Chinese Medicine - A path to wellbeing

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), now recognised in Australia as a profession, was developed in China over 5,000 years ago.

Today more than ever before, we face the danger of toxicity, the side effects of chemical drugs and unnecessary surgical procedures. Many physicians and patients worldwide have increasingly turned to natural alternatives such as Chinese medicine because it’s safe, effective, drug- and surgical-free.

Traditional Chinese Medicine use Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, remedial massage (“anmo”, “tuina”), exercise and breathing therapy (such as “qigong”), diet and lifestyle advice to restore balance to the body’s energy and to strengthen the weakened organs, thus treating the cause rather than the symptoms.

TCM takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as it does on the treatment.

When healthy, an abundant supply of “qi” (pronounced “chee”) or "life energy" flows through the body's meridians (a network of invisible channels through the body). If the flow of “qi” in the meridians becomes blocked or there is an inadequate supply of “qi”, then the body fails to maintain harmony, balance and order, and disease or illness follows. This can result from stress, overwork, poor diet, disease pathogens, weather and environmental conditions, and other lifestyle factors and becomes evident to TCM practitioners through identifiable signs of body dysfunction. TCM practitioners look carefully for these signs of health and dysfunction, paying particular attention to not only the presenting condition, but also the medical history, general constitution, and the pulse and tongue.

Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment principles are based on the theoretical frameworks of TCM which seeks to identify underlying symptom patterns that indicate how the body is or has become dysfunctional. Treatment is focussed on the underlying condition as well as treating the presenting symptoms. Clinical decision-making and patient management strategies are also influenced by contemporary Western approaches to health care, including infection control practices and known interactions of herbal medicines with pharmaceuticals and other therapeutic substances.

The primary feature of modern TCM is the premise that good health relies on the restoration and maintenance of harmony, balance and order to the individual.

TCM treatments work on the basis of individualised formulae for each patient.

 

Numerous testimonials and letters from satisfied, healthy and happy patients substantiate the effectiveness of traditional Chinese treatment methods.

How Chinese medicine can help cancer treatment

Three most common methods used to treat cancer in Western medicine are surgical operations, chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments. These treatment methods can be very effective in either removing cancer or suppressing the growth of cancer but there are also very harsh side-effects that can potentially be more harming than the cancer itself. Reducing these side-effects is a purpose of Chinese medical cancer treatments.

Chinese medicine has been largely recognised as an effective complimentary medicine for those who are undergoing cancer treatment. The benefits can include: 

Enhancing the immunity and suppressing the progression of cancer:

Malfunction of the immune system has been suggested to be one important factor leading to the occurrence of cancer. On top of this, cancer growth in itself, as well as Western treatment for cancer - surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiotherapy - also significantly weakens the immune system. By improving the general constitution, Chinese medicine is known to be effective in enhancing the functioning of the immune system, strengthening the body’s defenses. This strengthens the body’s resistance against tumour growth, thus suppressing the progression of cancer.

Improving the general well being and improve the life quality:

Chinese medicine’s ability to improve the general wellbeing is also greatly beneficial for cancer support patients, as it can help alleviate many of the symptoms associated with cancer and/or its treatment, resulting in improved life quality for cancer support patients. Individualised treatment ensures that the prescribed Chinese herbs are specifically tailored to your particular condition, and are thus most effective in your particular case. In particular, Chinese medicine is known to be highly effective in reducing the side effects associated with radiation treatment and chemotherapy. These western methods of treatment are notorious for imposing many severe side effects upon patients, the most common of which including weazyness, poor appetite, nausea, hair loss, decrease in white blood cells and so on. Chinese medicine has been demonstrated to significantly reduce these, and help those undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy lead much better lives.

Anti-tumor effects:

Some Chinese herbal treatments have the ability to kill cancer cells, as well as prevent tumor growth.. They are effective in enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

In all, Chinese medicine treats cancer by focusing on the person themselves, rather than just the cancer. It is this which has allowed it to be such an effective complimentary treatment for those undergoing cancer treatment, one which has helped thousands of patients lead better lives throughout the course of their recovery.

Tracking ovulation

Your menstrual cycle is divided into two phases: the follicular (before ovulation) and the luteal phase (after ovulation).

During the first phase, the hormone Estrogen keeps the temperature low (normally between 36.1°C to 36.4°C). Right before ovulation occurs the concentration of estrogen jumps up, causing even lower temperatures. Some women (not all) can see a slight dip in temperatures what means ovulation is about to occur.

In the second phase (Luteal Phase) that starts right after ovulation, hormone progesterone takes over. Temperatures usually rise between 36.4°C and 37°C and stay elevated until your next cycle begins.

If you become pregnant during that cycle it will remain high during the entire pregnancy.

A dip in temperature (not always) followed by a rise higher than all temps the previous six days and staying at or beyond this level for at least 3 days shows that ovulation has occurred.

If you are not trying to conceive at this moment just keep charting you basal temperature and in a couple of months you will see a clear picture: how long your cycle is, how stable it is, when you are most fertile and when your ovulation occurs.

If you are trying to conceive and never charted your basal temperature before follow this steps:

1. Take your temperature every day from the first day of your cycle. 

2. Start charting mucus changes from day 10 of your menstrual cycle (earlier if your cycle is less than 28 days). 

3. Use ovulation tests every day from day 10 (earlier if your cycle is less then 28 days) of your menstrual cycle.

Test line on the ovulation test gets darker then the control line about 1-2 days before ovulation occurs. At the same time your mucus should change from white, thick and sticky to clear, stretchy and slippery (consistency of raw egg white). So, if you are trying to conceive, have intercourse starting from the day you see a positive ovulation test.

Right after ovulation occurs temperature rises. You still have about 24 (sometimes 48) hours before the egg dies.

Most women have anovulatory cycles (1-2 per year). An anovulatory cycle means that no ovulation occurred during that particular cycle. During anovulatory cycle you will see many low and high temperatures throughout the entire cycle with no clear separation of a rise in level of temperatures. If you have anovulatory cycles more often then 1-2 times a year, consult your OB/GYN.