EnglishRead our weekly traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) columns in the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The world is on high alert about a possible pandemic of avian flu. Worries about pandemics, however, are not new. Plagues were a major problem in ancient China. They were called wenyi (pestilence), which covers any kind of fatal epidemic disease. Physician Wu Youxing (1580-1660) published a book called Wenyilun…
MoreAccording to the lunar calendar, winter starts on November 7 and lasts until February 4. During the cold, many living things slow down to save energy; some animals go into hibernation. It’s also the season when humans conserve energy and build strength for spring. In the Suwen (Book of Plain…
MoreNew mothers need to pay special attention to their bodies. In traditional Chinese practice, after giving birth a woman stayed at home for about four weeks, usually with a pui yuet (confinement maid) to take care of her and the baby. This was believed to help her body return to…
MoreExisting and potential risks associated with some western medicines have led consumers to look at alternative remedies for pain relief. Traditional Chinese medicine has many therapies that can help. Perhaps most commonly recognised for pain relief is acupuncture, but certain herbs are also known for their pain-relieving capabilities. In TCM…
MoreIn traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Chinese white pear is taken for its therapeutic and nutritional value. It has a pale yellow skin and a white, crisp and succulent flesh. In TCM practice, it’s recommended for the likes of a cough, constipation, difficulty in swallowing and urinating, and indigestion. It’s…
MoreThe first clinical description of diabetes mellitus is said to have come from Aretaeus the Cappodocian – a Greek physician – in about 150AD. He described diabetes as “a melting down of flesh and limbs into urine. Patients never stop making water, but the flow is incessant”. He also calls…
MoreDuring autumn, the weather changes to cool and dry, and many people get an uncomfortable, dry feeling in their throat, which may become sore. One way people combat this is by sucking lozenges. There are many different types on the market. Some people even use them to try to prevent…
MoreGood liver health is often overlooked, unlike the well-known relationship between cardiovascular heath and hear attacks. And in the lead-up to Christmas, some livers may not be as well looked after as they should be. Diseases that aren’t easily cured such as hepatitis and liver cirrhosis severely affect liver function…
MoreAdvertisements for slimming products are everywhere, and more consumers are turning to them for help in their battle with the bulge. Some of these dietary supplements, or herbal drugs, contain the natural stimulant ephedra (ma huang). Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the uncontrolled sale of…
MoreEndurance exercise such as next week’s Trailwalker in Hong Kong pushes the body to the extreme. It’s demanding on muscles, but also determines how long the body can tolerate the build-up of non-recyclable waste chemicals while avoiding the depletion of essential chemicals such as water and sodium. Extreme exercise has…
MoreAlthough many people are familiar with acupuncture, it’s useful to understand its root in traditional Chinese medicine – although this won’t shed light on how it works. According to ancient Chinese medical theory, the life force, or chi, flows through the body via invisible channels called meridians, which were mapped…
MoreIn traditional Chinese medicine, purgation is believed to flush out any evils that have been ingested through food or liquid. Kevin Lam, 37, does triathlons and runs marathons and was in excellent physical condition until he developed a sore throat and fatigue. At first he thought it was a cold,…
MoreMenstrual problems affect most women at some time during their reproductive life. According to a recent survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, one in 10 local women has heavy menstrual problems, and 90 per cent of them aren’t aware of medical advances that allow quick and easy treatment.…
MoreWhen seeing a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, there are ways to ensure an accurate diagnosis. The diagnostic technique in TCM – referred to as the four examinations – entailing looking, listening and smelling, touching, and history-gathering. These techniques are critical for the practitioner to recognise disharmony or a syndrome. Following…
MoreA trip to the herbalist might be just the trick to hasten recovery from the common cold. Chinese medicine’s 2,000-ear-old history has presented much evidence to show it can work. Chris Poon is a believer when it comes to certain illnesses. A few months ago, the Hong Kong secretary felt…
MoreWhen a patient has symptoms of a pale complexion, dizziness and fatigue, a western-trained doctor may do a blood test to see if anaemia is the cause. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, a blood deficiency may be diagnosed even if the test comes back normal. In TCM, a blood deficiency…
MoreIn ancient times, dissection of corpses was widely forbidden because opening up a dead body was thought to be offensive to the bereaved. It’s remarkable, then, how much TCM practitioners understood about organ physiology with such rudimentary knowledge. TCM practice focused on the functional aspects of vital organs such as…
MoreWhen a Chinese medical practitioner prescribes a herbal decoction, you might be surprised by how many herbs are mixed together to create it. But these formulas are chosen carefully for specially therapeutic effects. There are eight fundamental strategies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments and these dictate the choice of…
MoreOne general therapeutic strategy in traditional Chinese medicine is to replenish deficiencies and remove excesses of yin or yang. This focuses on holistic regulation in the body and employs an important concept: dual modulation. This generally refers to both the body or herb’s abilities to regulate a specific physiological function.…
MoreVisitors to Beijing will find street vendors offering a red berry snack coated with icy sugar. It’s called bing tang hu lu or icy gourd. It’s not really a gourd, but a Chinese hawthorn fruit. It’s a popular snack and is a traditional Chinese medicinal fruit. According to TCM theory,…
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