy (qi) and supports overall wellness.
- Enhances Flexibility: Increases range of motion in joints and muscles, beneficial for those with injuries or chronic pain conditions.
Moxibustion
Involves burning a herb called mugwort close to the skin to warm and invigorate the flow of qi in the body.
Benefits of Moxibustion:
- Warms meridians to dispel cold and dampness in the body.
- Promotes circulation and improves overall energy.
- Commonly used to treat conditions related to cold such as joint pain, digestive issues and menstrual cramps.
Field Effect Therapy (FET)
Field Effect Therapy (FET) use of electromagnetic fields to influence biological processes and promote healing. This therapy is based on the concept that cells and tissues in the body communicate and function through bioelectrical signals and that these signals can be modulated or enhanced to improve health outcomes.
Benefits of Field Effect Therapy:
- Pain Relief: Reduces pain by altering the electrical activity of nerves and tissues.
- Enhanced Healing: Promotes tissue repair and regeneration by improving cellular communication and blood flow.
- Inflammation Reduction: Lowers inflammation by modulating immune system responses and reducing oxidative stress.
- Improved Circulation: Enhances blood and lymphatic circulation, which helps in detoxification and nutrient delivery.
- Stress Reduction: Calms the nervous system by balancing the body’s electromagnetic fields, leading to reduced stress and anxiety.
Scraping Needle Therapy
Scraping Needle Therapy, also known as Scraping Therapy or Needle Scraping Therapy, is a technique similar to Gua Sha but with a more targeted approach. It involves using a specially designed scraping tool, often with a sharper edge than Gua Sha tools, to scrape the skin and stimulate specific areas. This method aims to release muscle tension, improve circulation, and treat pain.
Benefits of Scraping Needle Therapy:
- Pain Relief: Effectively reduces pain by breaking up tight muscle tissue and knots.
- Improves Circulation: Enhances blood flow to the treated areas, aiding in faster recovery and healing.
- Reduces Inflammation: Helps decrease swelling and inflammation in muscles and joints.
- Releases Toxins: Promotes the release of toxins from the body by stimulating the skin and underlying tissues.
- Boosts Energy: Increases overall energy by clearing blockages in the body’s energy pathways (similar to the concept of qi in TCM).
Electromagnetic wave therapy
Also known as electromagnetic field therapy or PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) therapy, uses electromagnetic fields to promote healing and alleviate various conditions.
Benefits of Electromagnetic wave therapy:
- Pain Relief: It can help reduce pain and inflammation, making it useful for conditions like arthritis, back pain, and sports injuries.
- Enhanced Healing: It may accelerate the healing process of bones and tissues, which can be beneficial after injuries or surgeries.
- Improved Circulation: By stimulating blood flow, it can help improve oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues, aiding in recovery.
- Reduced Inflammation: The therapy can help decrease inflammation, which is often a source of pain and discomfort.
- Improved Sleep: Some people report better sleep quality and reduced insomnia symptoms.
- Increased Energy: Users sometimes experience increased energy levels and overall vitality.
- Enhanced Cellular Function: It may improve cellular function and repair, potentially benefiting various aspects of health.
TCM in Modern Times
In contemporary China, TCM is often practiced alongside Western medicine in hospitals and clinics, and it has a significant following worldwide, especially for conditions that are difficult to treat with conventional medicine. However, the use of TCM is often tailored to the individual and requires a practitioner who is trained in its theories and methods.