Chinese Medicine is classified as an alternative therapy. It has existed for over 1500 years. It is a treatment that encompasses a wide range of Chinese therapy practices including acupuncture, moxibustion (burning a herb above the skin to apply heat to acupuncture points), Chinese herbal medicine, tui na (Chinese therapeutic massage), dietary therapy, and tai chi and qigong (practices that combine specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing, and mental focus). If you are interested in using this therapy to help with your mental health then it is likely you have a lot of questions about what to expect. You may have some apprehension. We at Seek a Therapy want to help answer your questions and concerns surrounding the practise in order to help you select the right therapist and area of Chinese medicine best suited for your needs. On this page, we have included some of the most common questions a person may have before treatment.
What is Chinese Medicine?
Chinese medicine is a complete system of medicine with its own forms of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and therapies.
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In this therapy, practitioners believe that the body is an energetic system in dynamic balance and when we become ill in any form our energy is not balanced. Qi, which can be translated as energy or life force, flows in a regular pattern through a system of channels — or meridians — to all parts of the body.
The aim of the medicine is to bring balance back to a person through various means as mentioned above. It is believed that this particular therapy restores the body to balance and works on an energetic level to affect all aspects of your person: mind/body/spirit.
What is particularly interesting with Chinese medicine is that it has been successful in treating people with illness and pain but also to prevent diseases before the symptoms increase and the illness gets worse.
What to Expect From Chinese Therapy?
From the perspective of Chinese medicine, depression and anxiety is understood to be a disturbance to the shen (roughly translated as our spirit).
When the shen is disturbed, manifestations might include a feeling of lack of meaning in one’s life. An inability to connect to other people, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing. Also can include lack of energy, and feeling inauthentic, among other things.
Also, if qi/energy is stuck in the body, not moving smoothly, the emotions may also get stuck, in fear, or anger, or grief for instance. Chinese medicine treats these conditions by reconnecting the spirit with the deepest sense of our self, and with something larger than ourselves. And it can guide the qi to move more smoothly, alleviating feelings of being stuck emotionally or spiritually.
A specialist is likely to discuss several options with you that you can use to help with your mental health and may suggest acupuncture, herbs, dietary therapy, qi gong, and tai chi.
Sometimes you will be advised to do one, two or several of these therapies but no matter which you choose one piece of advice will be prevalent. Eating healthfully and exercising will always be prescribed for someone suffering from depression.
Qigong and tai chi are gentle ways to learn how to move energy in your own body. Another concept in Chinese medicine is the importance of opening our sensory orifices, the portals of perception, so we can see and taste and hear the world in a different and healthier way.
The interesting thing about Chinese medicine compared to western science is that they tend to treat the patient rather than the disease. Each individual having slightly different variations in symptoms, causes and effects mean they believe that even if two people have depression, no two treatments should be the same.
To learn more about chinese medicine you can visit the following link.
Traditional Chinese Medicine. A View Of Depression From A Practioner
How Much Does A Typical Chinese Medicine Session Cost?
Costs vary depending upon treatments undertaken and herbs needed so you are best speaking with your chosen practitioner before treatment begins and then identifying your specific needs, this will give a better idea of the cost tailored to you.
Chinese Medicine – A short example of Tai Chi, one therapy from Chinese Medicine
How Do I Know Which Chinese Medicine Practioner To Choose?
This therapy is not available on the NHS and will be a private treatment but like any therapy, one of the most important elements in your through depression is the relationship between yourself and the therapist in order to be able to trust and open up about all your thoughts and feelings in order to be able to create a correct diagnosis and develop a bespoke treatment for your needs.
When you find the right practitioner that offers you good communication, a partnership, trust, goals and a feeling of genuine understanding then together, over time, you will be able to challenge your thoughts, beliefs and perceptions.
How Long Does It Take To Show Improvement?
Many people who use Chinese medicine for their mental health often report improvements within a couple of sessions, but as each individual is different, it takes the dedication of both the patient and practitioner to work together to make the necessary changes. Changes in one’s body, mind and spirit. The length of treatment very much depends on the severity of the condition.
What If It Doesn’t Work For Me?
First of all, don’t worry!
If you think Chinese medicine is the right therapy but you have the wrong therapist then you have every right to seek a second opinion and you will not offend your therapist, they just want you to heal from your difficulty as best you can and you deserve to feel better. If, on the other hand, you don’t feel Chinese medicine is working at all then do not be disheartened, there are many, many different types of therapy to heal from depression and psychotherapy is only one. Use our therapy directory to find a different therapy, you may find hypnotherapy works better or possibly some holistic treatment. The key is not to think this is your only option.
Chinese Medicine Near To Me
Search the Chinese Medicine Practitioners registered in our database
Please note: This information should not replace professional medical advice, it is purely for informational purposes. At all times when you are in crisis please first seek help from your GP or another medical professional. Thank you