Chinese medicine is an ancient system of healing that focuses on achieving internal balance to treat and prevent illness and disease. Practitioners use methods such as acupuncture, heat application, food therapy, massage and exercise (tai chi) and herbal preparations in order to achieve overall health. Chinese herbal medicine, along with the other components of Chinese medicine, is based on the concepts of yin and yang. Yin and yang are the two opposing but complementary aspects of any one phenomenon. Chinese medicine aims to understand and treat the many ways in which the balance and harmony between the two may be undermined, and to restore low or blocked energy, known as qi.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) places great emphasis on lifestyle management in order to prevent disease before it occurs. It is an holistic health system which recognises that health is more than just the absence of disease but is an overall feeling of well-being and happiness. Chinese medicine still forms a major part of healthcare provision in China, and is provided in state hospitals alongside western medicine. In the west, TCM has been consistently growing in popularity but it is still widely considered a form of complementary or alternative medicine.

East meets West

Local student Heidi Lai says that her family has always gone to Chinese doctors although she has tried western medicine too. “I think that western medicine works faster than traditional Chinese medicine but I don’t like to take it as it makes me feel light-headed and drowsy. Chinese medicine is good for your overall health. They can make you some medicine to give you more energy or improve your concentration.”

Chinese people have grown up with beliefs and knowledge of TCM but how do non-Chinese feel about trying this form of healthcare? London-born James Kelly lives in Hong Kong and works in the banking sector. He has tried Chinese medicine and believes that it is beneficial if he is feeling run down, but he wouldn’t rely on it in the case of serious illness. “I go to a Chinese doctor when I’m run down or not sleeping because they ask about your lifestyle and decide what medicine to give you to improve your overall well-being. If I was diagnosed with a serious disease like cancer, I would immediately choose western medicine but would try to include elements of Chinese medicine like acupuncture to relieve pressure or stress. Whenever I go back to London, I advise my friends and family to go to see a Chinese doctor even if they are not sick. It gives you a feeling of overall well-being.”

Forms of Chinese medicine

They say you are what you eat. Food therapy is the oldest recorded form of medicine and is the most basic treatment in Chinese medicine to prevent and cure disease. Food therapy is based on the careful preparation of selected ingredients and herbs that provide the necessary nutrients to treat certain health conditions.

Herbal remedies are products originating from plants or plant extracts used for their medicinal properties. They are taken for many reasons including self-healing, treating diseases including cancer, strengthening the body’s immune system, curing common ailments, and promoting general health. Herbal remedies include homeopathic preparations, vitamins and mineral supplements. Natural remedies are sold in grocery stores, pharmacies and health food stores and they do not require a doctor’s prescription.

Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating needles into points on the body to relieve pain and for therapeutic purposes. Some in the medical profession remain dubious about the effectiveness of acupuncture while others swear by its effectiveness. It is often used to treat back pain, neck pain and headaches.

If you have a fear of needles, acupressure may be the thing for you. It is a form of acupuncture where physical pressure is applied to acupuncture points by the practitioner’s hand, elbow, or using various devices. Like acupuncture, acupressure is about regulating the energies of the body by manipulating points on the body. This affects the emotions, and can relieve tension and physical ailments.

Visiting a Chinese doctor for the first time

It is not difficult to find English-speaking Chinese doctors in Hong Kong, especially around Central. The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong provides a list of Chinese medicine practitioners in the city - see www.cmchk.org.hk I paid a visit to a Chinese doctor and herbalist. After an initial consultation, she examined my tongue and hands and concluded that I had bad circulation and a slow heart rate. She explained that I needed to change my eating and drinking habits in order to be restored to full health, and it was as simple as eating a hot meal in the mornings. She prescribed some herbal medicine for me to bring home and cook like a soup. I can’t lie: it tasted foul, but I could tell that it was full of goodness. Chinese herbal medicines are very safe when prescribed correctly by a properly trained practitioner. Allergic reactions are rare, and will cause no lasting damage if treatment is stopped as soon as symptoms appear.