Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient healing method based on the idea that the body has a life force or vital energy called "qi" ("chi") and that disease is a sign that balance needs to be restored. The Chinese mapped out paths in the body that conduct qi. More than 2,000 points on the body can help—or block—the movement of qi.
In TCM, balancing qi is the key to health. Disease is treated by looking at the qi of the whole body, not just the parts that suffer from disease. Treating a disease means restoring qi to normal balance.
TCM uses these methods to bring qi into balance:
- Chinese herbs
- Acupuncture
- Tuina massage
- Acupressure
- Five-element nutrition
- Food cures for ailments, like soups
- Qigong (or chi gung)—a form of body movement that improves energy flow
Some Chinese herbs cause kidney failure. Many Chinese herbs are roots, and roots from a safe plant can look just like roots from a toxic plant. Even herbs used the right way can build up in your body to toxic levels if your kidneys are not working well. We at Kidney School do not recommend that you use Chinese herbs.
