Five Elements Theory in TCM
Anxiety disorders are one of the most frequently diagnosed mental health disorders in teens. One study in Germany indicated that about 10% of children and adolescents suffer from anxiety disorders (Robert Koch-Intuit; BELLA-Studied). The primary anxiety disorders are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Phobias, and Separation...
Staying Cool in Shanghai (Plus The Ultimate Hot-Weather Smoothie!)
Temperatures are rising…Shanghai summer is here! With its extremely high temperatures and high humidity, Shanghai isn’t just uncomfortable in summer but can be a perfect environment for illness. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), heat and dampness are two pathogens that can affect the body...
TCM Perspective: Nutrition During Pregnancy
TCM believes that every person is endowed from birth with an essence that lasts throughout the person’s life and provides the body with energy. This essence flows from the mother during pregnancy. Healthy lifestyle and good nutrition increases the amount and quality of this essential...
Women’s Health Series: Infertility Solutions with TCM
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child after two years of regular sexual intercourse without contraception. Western medical treatment focuses on the mechanical functioning of the reproductive organs and hormones. TCM understands that body and soul need to be balanced and harmonious...
Women’s Health Series: Relieving Menstrual Pain
Many women suffer from monthly menstrual pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Occasionally, this is related to a gynecological disease which need to be treated properly. However, for many women symptoms such as PMS (premenstrual syndrome), lower back pain, tender breasts, headaches, belly pain, and leg...
TCM Perspective: Obtaining and Maintaining a Healthy Weight
New year, new you! How many of us, among other new year’s resolutions, intend to lose weight and maintain a healthy figure in 2016? Weight loss and maintenance are top concerns for many people but often, information overload and misconceptions make it hard to keep...
TCM Treatments Series: Cupping
Cupping is a complementary therapy to acupuncture. Expats not familiar with cupping may wonder about the round, uniform marks they sometimes see on people who’ve received cupping treatment. Cupping is an ancient treatment used in many cultures around the world. Though it’s becoming more common...
Gaofang: Keep Your Body Strong This Winter
In our last article, we discussed winter health and tips for helping the body adjust to the seasons. TCM does a great job addressing winter health and treating seasonal illnesses, due to its focus on strengthening the body to live in harmony with nature. Common...
In Sync with the Seasons: Winter Health
In TCM, winter is related to the water element and associated with the organs kidney and bladder. The kidneys are the source of the kidney Qi which is composed of the prenatal Qi (stored in the kidneys) and the postnatal Qi (stored in the spleen)....
The sophisticated art of pulse diagnosis
While in western medicine the feeling of the pulse is more or less a daily routine check for everybody, in TCM this method stands for far more. It is part of the so-called “Palpation Examination”, a special form of pressing certain body areas to check...