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Can  traditional  Chinese  medicine  techniques  like  acupuncture,  cupping,  reflexology,  and  massage  therapy  really  work?

Traditional Chinese Medicine Benefits, Herbs & Therapies

Traditional Chinese medicine techniques are an alternative to the conventional western world medical treatment. For example, a physician might recommend medication to treat muscle injury, but a Chinese medicine practitioner will recommend massage or reflexology. The question as to whether traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) works depends on the purpose, individual and the way a person follows the prescription.

It is impossible to give TCM techniques an outright recommendation or condemnation. A balanced evaluation of TCM is to determine the prosand `cons.

Pros of Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques

1. Long history

New products in the market are a reason for concern because no one knows much about them TCM techniques like western medicine(wm) have beenaround for thousands of years which is enough for extensive trial and error time. The remainder is the methods that have been in use for producing the best results.

2. A holistic approach to a problem

TCM considers everything in the body to have interconnection andits healing path is holistic. Its practitioners believe in administering holistic healing from:oMicro(atomic) to the macro(universeoEnvironment to the human bodyoTop to bottom oInside and outoOrgan to organoPhysical to emotional connectionIndeed all these components have a relationship, and any knowledgeable TCM doctor does not rule out these factors.

3. Variety of treatment methods

TCM techniques involve a variety of ways to treat various disorders or diseases. It is more of personalized treatment and prescription according to individual needs as TCM practicebelieves every person has a unique constitution and makeup. It presents a choice of acupuncture, reflexology, massage therapy, cupping or Tai Chi among others to suit individual needs. You can use the method to approach the problem from various angles with the adherence to TCM foundational theories as for the only rule.

4. Continued development and research

Chinese medicine techniques have been in place for long, but development and research are ever on-going. The never-ending growth makes TCM more exciting as it keeps discovering new methods, formulas, and technology. TCM is also becoming more inter-disciplinary by adding some knowledge from western medicine, naturopathy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic among others into its toolkit. The rule even when it accommodates new knowledge is that the practice must identifywith its roots and foundational theories.

Cons of Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques

I. Lack of evidence-based practice

TCM techniques fall under alternative medicines that have been a subject of much studying and focus deems them safe. Still, there are others that have not been getting much study hence there is minimal evidence to support their effectiveness. The fact that medicine or a technique is natural does not guarantee its safety. Some have toxic minerals that can harm some people. It is not like going for a method or a product in wm whereby practitioners prescribe something that has gone through extensive testing to authenticate its safety.

II. Practitioners with different ideas

Practitioners who treat with traditional Chinese medicine techniques get training from experts with different school of thought because it of the long history and newer developments .some might only know of the traditional practices. They are keen about sticking to the roots up to the end without changing or incorporating new knowledge. Another group has been moving from the classic formula using western medicine as the foundational knowledge while using the TCM treatment modalities.

III. Difficulty in finding personalized service

Since there is a plethoraof ways for diagnosing and treating patients, they might have problems to see a practitioner who suite individual needs. For instance,massage or acupuncture might be the way to heal a condition but there are different ways that therapists use to attain the purpose. It might only be that just a few therapists can provide the service in the way that you like. The success of the techniques also requires much cooperation between a patient and a therapist.

Traditional Chinese medicine techniques are superb if they are safe and complementing the western medicine without causing discomfort or aggravating a condition.

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