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From the moment the patient steps into the Physician’s room, his gait and general outlook are assessed. When he speaks, his tone and volume are also clues to his well-being and typical personality. The Physician may then read other syndromes of the patient by taking his pulse, examining his tongue, or asking questions pertaining to conditions like his/her bowel habits, or appetite.
TCM practices various treatment methods to restore the patient’s harmony between his/her internal forces. The Physician may prescribe any of these treatments:
 Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture
Moxibustion
Cupping
Tui Na
 Herbs can be hot, warm, neutral, or cold. Their taste can be sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, or salty. Herbs also have direction. Herbs can have any combinations of these properties. Different combinations of these properties are achieved by custom herbal concoctions. Herbal formulas can be Yin or Yang for the organ system or Qi and a myriad of combinations are possible. If necessary, depending on the patient’s condition, herbal formulas may be prescribed.
TCM herbs were traditionally wrapped in paper packages for the patient to bring home to brew. Today, however, technology has removed the fuss of needing to prepare the medicine at home. Herbs can now be compressed into convenient pills that can be swallowed with water.
Herbal soups have also been pre-prepared into solutions that are poured into sterile bottles for convenient storage
and consumption. For the working population, these are especially useful as they can easily carry their medication to
their work place. These pills and pre-prepared mixtures are available at SHEN.
By SHEN Centre Staff, 2006 |
