Chinese herbal medicine goes back to the 3rd century and is one of the most widely used and known systems throughout the world both as a standalone form of medicine and also used alongside systems that are more traditional. Chinese medicine is a totally holistic approach to medicine which uses traditions found in East Asia, Japan, Vietnam and Korea. It is a system that compromises of herbal remedies, acupuncture, tai chi and Qi gong.

Chinese medicine is largely based on the concept of yin and yang in which balance and harmony is essential for the body and mind for our health. It is said that when our chi becomes depleted or blocked than our health is severely affected and illness begins to show. A diagnosis is usually made by using means such as looking at patterns and signs and symptoms that reflect an imbalance, the system places a great deal of emphasis on the lifestyle as a whole in order to diagnose illness and prevent it.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest traditions of Chinese medicine and is a form which is used throughout the world today, acupuncture originated in China more than 2,000 years ago also making it one of the oldest forms of medicine in the world.

The term acupuncture describes procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. The techniques involve the insertion of thin metallic needles just under the surface of the skin and these needles are then manipulated either by hand or by electrical impulse.

The Chinese strongly believe that there are certain forces in the outside world which have an effect on our bodies and minds, it is said that when we are affected by such things this is when illness appears. Chinese medicine relies strongly on discovering these disharmonies and correcting them and when having done so our body is thought to be brought back into harmony and the symptoms are relieved.

The six external causes of disharmony

The Chinese also call this type of disharmony the six evils and they all relate to climatic conditions, when there is extreme cold, heat, wind, dampness or dryness the world around begins to suffer if these extremes are felt for any length of time. During these extremes, the Chinese believe that not only the environment is affected but also we become affected in addition and when we do, it shows as illness because our body becomes unbalanced.

Chinese cupping therapy has long since been an ancient part of traditional Chinese medicine and involves causing local congestion; it is performed by placing cups onto the skin by way of either heat or suction. Underlying tissue is then drawn under the cups when they are left on the skin for a few minutes and blood stasis will form and this is when healing takes place.

Cupping therapy was taken one-step further as a way in which to open up the meridian channels, the meridian channels are channels through which the life energy is able to flow freely throughout the body and through all organs and tissues. There are five meridians on the back and if these are properly open then energy is allowed to travel the full length of the body. It is thought that cupping is an excellent way in which to open these channels to ensure the energy can flow freely.

To the practitioner of Chinese medicine the tongue is a tool which they can use to aid in making a diagnosis when using a traditional form of Chinese medicine such as acupuncture or herbal remedies. The tongue is supplied by both the nervous system and the circulatory system and is constantly bathed in saliva; it contains water, mucous, enzymes and electrolytes.

Due to this, the tongue is a very sensitive organ and is one organ which can change depending on how we feel and the state of our health. Therefore, the Chinese believe that by observing the tongue we can find a great deal out about our body and our health, when the practitioner asks you to stick out your tongue they check the appearance of it in three different areas.