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It is based on the belief that “Qi” (the body’s vital energy) flows along the 12 major meridians or channels in the body that connects to the major organs and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance.
TCM aims to restore the body’s balance and harmony between the natural opposing forces of yin and yang, which can block Qi and cause disease.
The earliest known written record of TCM is the Huangdi neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic), which dates back more than 2,000 years. This has provided the theoretical concepts for TCM that remain the basis of its practice.
The philosophical aspects that influenced the development of TCM are the theories of “Qi”, “Ying and Yang” and the “Five Elements”.
Originally, Qi was not a philosophical concept. It meant air, as it is commonly used in the everyday Chinese language. Its meaning was extended to the philosophical field and was represented as a symbol for the ancient substance that made the universe. It was believed to be invisible, taking the form of particles, constantly moving and changing, and giving rise to energy and activities. Another philosophical view in TCM is expressed as the theory of Yin and Yang.
Yin and Yang represent two opposites of an object or phenomenon.
Yin and Yang, which are in conflict and at the same time mutually dependent and can be taken as a law of unity of opposites. The theory of the Five Elements also belongs to philosophical materialism.
It holds that the natural world is made up by five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
The ancient Chinese recognised that each element had its own properties: wood (trees) tends to spread out freely; metal is the material for manufacturing weapons; fire tends to flare upwards; earth produces myriads of things; and water tends to flow downward.
An essential aspect of TCM is an understanding of the body’s Qi which flows through invisible meridians of the body.
This energy network connects organs, tissues, veins, nerves, cells, atoms, and consciousness itself.
Dr Hongbo Liu treating Carmen Sione with acupuncture. – Nationalpics by JESHER TILTO
Acupuncture is a technique in which the practitioner inserts fine needles into specific points on the patient’s body located over the 12 meridians and over a number of specialised meridians.
The location of the points is mastered by the use of numerous diagrams and models. The typical insertion is 3-10 mm in depth, with some procedures require insertions up to almost 25 cm.
Once inserted, a needle may be twisted, twirled, or connected to a low-voltage alternating current for the duration of its use. The intended effect is to increase circulation and balance energy (Qi) within the body.
The needles stimulate the meridians and readjust the flow of Qi to balance the body’s Yin and Yang.
In place of needles, massage (acupressure) can also be used to stimulate the certain points.
Cupping therapy is another TCM treatment method. It consists of placing several cups (open glass spheres) on the body.The cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (either by heat or suction) in order to draw and hold skin and superficial muscles inside the cup.
Cupping therapy can be used for deep-tissue therapies and it is frequently used after acupuncture, bloodletting, or plum blossom treatment.
Cupping therapy can affect the body up to 10 cm into the tissues, causing the tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear stretch marks, and improve the appearance of varicose veins.
A vacuum is created inside the cup, either by burning the oxygen inside a glass cup or by sucking the air out from the top of a plastic cup.
The cup is then quickly placed on selected acupuncture points on the patient’s skin, and the vacuum draws the skin up into the cup.
The cups are generally left in place for 10 -15 minutes. The skin will redden due to the congestion of blood flow.
Cupping is applied to certain acupuncture points as well as to parts of the body that have been affected by pain, where the pain is deeper than the tissues to be pulled. Cupping therapy has greater emphasis on the back acupuncture due to the ease with which it can be performed on the back.
Dr Hongbo Liu treating Namatanai Hospital dental therapist Thomas Kumangkansa (seated) with acupuncture.
Much like how our ancestors had traditional herbal medicine that have been used for generations, so to do the Chinese have theirs. Chinese herbal medicines are mainly plant-based, but some preparations include minerals or animal products. These herbs include Ginseng root, Codonopsis root and Honeysuckle flower, to name a few. These herbs can act on the body as powerfully as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated with the same caution and respect.
Some herbs can be toxic in high doses, while others can cause allergic reactions.
They can be packaged as powders, pastes, lotions or tablets, depending on the herb and its intended use.
Different herbs have different properties and can balance particular parts of the body. Prescribing a particular herb or concoction of herbs means the practitioner’s diagnosis has to take into account the state of the patient’s Yin and Yang, and the elements that are governing the affected organs.
The 12th China Medical Team currently in Papua New Guinea consists of medical specialists, which includes TCM practitioner and physiotherapist Dr Hongbo Liu. Dr Liu said he has treated many people in the country using TCM and during their visits to Lae, Kavieng and Namatanai, many people were interested to try TCM treatments.
One such case was with Carmen Sione from New Ireland.
“On March 2, 2023, I received a phone call from Carmen,” Dr Liu said.
“She mentioned that she was a patient I had treated during a medical mission in New Ireland on Dec 15, 2022. At that time, she was suffering from cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, and sacroiliac joint disorder, which caused pain in her neck, waist, sacrum, and lower limbs.
“She had undergone treatment at the local hospital for a long time with no improvement, but when she heard about the 12th China Medical Team visiting New Ireland, she decided to try the treatment again.
“During the consultation, I utilised acupuncture, massage, and spinal adjustment techniques of TCM. After the treatment, she felt a significant improvement, with more than half of her pain relieved and was impressed by the effectiveness.
“Due to the limited time in the province, I could only treat her once, and her symptoms hadn’t completely subsided.
“She made arrangements and planned to fly to Port Moresby the following week to seek further treatment from me. I provided her with three more treatments on March 10, 13, and 15. After these sessions, her symptoms completely disappeared, and the chronic pain that had troubled her for years was gone.
“She expressed profound gratitude to the Chinese doctors for introducing her to the remarkable effectiveness of TCM.
“On June 23, 2023, I returned to New Ireland.
“Upon hearing this news, Carmen promptly attended the lecture and training session and after that, I conducted a consolidation treatment for her using acupuncture, cupping, massage, and spinal adjustment.
“She felt remarkably better and expressed deep appreciation for my selfless assistance and friendly demeanor.”
The team’s deputy captain Dr Zhenqiu Liu suggested that TCM be incorporated into the country’s current healthcare system.
“It’s a very good idea because many countries have TCM clinics,” he said.
“This would be a great addition to the existing healthcare system.
“We want to actively promote the application of TCM.
“By imparting TCM knowledge and techniques to local staff, we hope to help them understand and apply different treatment methods to provide patients with a more comprehensive and personalised care.
“We encourage local medical staff to actively participate in practice and interaction to improve their professional level and skills in the field of TCM.”
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