What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Introduction
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system that emerged in China over 2,500 years ago. Intertwined with philosophy and culture, TCM focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating illnesses and diseases. It is based on core concepts that the body's life force or energy (Qi) flows along meridian channels in the body to maintain one's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health.
History of TCM
Just like holy scriptures to religions, many important texts shaped, and influenced modern-day TCM.
TCM was extensively used by emperors throughout Chinese history. For example, the first emperor of China was famously obsessed with the idea of immortality, leading to the search for elixirs of eternal life.
These emperors consumed special herbal formulas, tonics, and elixirs believed to enhance vitality and slow ageing. Superior-grade herbs such as ginseng, reishi mushrooms (lingzhi), and astragalus were commonly used in these regimens.
TCM today
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises how TCM has helped people in both Asia and worldwide as primary healthcare – from preventative healthcare, illness management, treatment, rehabilitation and more.
The number of people who have benefitted from TCM are undeniable - from pain management, to conceiving healthy children, to preventative health and maintaining health post illness. For example, a study showed that the cancer symptoms and quality of life were improved in 70% of patients with advanced cancers after TCM-based pattern identification and symptomatic treatment.
How should we adopt TCM for modern life?
TCM is not without its limitations. After all, it is an ancient, 2,000+ year old practice that developed independently in a unique civilisation, prior to the development of the field of science and research.
Everyone can benefit from TCM principles and practices, regardless of cultural background or affiliation. What’s more important are the principles and practices that we can adopt and apply to our everyday life. It should be seen as a philosophy/way of life centred around living consciously with more balance and wellness (just like Ikiga, Hygge, Pura Vida); and not a dogma on how one should lead their life.
Why Nuwa is TCM-inspired, and what we can learn from TCM
Nuwa was created not as a campaign to advocate or validate the entire TCM umbrella approach to health. When combined with modern day approaches, TCM's key principles and approaches can give us more options and mindsets when it comes to wellness:
- ⭐ Emphasis on preventative health
- ⭐ Emphasis on natural ingredients and botanicals
- ⭐ Mind and body are connected
- ⭐ Target the root cause of the illness, not the symptoms