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Patience Within Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing

March 15, 2024

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, patience is a virtue, but also a key aspect of the healing journey. When clients come in, they often ask our practitioners “how long until my pain gets better?” and “how soon until I am cured?”. While these are good questions, it is difficult to answer because conditions can change, and in Traditional Chinese our focus is on improving your health and wellbeing as a whole. In this blog post, we explore the connection between Traditional Chinese Medicine and patience, especially in embracing time as a component of the healing process.

When facing health challenges, it is our instant reaction to seek immediate relief by asking our doctors for a concrete timeline in our healing journey, or by finding pharmaceutical drugs that can target our symptoms. However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the physical, mental, and emotional aspects that balance one’s well-being, are complex, unique, and interconnected. Attempting to catch time and expect quick relief can hinder a long-term healing process, and lead to stress (which can also negatively impact your overall health). As such, it is important that clients attempt to achieve and maintain a patient, calm mindset throughout their journey to better health.

Our holistic approach within Traditional Chinese Medicine encourages individuals to cultivate patience within themselves, particularly in their healing journey. If one tries to hurriedly demand the healing process, we may neglect the signs of illness, which may otherwise be possible to prevent. By trying to slow down our mind and bodies, and exercise restraint and patience, we have time to reflect on what our mind and body is telling us, which can be a very beneficial step in becoming self aware. This concept is further explored in our blog post 'Good Questions are an Essential Path to Leading Change'.

In TCM there are no quick fixes but support and advice to assist you throughout your health journey, to work towards a healthy and balanced mindset, and lifestyle in the long-term. Health is not about the immediate relief we can gain, but the actual understanding of our health issues so that we may seek to understand our body and mind better, and so that we can prevent future health issues. Rather, TCM is about the wisdom and knowledge you gain along the way to achieving your balanced life.

The complexity of the underlying issues of health concerns is also something to recognise. In the quest for quick fixes and solutions, we can often overlook health conditions that have taken years to manifest. Thus, TCM emphasises that we should address our symptoms as a part of the interconnected system that is our body and mind. All aspects of our bodies are interdependent, and if a symptom presents itself, it can often reflect an imbalance in your overall health that should be assessed by a practitioner. This is also because pain or other symptoms can also mean that there are underlying issues at play, like the root of trees that run deep into the soil. By utilising patience, we can have the appropriate amount of time to unravel and address these concerns in a way that will benefit your overall health.

In TCM it is also important to recognise that we must not only have patience for our own journeys, but also for the part we play in the health journeys of our friends and families. By having patience with those around you, it can create a productive environment for healing that can support and foster the overall wellbeing of an individual.

In the contemporary world we live in, the ancient wisdom associated with TCM can serve as a reminder for us to embrace patience throughout our healing journeys, so that we can navigate the complexities of our health and wellbeing, and not rush the process necessary to recognise any early signs or concerns. Patience is a key material in the tapestry of true healing.

Written by Georgia Chen and Lili Henderson-Clark

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Herbal and Food Combined Therapy

November 18, 2024

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a combination of good foods and Chinese herbs is essential for overall health and wellbeing. A small amount of traditional herbs can be eaten daily alongside a healthy diet, for additional nutritional support and for maintaining balance, and good health. This is known as food therapy and medical diet therapy in TCM, and this helps to balance the Yin and Yang through a combination of nutrition and exercise. Traditional Chinese herbs are an edible type of medicine that have been used in TCM for many years. The herbs are used for healing, and for providing many health benefits. Herbs often have a bitter taste, putting off some people from trying this simple way to improve your lifestyle. A core feature of TCM is the belief that a combination of the five flavours in our diet supports our vital organs and overall health, which are Sweet, Salty, Spicy/Pungent, Bitter, and Sour . So, herbs can often be eaten in combination with special fruits, nuts, and seeds to make for a more pleasant, and slightly sweet taste. This can also help you to gain additional nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This combination of food and traditional Chinese herbs is a remedy that can support your immune system and vital functions. These small portions of combined seeds, fruit, and Chinese herbs, can be eaten daily and through a variety of methods. It is common for these to be eaten in bread, porridge, or through forms of steaming.

What is Reflexology?

October 24, 2024

Reflexology is one of the most popular treatment methods for natural healing within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Before your reflexology appointment, a health evaluation and consultation will be carried out to identify your health needs and concerns for treatment. It is very common for clients to be treated with a foot massage. However, although this treatment option can be effective, it can also be limited. The reflexology approach that is often used for the foot massage can also be applied to the rest of the body. The basic theory behind the treatment is the Hologram theory , which treats the body as an interconnected system. The treatment approach to reflexology that works best for you will be determined by your health consultation. Practitioners use different techniques and areas of the body for reflexology to balance chronic physical, emotional and mental concerns. Although foot reflexology has become popularised, the ear, face, head, spinal column, back, abdominal area, hands, and feet all have reflecting points to massage and stimulate, and thus can be treated with this approach. Reflexology is a concept based on energy flow. Different units of the body are connected to different pressure points. When these points are targeted and massaged, they can assist in helping the balance of qi within that area. Through reflexology, blockages in qi can be targeted and prevented, and this can help in relieving stress or discomfort.

Tai Chi and Qi Gong: Holistic Healing Through Ancient Chinese Practices

September 2, 2024

Tai Chi and Qi Gong are traditional forms of exercise in Chinese culture. They are related exercises that are offered at the Woden clinic, and can contribute to the holistic healing of clients as these exercises can improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. Many of our clients turn to natural healing methods including TCM when they're ready to take an active role in their health journey. This style of practice requires clients to review their lifestyle, and fitness and activity for their long term health. TCM supports this mindset.