Balance, Imbalance and Disease
The principle of Chinese Medicine is that disease arises from imbalance in the body, and the method of diagnosis is based on identifying patterns of discord. In TCVM, we take into consideration all physical attributes of the patient in addition to their environment, temperament, activity level, age, and sex.
This differs from a conventional approach to disease because TCVM acknowledges the individual variation and nuances of each patient in addition to their physical signs of disease.
The idea is that imbalance and disease must be evaluated with respect to the whole patient and their corresponding environment.
Four Branches of TCVM
- Acupuncture
- Herbal Medicine
- Food Therapy
- Tui-Na
Theory
The philosophy upon which TCVM is based regards the body as part of the surrounding world, constantly interfacing with the environment. This means that the effects and laws governing the external world are the same as those governing the internal world of the body.
The life force or driving energy is known as “Qi” and is responsible for events and alterations within the body, as well as the outside world.
Another prominent feature of Chinese Daoist theory is the idea of Yin and Yang. This theory is based on opposing actions in the world, such as hot and cold or dark and light, which constantly influence, create, and transform one another. This concept is foundational to understanding disease and physiological changes within the body.
Another philosophy guiding health and disease treatment is the theory of the Five Elements. This concept is based on the five seasons of the year — spring, summer, late summer, autumn, and winter — and their corresponding elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Just as the world moves through the seasons each year, so does the body. This mapping also extends deeper into the body, with each element corresponding to a specific organ system and helping explain both function and dysfunction.
History
Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a system of medicine that originated in China and has been used for thousands of years. It evolved from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has been used to treat humans for more than 2,000 years.
This practice is based on Chinese Daoist philosophy and embodies a multifactorial approach to health. Like most medical systems, TCVM continues to evolve, and modern technology has helped uncover modes of action for therapies such as herbal medicine and acupuncture.