July 06, 2019 7 min read

Traditional Chinese Medicine – A Spiritual and Philosophical Approach to Wellness

By Claire Galea

For over 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has sought to copy the perfect balance we see in nature and reproduce it in our physical bodies. Over time, it has refined and perfected its processes, focusing on creating internal balance to produce emotional harmony and physical health.

The fundamental principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focus on its understanding of the complex workings of the universe, the law of nature, the ebb and flow of energy and how this interacts with and affects our entire being on a spiritual, energetic, emotional and physiological level. It recognises how emotions such as stress and anxiety, can disrupt or block this flow and manifest into a serious physical illness unless released and rebalanced.

Chinese medicine seeks to support a person’s entire complicated matrix, including their energy, emotions and wellbeing. To do this is employs various ancient techniques such as: Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Moxibustion, Cupping, Qi Gong and a Healthy Diet. Here we explain the principles behind TCM and the emotional approach to wellness.  

 The basic principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine

“If you want to know the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” – Nikola Tesla.

For thousands of years, TMC has endeavoured to comprehend the true nature of the universe and natural law. By understanding Qi (chee) energy or life force, and the importance of the unimpeded flow of that energy, it recognises that any disruption to the flow of universal energy can have serious consequences – that all illness is the result of energy blockages. It sounds almost too simple, doesn’t it? But if we take a closer look at the reasoning that TMC is based on, the logic behind its principles becomes clear.

We now know that everything is energy. Modern quantum physics teaches us that any solid when reduced to its smallest constituent, is simply pure energy. At the turn of the 20th Century, physicists started to explore the relationship between energy and the structure of matter, moving away from Newton’s material universe and towards the concept that atoms consist of invisible energy. In basic terms, a table isn’t a solid table at all – it’s just energy.

Masters of Chinese Medicine understood this thousands of years ago, yet its significance is only just beginning to be appreciated by the Western World.

“If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet. Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.” – Niels Bohr, Danish Physicist and 1922 Nobel Prize Winner.

Although it’s a difficult concept to comprehend, the Chinese have been applying the idea to medicine in a way that Western doctors have only just begun to investigate. As energy has no form or boundaries, our energy is intrinsically connected to the energy of nature and the energy of the universe. Hence, our bodies and moods are affected by a full moon or the changing seasons. This energy is channelled through our bodies via a network of meridian pathways which connects every atom, cell, bone, tendon, organ and every centimetre of skin. They also channel our blood and body fluids to keep us balanced and regulated. Everything is connected into one seamless, complicated whole and it’s this network that must be kept free from blockages.

 

What causes disease?

When a body is in a prolonged state of imbalance, disease will occur. There are a number of factors that can cause this imbalance, such as:

  • Emotions – stress, anxiety, fear, anger.
  • Thoughts – negativity, worry, dissatisfaction, envy.
  • Belief systems – inadequate, unworthy, self-blame.
  • Lifestyle – poor eating habits, late nights, lack of exercise, lack of fresh air and sunshine.
  • Situation – stressful job, unhappy home life, financial worries, lack of support.

In the same way a solid is a collection of energy, so also is a physical illness. The type of energy that makes up a physical illness is what’s important. Emotions too are energy and a repeated negative emotion over a long period of time can manifest as a physical symptom. The same thing applies to our thoughts and belief systems. Remember, energy has no boundaries. If we continually send out a negative thought or emotion, that energy will mingle with nature’s and the universe’s energy which will reflect it back – like attracts like. Over time, this can have a debilitating effect on the body.

Of course, our lifestyle choices are also to blame for our physical health. Fast foods and heavily processed foods, sedentary, indoor lifestyles, pollution, as well as toxic chemicals in our food, clothes and homes have seen a significant rise in obesity, dementia, diabetes, cancer and other related illnesses.

If your personal circumstance is causing you unhappiness, then this will affect your emotions and it can also affect your lifestyle choices – comfort eating, alcohol intake, smoking etc. In this circumstance, Western medicine will treat the symptom. Chinese medicine will treat the cause. But it is the patient who needs to make the change.

 

How is the body affected?

In TMC, the understanding is that certain emotions are linked to specific organs and parts of the body and that there is a two-way relationship between them. For example, while long-term anger can adversely affect the liver, a deficient or excessive liver can exacerbate or even cause feelings of anger and frustration

 

Liver

Anger  

Heart

Joy          

Spleen

Worry   

Lung

Grief       

Kidney

Fear        

 

The Aims of Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

  • To make a clear and accurate diagnosis
  • To address the root cause of an illness
  • To discover energy blockages in the body and clear them
  • To restore the organs to balance and the body to harmony
  • To support the efficient functioning of the body on an ongoing basis in order to help the body heal itself.

 

Herbal Medicine

In addition to acupuncture, the practitioner may recommend a herbal remedy to supplement treatment. Chinese herbal medicine is a major part of the medical practice. Although it’s described as ‘herbal’ there are actually more than 450 substances that are used, and some may be of animal and mineral origin. For example, remedies may include: leaves, blossoms, fruit, stems, seeds, grains, bark and roots and even dirt, minerals, stones, insects, animal parts and bones. The Chinese Materia Medica has identified and classified the essential properties of all of these constituent ingredients and how they affect, not just the body, but the mind and spirit also.

While a practitioner will prescribe a Chinese herbal formula specifically formulated for your own condition, pre-prepared formulas are increasingly becoming available in capsule form for ‘off-the-shelf’ purchase for more common problems. Many of these recipes are thousands of years old but some formulas, like our own, are a carefully perfected improvement on an ancient remedy. The ingredients complement and strengthen each other, acting in unison to form powerfully effective remedies, and because they are 100% natural, there are absolutely no side-effects.

The aim of TCM is to help you live a life of balance, harmony and good health, which is why Chinese herbal medicine can also be used for the maintenance of general health, for strengthening the immune system and body functions, and for promoting a general sense of wellbeing. It can be used for prevention as well as cure.

Sunny Pills

“I’m loving the Sunny pills! They really make a significant difference in how I deal with potentially stressful situations. My anxiety levels are definitely reduced.” Paula F.

Sunny PillsSunny Pills are Traditional Chinese Medicine capsules formulated to provide effective relief from anxiety, stress, depression, poor sleep and lethargy. Formulated 100% from pure herbs and highest quality ingredients, Sunny Pills are a non-addictive alternative to anti-depressants, with no known side-effects.

Based on TCM theory that most illnesses stem from the imbalance of Ying and Yang and/or Qi and Blood in the body, Sunny Pills focus on supporting the function of the heart and liver. The ancient belief is that liver Qi deficiency leads to fear and heart Qi deficiency leads to sadness. Thus, Sunny Pills primarily focus on boosting liver and heart Yang and Qi to restore the body’s balance.

Registered under the Therapeutic Goods Administration and listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, Sunny Pills are the result of over 20 years of clinical experience in combating depression and have been clinically used in Australia for over 10 years with a high success of patient recovery. Also suitable for fatigue, sadness, lack of concentration, fear, worry, loss of libido, reduced appetite, headaches, aches and pains, irritability and feelings of worthlessness. The capsules are gluten-free, plant-based and suitable for vegetarians.

“Having been a sufferer of anxiety and wanting an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, l was so pleased of the effectiveness of this supplement. I sleep better, feel more grounded and generally feel well with increase in energy.” Alison H.

You can see that Traditional Chinese Medicine is much more than just a means of treating a symptom. It is a solution, a philosophy, a way of life, and, if you embrace it, it can be a life-changing experience.

 

Ingredients:

Cinnamomum Cassia Twig  – An evergreen tree originating in Southern China. Cinnamon supports blood circulation and uplifts mood.

Zingiber officinale – Ginger. A strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Schisandra chinensis – A woody vine from Northern China whose fruit is called magnolia berry or five-flavour berry. Boosts liver function, supports adrenals and improves energy.

Ziziphus jujubar var. spinosa – Most commonly used as a dried fruit. Supports digestion, has sedative and anti-anxiety properties.

Rehmannia glutinosa – One of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Chinese herbal medicine, it’s a flower which looks like a foxglove. Supports the blood, kidneys and adrenal glands.

Other ingredients include: Codonopsis pilosula (flowering plant root), Ophiopogon japonicus, Fallopia multiflora stem, Paeonia suffruticosa, Dioscorea oppositifolia, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Phyllostachys nigra, Gardenia jasminoides, Inula Britannica, Lophatherum gracile, Senna alexandrina.

Sunny Pills Box


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