Chimed
...ng disease, Yang should be treated in a Yin disease” (Lu 11). Not only does the daily imbalance of Yin and Yang cause the body to act differently, but if the existence of Yin and Yang becomes permanently disproportional then the body turns unhealthy and disease may result. If an imbalance of Yin and Yang exists, the body is more prone to an invasion of harmful energies. “The six external energies are wind, cold, summer hear, dampness, dryness and fire, which stand for changes in climate during the four seasons. These external energies are thought to invade the body through the nose, mouth, or skin” (Lu 13). Therefore, it is essential for Chinese medical practitioners to determine the exact cause of this imbalance, to pinpoint the internal virus, and to correct the underlying problem. It is crucial to help the body return to its normal balance to completely destroy the disease. One method of demolishing bodily disease is based on numerous acupuncture points and the channels that connect them throughout the body. Qi, or vital energy, is carried everywhere in the body through these channels. There are various types of Qi that exist in the body. Original Qi is the vital energy present at birth, Nourishing Qi is attained through food, and defensive Qi is the Qi that circulates below the skin surface that fights off offensive pathogens. The combination of these different types of vital energies in the body represents the total vital force of a human being. Disease in the body is directly influenced by the body's inability to resist an attack by bacteria or viral entities. Chinese medicine commonly assigns names to diseases according to their broad symptoms. A typical bodily temperature, commonly known as a fever in Western medicine, is referred to as a disease of heat in Chinese medicine. While something much similar to arthritis in a particular joint of the body is called a disease of cold. Another disease named by the Chinese is wind disease. This physical condition supposedly invades the body through wind and results in many common aches and pains similar to the typical symptoms of the flu. A commonly utilized method to fight disease in Chinese medicine is through acupuncture. Acupuncture is practiced to help the body promote natural healing and to improve its overall ability to function properly. This is performed by the insertion of needles, followed by the application of heat and or electrical stimulation at exact points on the body. This helps clear obstructions in the movement of vital energies throughout the body that can eventually lead to disease. Therefore, it is understood that acupuncture techniques unblock these obstructions and reestablishes a regular flow of energy through the channels. Acupuncture treatment aids the body in correcting a wide array of digestion, absorption, energy production activities, and energy circulatory problems. Perhaps the major difference between Chinese and Western medicine is that Western doctors typically perform tests to determine possible diseases or infections, while Chinese doctors use numerous visual bodily symptoms to diagnose their patients. Chinese Doctors locate and examine the pulse found on the wrist and observe the color and shape of the tongue to determine what is affecting the body. After correctly diagnosing the patient, acupuncture is sometimes used to restore a balanced flow of Qi. Needles are inserted along the channels where Qi flows to internal organs, which can affect both their structure and function. Needles can also aid the healing of specific pain that is not related with any type of internal problem. For instance, needles may be inserted near a pulled muscle or sprain to increase the flow of Qi to the area for pain removal or to quicken the healing process. Perhaps a unique aspect of Chinese medicine pertains to the belief in the vital energy called Qi. This concept is hard for me to understand because it defies Western medical practice. I find it hard to image that this vital energy plays a crucial role in maintaining good health. It appears that Qi exists only in the minds of those who practice Chinese medicine. It is impossible to examine Qi under any type of microscope, let alone with any other scientific instrument known to man. This does not disprove the fact that many Chinese medical patients are able to see and feel its affects. However, this alone is not enough information for me to change my views towards the intangible concept on Qi energy. I feel the concepts of Chinese medicine are extremely unpractical. Personally, I do not believe in any type of medicine that is not entirely or even partially based on empirical evidence. Many of the ideas that form the foundation of Chinese medicine appear odd and strange compared with the thoughts behind Western medicine. I am skeptical about the entire idea surrounding Qi energy because it has no definite physical shape and can not be physically detected. Perhaps this is because I have grown up under the traditional concepts of Western medicine in which nearly everything is based on scientific evidence. I have not come across an unusual Western medical idea, such as the existence Yin and Yang or treatments using acupuncture to promote regular Qi circulation in the body. Although I do not believe in the unique practices of Chinese medicine, I do believe there is one common aspect between Western and Chine...