All You Need To Know About Traditional Chinese Medicine in Malaysia
Traditional Chinese Medicine | | 10 Jan 2022
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is undoubtedly one of the oldest medical systems to have ever existed. In fact, it has existed for more than 3,000 years, making it much older than traditional Western medicine which came to exist much more recently.
TCM is a standardized version of the type of Chinese medicine that was practiced before the Chinese Revolution that is based on the belief that the vital energy, “Qi”, freely flow through the human body and performs multiple functions to maintain health. With that in mind, most TCM practitioners firmly believe that chronic pain or diseases are resulting from blockages or imbalances of Qi, and that their role as TCM practitioners is to correct or balance its flow!
Here are the common TCM health treatments in Malaysia:
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting needles into the superficial skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles at particular acupuncture points and manipulating them.
In traditional Chinese medicine, there are more than 1,500 acupuncture points on the human body. These are then connected by 12 main meridians. These meridians are the ones responsible for conducting energy, or “Qi,” between the surface of the body and its internal organs!
With that, acupuncture is believed to keep the balance between Yin and Yang within the human body. This allows for the normal flow of “Qi” throughout the body and can effectively restore optimal health to both the mind and body.
Next, moxibustion is an effective therapy that main involves burning moxa (mugwort root) made from dried Artimesia vulgaris (a type of spongy herb) to facilitate the healing process.
The purpose of moxibustion is to warm and invigorate the blood - this stimulates the essential flow of Qi, strengthens the kidney (Yang), expels wind and disperses cold from the body as well as dissolves stagnation. Throughout its long history, Moxibustion has been used to treat menstrual pain.
A Tui Na massage is a combination of massage, acupressure and many other types of body manipulation techniques.
This form of Asian massage therapy has been passed down in China for many generations. Typically, the patient remains clothed and sits on a chair. The TCM practitioner will first ask a series of questions before beginning treatment - this is to figure out the main ailments that the patient is having. Then, the treatment begins! It should be noted that Tui Na massages can be quite vigorous at times.
Practitioners may use herbal compresses, ointments, and heat to enhance these techniques. For many, Tui Na massages are best used for treating chronic pain and musculoskeletal conditions.
● Cupping
Cupping is a type of Chinese massage, consisting of placing several glass or plastic “cups” (open spheres) on the body. TCM practitioners warm the cups using a cotton ball or other flammable substance, which is then placed inside the cup to remove all the oxygen.
The TCM practitioner then proceeds to remove the substance and quickly places the cup against the skin of the patient. With that, the air in the cup cools. This creates a lower pressure inside the cup, creating a vacuum and making the cup stick to the skin firmly. With that, fleshy sites on the body, such as the back and stomach, are the preferred sites for treatment.
● Scraping or "Gua Sha"
Scraping, or “Gua Sha” as it's commonly called, is a TCM technique that is known to treat many ailments and conditions. It usually uses pieces of smooth jade, bone, animal tusks, horns, or smooth stones to scrape along the skin.
This releases obstruction, toxins and harmful substances that are trapped on the surface of the patient's skin. This process can cause the skin to feel tender, and the scraping process is done until there are marks off bruising that covers the treatment area.
● Prescription Of Chinese Herbs
Lastly, the prescription of chinese herbs by TCM practitioners most commonly come from various leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds of plants. This can include cinnamon bark, ginger, ginseng, licorice, rhubarb and more.
Most famously, ginseng is the most broadly used ingredient for TCM treatments.
Take the next step and call Doux Visage to be your trusted Chinese Medicine Practitioner
If you’re looking for a great traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to address your health concerns, don’t hesitate to visit our office as soon as possible.
We encourage you to schedule a consultation at Doux Visage today! Call us at +603 7728 6113, +6012 622 4868 or fill out our convenient online contact form at https://www.douxvisage.com/. We look forward to meeting you!
As the first leading medical skincare in Malaysia to combine the power of Chinese Medicine with the goodness of Western beauty ingredients, Dr. Jenny Goh (Ph.D)'s speciality in treating your health is second to none! Give us a try at https://www.douxvisage.com/.