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Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
"The cosmic laws and forces that govern the external world also govern the body's internal environment." - Chi University
A Brief History of Traditional Chinese Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) are medical systems that have been used in China for many thousands of years to treat people and animals of all kinds. Just like our Western medical systems, TCM and TCVM both continue to change and grow based on current research and development. Theoretical Basis of Chinese Medicine Chinese medicine is roughly based on the concept that all living creatures are simply smaller versions of the universe, and as such they are governed by the same energy and life forces, known as "Qi." (pronounced "chee") Imbalance and Illness A TCM practitioner's approach to a patient that is ill is similar to a Western medical practitioner's in that a thorough history and examination are done in order to generate a diagnosis. A major difference, however, is that the TCM approach tends to be much more holistic than the Western approach. In TCM the exam considers not only the presenting clinical signs, but also the patient's age, sex, personality and temperament, activity level, and the home environment. The Four Branches of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine - these are the four main treatment methods in TCVM 1. Acupuncture 2. Herbal Medications 3. Food Therapy 4. Tui-na Massage Integrating Western and Eastern Medicine The strengths of traditional Eastern and Western medicine tend to also be their respective weaknesses. Western medicine is capable of very precise, detailed diagnostics and treatments. Conditions such as severe trauma, heart disease, and cancers can be treated quickly and precisely. Modern Western medications tend to produce speedy results. Western medicine, however, tends to lose site of the whole person or animal and only treats the disease. Western medicine also tends to run out of treatment options for chronic, debilitating conditions. In many instances, Eastern and Western medicine each provide what the other one lacks. |