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BODY&MIND
98
Jun-Jul15
Traditional Chinesemedicine
is hugely popular in this
town, but for the uninitiated
it can seem a little daunting.
JUDY XU, a practitioner
at
Oriental Health and
Balance Health
, answered
some of the more commonly
asked questions about the
centuries-old practice.
What does a typical
TCM consultation
involve?
Chinese medicine offers
a wide range of therapies,
such as acupuncture,
h e r b a l t h e r a p y a n d
cupp i ng . Be fo re any
treatment, however, a
thorough diagnosis is
essential. Diagnosis is
based on the following
four pillars:
1. LOOKING:
This includes
an assessment of a
person’s emotional state
and wellbeing, and body appearance and shape. One important
factor here is a detailed look at the condition of your tongue, a
reflector of your current health.
2. LISTENING:
In particular, we listen for breathing sounds, coughing
and the sound of the voice; all are vital factors.
3. ASKING:
We assess your past medical history, and your environment
in terms of places, people, nutrition and diet.
4. PULSE DIAGNOSIS:
A practitioner reads the state of individual organs
and the balance of
qi
, blood, and
yin
and
yang
energy.