Holistic Health Clinics Africa

Chinese medicine is a holistic medicine. Many people have come to define holistic as ‘natural’ or ‘alternative’. But, in fact, by definition, holistic means, ‘Characterized by the belief that the parts of something are intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole’. ~Oxford dictionary. So it can be said that in the diagnoses and treatment of a patient, the Chinese Medicine draws from all factors both internal and external that contribute to the individual’s current state of health. The resulting diagnosis and treatment is therefore always unique to each individual as no two people can ever be exactly the same. A good example in clinic might present as follows. If you present with migraine, the Chinese medicine doctor doesn’t simply diagnose migraine and treat with one analgesic or pain killer for all patients with migraine. Instead the migraine is then sub-divided into various patters, like Liver yang rising, Liver qi stagnation, blood stagnation, blood deficiency to name just few. This diagnosis is ascertained by assessing patient history as well as a multitude of accompanying signs and symptoms that may present, such as thirst and irritability, or perhaps dizziness and pale menses. With this information, the TCM doctor is able to formulate a symptom complex and make an individuated diagnosis and treatment. It is this pinpointed diagnostic system that makes Chinese medicine so effective.

Although acupuncture for most is a very relaxing experience, it is not everyone’s cup of tea. For those with needle phobias or bleeding disorders, acupressure is a good alternative. Acupressure involves the gentle massage of acupoints along the meridians in order to achieve certain therapeutic results. It is also a good alternative for young children, who tend to much faster than adults to treatment.