What therapeutic methods are used in TCM ?
In traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), physicians use many methods for treatment, such as herbs, acupuncture, massage, cupping, moxibustion, and dietary remedies to name a few. Physicians will design a treatment plan according to the health needs of their patients and their own experiences as well. 
The purposes of TCM therapies are nothing more than alleviating symptoms, curing diseases, enhancing body’s resistance, and preventing diseases before they occur. Physicians achieve these purposes through a holistic view, eradicating the root causes and actively adjusting the therapies during the course. Generally, the therapies can be classified as either internal and external managements, that fully embody an integrated approach for health.
After syndrome differentiation (TCM consultation process) and identifying a diagnostic disharmony, physicians will first determine a therapeutic strategy, in order to find the concrete methods for treatment. Some principles are used to guide clinical decisions, for example physicians have to prioritize the forces between the body resistance and pathogenic factors; when the clinical features are mainly associated with a weakened body (deficient disharmony), then tonifying treatment is indicated, such therapies include replenishing qi, nourishing blood, warming yang and nourishing yin, so as to restore the healthy energy. On the other hand, when the clinical features are mainly associated with pathogenic dominance (excess disharmony), then reducing treatment is indicated, such therapies include diaphoresis, emesis, purgation and urination methods, so as to expel the pathogens out of the body. The principles behind treatment are mainly derived from the Eight Principles Differentiation discussed earlier. Below are some essential aspects of treatment in TCM:
Emesis method
Emesis gets rid of phlegm, stagnant food or toxic substances from the mouth. It may be employed in treating throat, chest or stomach problems, such as obstructive airways, overeating, or ingesting poison. Melon stalks are included in prescriptions with this goal. This method is rarely used by modern physicians now.
Purgation method
Purgation induces bowel movements to relax the intestines and expel excessive pathogens that have accumulated internally. Chinese rhubarb is commonly used to stimulate the bowel movements. The indicated disharmony pattern is abdominal pain, bloating and constipation. Purgation is often used to treat constipation, high fever and edema. Other conditions such as dysentery, bleeding symptoms, certain febrile diseases and gynecological disorders are also employed sometimes. Purgation is not suitable to those who have acute infections, pregnancy, menstruation, and a weakened body.
Harmonization method
Harmonization or mediation regulates organs, harmonizes different levels of the body, so that the physical functioning is modified to a new level, either enhanced the body resistance or speed-up recovery. The indicated disharmony pattern is alternate fever and chills, a bitter taste in mouth, throat dryness, dizziness, blurred vision, discomfort in the chest or rib sides, irritability, nausea, and a taut pulse. In TCM term, it is indicated for a problem lies half-way between the interior and exterior of the body. Clinically, harmonization has a wide range of applications, conditions like malaria, hepatitis, digestive or liver disorders, and gynecological disorders are commonly treated by this method. It can also be the last resort for complex conditions. Bupleurum root and white peony root are two representative herbs for this purpose.
Warming method
This is the treatment for interior cold disharmony, using warming herbs to stimulate the interior functions, and unblock meridians to dispel coldness. It is used in conditions like painful symptoms, urinary difficulty, and reproductive dysfunctions and for restoration of organ functioning after collapse. The indications include vomiting clear fluid, thin and loose bowels, abdominal pain that relieved by pressing, and limb coldness. Asian ginseng and aconite root are two well-known herbs for this purpose. The method is often used in combination with other methods.
Clearing method
The resolving method is used in accumulations, nodules, tumors, or swollen glands that are formed from congestion of qi, blood, phlegm, retained food or fluids. For example, hawthorn fruit is commonly used in dyspepsia and to promote digestion; fallopian tube obstruction is regarded as a stagnated qi and blood condition in TCM, herbs like angelica root and corydalis rhizome may be selected to unblock the tube. Besides removing congestions or dissolving lumps, this method can also promote transformation to facilitate the removal of pathogenic factors. For example, in an abscess, some herbs may be applied to promote the liquefying process of the lesion and facilitate pus drainage.
Tonifying method
Tones up, nourishes, enriches and invigorates a weakness or deficiency in the body. In TCM, this method mainly tones up the qi, blood, yin and yang aspects in the body, and the typical conditions are hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, asthma in children, and organ prolapse. Ginseng and astragalus root are common tonic herbs for qi deficiency. This method is generally used in chronic conditions, but it is not recommended when the patient is in an active diseased stage, as it may make the condition worse.
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Editors
The purposes of TCM therapies are nothing more than alleviating symptoms, curing diseases, enhancing body’s resistance, and preventing diseases before they occur. Physicians achieve these purposes through a holistic view, eradicating the root causes and actively adjusting the therapies during the course. Generally, the therapies can be classified as either internal and external managements, that fully embody an integrated approach for health.
After syndrome differentiation (TCM consultation process) and identifying a diagnostic disharmony, physicians will first determine a therapeutic strategy, in order to find the concrete methods for treatment. Some principles are used to guide clinical decisions, for example physicians have to prioritize the forces between the body resistance and pathogenic factors; when the clinical features are mainly associated with a weakened body (deficient disharmony), then tonifying treatment is indicated, such therapies include replenishing qi, nourishing blood, warming yang and nourishing yin, so as to restore the healthy energy. On the other hand, when the clinical features are mainly associated with pathogenic dominance (excess disharmony), then reducing treatment is indicated, such therapies include diaphoresis, emesis, purgation and urination methods, so as to expel the pathogens out of the body. The principles behind treatment are mainly derived from the Eight Principles Differentiation discussed earlier. Below are some essential aspects of treatment in TCM:
When a deficiency exists, tonifying therapy is indicated; When an excess exists, reducing therapy is indicated; When too much heat is present, cooling therapy is indicated; When too much cold is present, warming therapy is indicated; When dampness is present, drying therapy is indicated; When phlegm is present, resolving therapy is indicated. |
Combined rather than single therapies are often used to treat complex problems. And many other treatment options are applicable. There are eight therapeutic methods that are commonly used by physicians.
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| Ephedra | Chinese rhubarb | Bupleurum root |
Eight therapeutic methods in Chinese medicine
When people get a prescription from Chinese physicians, they might be surprised by how many herbs are mixed together to create it. In fact, the herbal formulae are chosen carefully to have specific therapeutic effects. There are eight fundamental strategies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, which dictate the choice of herbs. Diaphoresis, emesis, purgation, harmonization, warming, clearing, resolving and tonifying are the eight therapeutic methods employed by TCM physicians. The methods were first summarized in Medicine Comprehended, written by Cheng Zhongling in 1732AD and called the “eight methods.”
Diaphoresis method
Diaphoresis or sweating regulates different qi movements so that skin pores open and pathogens on the superficial body are released with the sweat. It is for exterior disharmony pattern which is characterized by fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, body aching and a floating pulse. This method is often used for treating skin rashes and common cold. Ephedra is typically included in herbal prescriptions for this effect. Other health problems such as heat stroke, allergic reactions, acute nephritis and swelling joints are also indicated. Sweating tends to injury the body fluids, therefore it is contraindicated to patients who are already sweating, vomiting, bleeding or have diarrhea. Other ways of inducing sweating such as acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, hot bath and sauna are also used by physicians.
Emesis method
Emesis gets rid of phlegm, stagnant food or toxic substances from the mouth. It may be employed in treating throat, chest or stomach problems, such as obstructive airways, overeating, or ingesting poison. Melon stalks are included in prescriptions with this goal. This method is rarely used by modern physicians now.
Purgation method
Purgation induces bowel movements to relax the intestines and expel excessive pathogens that have accumulated internally. Chinese rhubarb is commonly used to stimulate the bowel movements. The indicated disharmony pattern is abdominal pain, bloating and constipation. Purgation is often used to treat constipation, high fever and edema. Other conditions such as dysentery, bleeding symptoms, certain febrile diseases and gynecological disorders are also employed sometimes. Purgation is not suitable to those who have acute infections, pregnancy, menstruation, and a weakened body.
Harmonization method
Harmonization or mediation regulates organs, harmonizes different levels of the body, so that the physical functioning is modified to a new level, either enhanced the body resistance or speed-up recovery. The indicated disharmony pattern is alternate fever and chills, a bitter taste in mouth, throat dryness, dizziness, blurred vision, discomfort in the chest or rib sides, irritability, nausea, and a taut pulse. In TCM term, it is indicated for a problem lies half-way between the interior and exterior of the body. Clinically, harmonization has a wide range of applications, conditions like malaria, hepatitis, digestive or liver disorders, and gynecological disorders are commonly treated by this method. It can also be the last resort for complex conditions. Bupleurum root and white peony root are two representative herbs for this purpose.
Warming method
This is the treatment for interior cold disharmony, using warming herbs to stimulate the interior functions, and unblock meridians to dispel coldness. It is used in conditions like painful symptoms, urinary difficulty, and reproductive dysfunctions and for restoration of organ functioning after collapse. The indications include vomiting clear fluid, thin and loose bowels, abdominal pain that relieved by pressing, and limb coldness. Asian ginseng and aconite root are two well-known herbs for this purpose. The method is often used in combination with other methods.
Clearing method
This clears heat and fire and drains their associated toxicity from the body by using herbs with cold properties. In TCM, acute febrile illnesses can be due to heat/fire evils accumulating in different places like qi, blood or in particular organs. There are set strict rules for herb application in these situations. For example, skin boils and pneumonia are regarded as heat conditions in TCM, herbs like honeysuckle, dandelion, chrysanthemum are used, which work similar to Western medicine's aspirin and antibiotics.
Resolving method
Resolving method
The resolving method is used in accumulations, nodules, tumors, or swollen glands that are formed from congestion of qi, blood, phlegm, retained food or fluids. For example, hawthorn fruit is commonly used in dyspepsia and to promote digestion; fallopian tube obstruction is regarded as a stagnated qi and blood condition in TCM, herbs like angelica root and corydalis rhizome may be selected to unblock the tube. Besides removing congestions or dissolving lumps, this method can also promote transformation to facilitate the removal of pathogenic factors. For example, in an abscess, some herbs may be applied to promote the liquefying process of the lesion and facilitate pus drainage.
Tonifying method
Tones up, nourishes, enriches and invigorates a weakness or deficiency in the body. In TCM, this method mainly tones up the qi, blood, yin and yang aspects in the body, and the typical conditions are hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, asthma in children, and organ prolapse. Ginseng and astragalus root are common tonic herbs for qi deficiency. This method is generally used in chronic conditions, but it is not recommended when the patient is in an active diseased stage, as it may make the condition worse.
References
- Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, edited by Zhang Enqin, Publishing House of Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, c1990
- Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lectures on Essentials of TCM VI. - Methods of Diagnosis, 2(4): 321-328, c1982
- Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lectures on Essentials of TCM VII. - Methods of Diagnosis, 3(1):67-72, c1983
- Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lectures on Essentials of TCM VII. - Methods of Diagnosis, 3(2): 163-168, c 1983
- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicine, by Tom William, Element Books Ltd. c1996.
- Traditional Chinese Internal Medicine, edited by Tian Delu and Zou Jianhua, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine c1990.
- Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine, by Tietao Deng, Churchill Livingstone, c1999.
- Chinese-English Dictionary of TCM, edited by Ou Ming, Joint Publishing (HK) Co., Ltd. c1988.
Written By
Raka Dewan, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.
Rose Tse, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.
Editors
Angela Collingwood MSN, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.
Raka Dewan, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.
Rose Tse, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.
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