Taoist healing sciences have
been incorporated into a broad spectrum of medical practices and
treatments over the past 3,000 years and are collectively known as
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The link between early Taoist
Shamans and TCM is evidenced in Confucius' quotation, "a man without
persistence will never make a good Shaman or a good physician".
From a global perspective, medical treatments are
divided into two broad categories: Western Medicine and TCM
modalities like acupuncture, Chi Quong, herbal remedies and massage
therapy. In the US and other Western countries, TCM treatments have
been labeled "alternative medicine" or "holistic medicine".
In understanding TCM or holistic medicine it is important to
contrast its fundamental characteristics with Western medical
treatments. In general, TCM therapies are gentler and more
natural than their Western counterparts. It is incorrect to
argue that one system is better than the other, but instead it
is important to understand that depending upon the ailment, a
holistic treatment may be more appropriate that a Western
procedure or vice versa. Today, in China, a stroke patient may
be subjected to Western medical procedures to stabilize the
emergency condition and then treated with TCM remedies to
facilitate recovery and ultimately correct the bodily imbalance
that was the root cause of the stroke. In the case of
appendicitis, the only viable option is likely to be a classic
Western appendectomy. However, with chronic back pain, a spinal
operation should be a procedure of last resort and Chi Quong
back treatments are remarkably effective, safe and relatively
inexpensive.
The chart below contrasts Western Medicine with TCM at a basic
level:
Western Medicine Traditional
Originated in Europe/US
200 years old
Invasive
Treat when sick
Treat specific symptoms
Introduce outside force
Chinese (Taoist) Medicine
Originated in China
2,000 years old
Non-invasive
Prevent illness
Treat body as holistic system
Activate the body's own healing process
TCM Treatments
With the proliferation of holistic medicine in
the West, so called New Age healing has resulted in the creation of
procedures that are a departure from Traditional Chinese Medicine
and have limited basis in Taoist healing sciences.
This patient in a Shanghai hospital was treated with Western
Medicine to stabilize a stroke and then Traditional Chinese
Medicine to speed recovery
The discussion below represents a simplified explanation of the
types of treatments that a TCM medical institution would provide
and how they act as an integrated system.
There are three broad categories of treatments
that TCM utilizes for both prevention and treatment of illnesses.
They can be illustrated as a triad below:
Here's how Traditional Chinese Medicine or Taoist healing works as
an integrated system:
TCM relies on activating the body's own healing
process. The primary category in the Healing Triad represents
physical therapies that have proven over the centuries to be the
most effective. In broad terms, the workhorse and most effective
treatments of Taoist healing are Qi Gong and medical massage.
However, when the body has "blockages" from chronic ailments or
pain, acupuncture is used to open those affected areas so that Qi Gong, massage and herbal remedies can work. (Acupuncture was
invented for its pain reducing benefits 2,000 years ago).
Nutritional therapies, including herbal treatments, boost the body's
own immune system by acting in specific areas - similar to Western
drugs, but using different functional principles based upon Qi.
Finally, mental remedies tend to treat those chronic ailments
brought on by stress and anxiety. This specifically counters the
psychosomatic aspect of illness and meditation techniques can be
very effective, depending upon the individual and the legitimacy of
the meditation that is taught. Augmenting meditation with formal
training in Taoist philosophy helps eliminate confusion about the
every day world which further contributes to stress reduction.
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