Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a systematic healthcare system developed from clinical experience based on a scientific model of regulation. TCM relies on unique theories and practices to treat diseases and enhance health. These practices include Chinese herbal medicine and dietetics, acupunct...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/3/257 |
| _version_ | 1797416516325474304 |
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| author | Luís Carlos Matos Jorge Pereira Machado Fernando Jorge Monteiro Henry Johannes Greten |
| author_facet | Luís Carlos Matos Jorge Pereira Machado Fernando Jorge Monteiro Henry Johannes Greten |
| author_sort | Luís Carlos Matos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a systematic healthcare system developed from clinical experience based on a scientific model of regulation. TCM relies on unique theories and practices to treat diseases and enhance health. These practices include Chinese herbal medicine and dietetics, acupuncture and moxibustion, and other non-medication therapies such as Chinese bodywork or manual therapy, known as “Tuina”, and traditional biofeedback exercises, known as “Qigong” and “Taijiquan”. The integration of TCM in Western health systems and research requires a rational communicable theory, scientific proof of efficacy and safety, and quality control measures. Understanding the structural concepts of the TCM language makes possible the parallelism to Western physiology, and the inherent rational use of the reflex therapeutic systems, anti-inflammatory mechanisms and mental training involved, for example, in acupuncture and “Qigong”. The results of TCM clinical trials and fundamental research on its nature and mechanisms have encouraged the development and application of well-designed research strategies such as double blinding in acupucture to overcome limitations and resistances in integrating these practices into the existing biomedical paradigms of the West. This review aims to overview some TCM theoretical concepts and the evidence-based clinical application of TCM’s leading practices to create an easy-to-consult and condensed source of information, available for the healthcare community, facilitating the understanding and communication between conventional health professionals and TCM practitioners and acupuncturists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:05:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66cb2a58ae1e4caf998c25c2506f0a41 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:05:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-66cb2a58ae1e4caf998c25c2506f0a412023-12-03T12:05:04ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322021-03-019325710.3390/healthcare9030257Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical ApplicationsLuís Carlos Matos0Jorge Pereira Machado1Fernando Jorge Monteiro2Henry Johannes Greten3Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalCBSIn—Centro de Biociências em Saúde Integrativa, Atlântico Business School, 4405-604 Vila Nova de Gaia, PortugalFaculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalICBAS—Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, PortugalTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a systematic healthcare system developed from clinical experience based on a scientific model of regulation. TCM relies on unique theories and practices to treat diseases and enhance health. These practices include Chinese herbal medicine and dietetics, acupuncture and moxibustion, and other non-medication therapies such as Chinese bodywork or manual therapy, known as “Tuina”, and traditional biofeedback exercises, known as “Qigong” and “Taijiquan”. The integration of TCM in Western health systems and research requires a rational communicable theory, scientific proof of efficacy and safety, and quality control measures. Understanding the structural concepts of the TCM language makes possible the parallelism to Western physiology, and the inherent rational use of the reflex therapeutic systems, anti-inflammatory mechanisms and mental training involved, for example, in acupuncture and “Qigong”. The results of TCM clinical trials and fundamental research on its nature and mechanisms have encouraged the development and application of well-designed research strategies such as double blinding in acupucture to overcome limitations and resistances in integrating these practices into the existing biomedical paradigms of the West. This review aims to overview some TCM theoretical concepts and the evidence-based clinical application of TCM’s leading practices to create an easy-to-consult and condensed source of information, available for the healthcare community, facilitating the understanding and communication between conventional health professionals and TCM practitioners and acupuncturists.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/3/257traditional Chinese medicineherbsdieteticsacupuncturemoxibustion“Tuina” |
| spellingShingle | Luís Carlos Matos Jorge Pereira Machado Fernando Jorge Monteiro Henry Johannes Greten Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications Healthcare traditional Chinese medicine herbs dietetics acupuncture moxibustion “Tuina” |
| title | Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications |
| title_full | Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications |
| title_short | Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapeutics: An Overview of the Basics and Clinical Applications |
| title_sort | understanding traditional chinese medicine therapeutics an overview of the basics and clinical applications |
| topic | traditional Chinese medicine herbs dietetics acupuncture moxibustion “Tuina” |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/3/257 |
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