ABOUT TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine was originated in ancient China and has a history of over two thousand
years. Influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy, culture, and science and technology, Chinese medicine
uses the theory of Yin and Yang and the theory of Wu Xing to explain the mechanism of balancing the
function of the body.
Theory of Yin and Yang
While the direct meanings of yin and yang in
Chinese are positive and brightness versus
negative and darkness, Chinese philosophy
uses yin and yang to represent a wider range
of opposite forces that are complementary
and contradictory that cannot exist without
each other. Together, the yin and yang make
up the life energy, called “Qi”. Qi is a type of
energy that flows through the body through
invisible sets of pathways called meridians.
The theory of Yin and Yang is fundamental to Theory of Wu Xing
the practice of TCM, where the most basic The theory of Wu Xing, the five elements (wood, fire,
level of TCM treatment is to seek the balance earth, metal and water) interprets the relationship and
of yin and yang in each person. the constant movements and cycles between the
physiology and pathology of the human body and the
Theory of Zang Fu natural environment. The chart below outlines how the
There are two types of internal organs: the natural changes within the body and the environment
zang (yin) organs, and fu (yang) organs. Zang affect your health.
organs include: the liver, heart, spleen, lung,
and kidney. Fu organs include: the
gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large Wood Fire Earth Metal Water

intestine and bladder. Late

Season Spring Summer Summer Autumn Winter
Linked to the theory of Wu Xing: the theory of
Zang Fu explains the physiological function, Zang/Yin
Organs Liver Heart Spleen Lung Kidney
pathological changes, and the mutual
relationships of each organ (refer to chart Fu/Yang Gall- Small Large
under Theory of Wu Xing). Each organ has Organs bladder Intestine Stomach Intestine Bladder

their own characteristics and functions; zang

organs mainly store the vital substances (qi, Direction East South Middle West North
blood and body fluids), while the fu organs
perform the functions of receiving and Taste Sour Bitter Sweet Pungent Salty
digesting food, and transmitting and excreting
waste. Tissue Tendons Vessels Muscles Skin/Hair Bones

Linked to the theory of Yin and Yang: if there Blue /

is an imbalance between the zang-fu organ Colour Green Red Yellow White Black
system, signs and symptoms that correspond Sense
with the zang or fu system will be affected. Organ Eye Tongue Mouth Nose Ear

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Who can practice traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture in Ontario?
Only registered members of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario are allowed to:
• use the protected title(s) of “Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner”
and/or “Acupuncturist”, and the designation(s) of “R. TCMP” and/or “R. Ac”;
• perform the following authorized controlled acts:
1. Perform a procedure on tissue below the dermis and below the
surface of a mucous membrane for the purpose of performing
acupuncture.
2. Communicate a TCM diagnosis identifying a body system disorder
as the cause of a person’s symptoms using TCM techniques.

What to expect at a typical TCM visit

When visiting a TCM practitioner and/or 3. Assessment
acupuncturist, patients should expect the Listening and Smelling: The TCM practitioner will
following procedures: after the patient gives listen to the sound of the patients breathing, voice,
consent to treatment, the practitioner will and the quality of cough. The practitioner will also
gather information of the patient's medical observe any breath odour.
history, perform assessments and provide a
diagnosis and treatment plan. Touching: The TCM practitioner will perform a
palpation of the body to discover body temperature,
1. Consent Form body moisture, pain, and strategic acupuncture points.
Practitioners are required by law to explain the
proposed treatments to their patients and to Tongue Diagnosis: The TCM practitioner will make
receive their patients’ informed consent for the observations of the patient’s tongue, by examining the
proposed treatment. A patient has the right to colour, coating, and shape. The practitioner will also
receive sufficient information in order to make observe the patient’s face, eyes, etc.
an informed decision on whether to accept
treatment. Practitioners must ensure that their Pulse Diagnosis: The TCM practitioner will take the
patients know, understand and consent to their patients pulse. This is an important aspect of the TCM
assessments or treatments before any practitioners in diagnosing illness, and in some cases,
treatments begin. can indicate a problem or weakness before symptoms
occur. Each wrist has three positions along the radial
Consent must be informed by means of a artery that represent each organ of the body. There
meaningful dialogue between the practitioner are 28 different pulse characteristics pertaining to
and the patient. Consent may be obtained in position, depth, rate, width, strength, quality, and
writing or verbally, or it may be implied. rhythm.
However, the College strongly recommends
written consent in the form of a signed and 4. Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
documented Consent to Treatment form. Based on the patient’s medical health history and
assessment, the TCM practitioner will provide a TCM
2. Information Seeking diagnosis on the imbalance in the body using the
The TCM practitioner will gather information theories of yin and yang and the five elements.
about the patient’s medical health history and
family health history. In addition, the A detailed explanation of the diagnosis will be
practitioner will record any medications explained to the patient on how to remove what is
currently taking, and any current symptoms by excessive and/or replenish what is deficient from the
inquiring about the patient’s energy levels, body. The TCM practitioner may use a combination of
sleep patterns, appetite, thirst, sweating, chills herbal medicine and treatment modalities, such as
or fever, and any complaints of body pains, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and tui
bowel habits, urine and menstruation. na, as part of the treatment plan.

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What type of treatments do Traditional
Chinese Medicine Practitioners perform?

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners use a

number of treatment options based on the patient
diagnosis. This may include a combination of herbal
medicine and treatment modalities, such as
acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, and
tui na.

Acupuncture Moxibustion
Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, metal needles to Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which
stimulate specific points of the body that reach mugwort (a commonly used herb) is burned on
meridians. These stimulation points are called (direct moxibustion) or near the skin (indirect
acupuncture points or acupoints. Traditional Chinese moxibustion). The purpose of moxibustion is to
medicine holds that there are 365 commonly used heat acupuncture points in order to stimulate
acupuncture points on 20 meridians on the human the flow of qi and strengthen the blood.
body. Typically, it takes 15 to 30 minutes of
There are two types of direct moxibustion:
manipulating the needles in these acupuncture points
scarring and non-scarring. In the procedure of
and 30 to 60 minutes of retaining the needles. By
scarring moxibustion, the moxa is placed on an
doing so, it regulates the flow of qi throughout the
acupuncture point, burned and remains on the
body and restore health to the mind and body, thus
skin until it burns out completely. In the
balancing the yin and yang. The insertions of needles
procedure of non-scarring moxibustion, the
are manipulated either by the hand or by electrical
moxa is placed on an acupuncture point,
stimulation, called electroacupuncture.
burned, but extinguished or removed before it
Is it safe? Does it hurt? burns the skin.
Needles inserted during an acupuncture treatment
There are several forms of indirect moxibustion.
should be painless. Every patient experience is
One method is to light one end of a moxa stick
different; patients may experience bruising,
and hold it close to the acupuncture point for a
bleeding, needle site pain and sensation, or needle
few minutes until the area turns red. Another
fainting. However, these symptoms may be
method uses both acupuncture needles and
expected (minimal bleeding) and desired (tingle,
moxa. A needle is inserted into an acupuncture
tight sensation - "de qi response"). Patients should
point and retained. The tip of the needle is then
inform the practitioner if any discomfort arises.
wrapped in moxa and burned, generating heat
Is dry needling the same as TCM acupuncture?
to the acupuncture point and its surrounding
Dry needling is a technique used by Western area. The moxa is then extinguished and the
practitioners such as physiotherapists, needle is removed.
chiropractors, and occupational therapists etc.
Is it safe? Does it hurt?
based on strictly body anatomy in opposed to TCM
The risks of heat therapy include burns, blisters,
principals. Thin metal needles are inserted in
scarring and allergies. It is important for
specific muscle trigger points to release tension and
practitioners to be aware of the patients’
pain. Dry needling does not apply any TCM
tolerance to heat. In the case of direct
principals nor diagnosis. Hence, dry needling
moxibustion, patients should experience a
practitioners are not necessarily receiving the same
pleasant heating sensation deep into the skin.
level of training as set out by the standards of our
However, if the patient experiences strong pain,
College. In other words, those who practise dry
blistering and scarring, it may indicate that the
needling might not meet the requirements to use the
moxa is left in place for too long. Therefore,
title of "Registered Acupuncturist" or "Registered
indirect moxibustion is growing in popularity
Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner" in the
because there is a much lower risk of pain or
province of Ontario.
burning.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine Cupping
Chinese herbal medicine is primarily plant based Cupping is a form of therapy that involves the
(using leaves, roots, stems, flowers and seeds), but suction of the skin and the surface muscle
some minerals and animal products are also used. layer to stretch and be drawn into a cup.
These herbs are classified by its energy Cupping is used to encourage the blood flow
characteristics and taste property, where a of the body and treat conditions such as acute
combination of different herbs is used to balance the or chronic pains, respiratory problems and
yin and yang energy patterns of the body. These musculoskeletal problems.
formulas are packaged as powders, pastes, lotions or
There are two methods of cupping: dry and wet.
tablets, depending on the herb prescribed and its
Each method includes different types of cupping.
intended use.
The two most common types of dry cupping
Gua sha
are fire cupping and suction cupping. In the
Gua sha is a technique in which a smooth-edged tool,
procedure of fire cupping, the inside of a glass
such as Chinese soup spoon or pieces of honed jade,
cup is heated with fire, then placed onto the
is pressed and stroked on a lubricated area of the
skin. As the air inside the cup cools, a vacuum
body until a mark appears. Press-stroking is to be
is created causing the skin and muscle layer
performed sequentially - line by line and in one
to rise and redden into the cup. In the
direction - until the entire area is completed.
procedure of suction cupping, a plastic or
Is it safe? Does it hurt? silicone cup, with valves at the top that attach
When done correctly, Gua Sha should not be painful. to hand pumps, are placed on the skin then
The mark is a result of bruising and broken capillary pumped to create suction by removing the air.
blood vessels (sha). Raising sha removes abnormal qi The cups in both methods are to be left on the
and blood stagnation, and reduces inflammation; patient’s skin for 2 to 10 minutes.
therefore, it provides immune protection, and
In the procedure of wet cupping, the skin is
improves the circulation of the body. According to
punctured by sterile needles before either the
Western medicine, it functions on: the nervous system
fire cups or suction cups are placed on the
to enhance human defense mechanism, and the
skin. This technique draws out the blood, thus
circulative system which speeds up the circulation of
removing harmful substances and toxins from
blood and lymph to enhance metabolism.
the body. The cups are to be left on the
Tuina patient’s skin for 2 to 10 minutes.
Tui Na is a type of therapy based on TCM theories of
Is it safe? Does it hurt?
Zang-Fu organs and meridians, but it also combines
After the cups are removed from the session,
the anatomy and pathological diagnosis from Western
temporary red marks might show on the
medicine. Like acupuncture, tui na involves the
patient’s skin. These marks might remain on
stimulation of specific points of the body that reach
the skin for up to 10 days. These marks are a
meridians. The main difference is that acupuncture
result of bruising and minor bleeding from
uses needling techniques, whereas tui na uses
broken capillary blood vessels.
Chinese massage and manipulation techniques.
Some common techniques include: gliding, kneading, As with any heat therapy, there may be a
rolling, pressing, pulling, chopping, and vibrating. chance of burning and scarring. Further, wet
cupping carries a risk of exposure to and
Each session lasts between 30 to 60 minutes,
transfer of infections and bloodborne diseases,
depending on the patient’s necessity. Tui na helps
if needles are not properly sanitized.
promote the blood circulation of the body, and
enhances the qi blood supply. Tui na is used to treat a
variety of pain, musculoskeletal syndromes, and
digestive, respiratory and reproductive system
disorders. Some common contraindications include:
skin infection or epidemic disease.

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