In this video I will discuss the treatment principles and the preventive
medicine principles in Chinese Medicine. And the key is 'Balance'.
Chinese Medicine has a unique perspective on treatment principles. In one word, 'balance' is the
key. And the treatment principles can help doctors in terms of planning and
the guidelines of the treatments. There are four main types of treatment
principles in Chinese medicine. Number one, treat cold with heat. The cold here
is the nature of the disease and the heat here is the property of the medicine.
Therefore treating a cold pattern should use a medicine that is hot in nature. For
example, when there is an insufficiency of kidney yang, resulting in impotence,
chillness, soreness and coldness of knees, we can use a herb that is called 'Rougui' which
is heat in nature. Number two, treat heat with cold. The heat here is the nature of
the disease and the cold here is the property of the medicine.
Therefore treating a heat pattern should use a medicine that is cold in nature.
For example, if there's a sore throat which is caused by the heat, we can use a
medicine called 'BanLanGen' to balance the heat and cold of the body. Number three,
treat deficiency with tonification. When there's a deficiency in qi, blood, yin
or yang, we should use medicines or acupoints that can tonify the
respective substances. For example, if there's a qi-deficiency we can take
ginseng in terms of tonifying the qi in our body. Number four, treat excess with
drainage. When there is an excess in yin or yang, we could use medicine or
acupoints that can drain the respective substances. For example there are special
techniques in acupuncture that can drain the excess of all those substances.
Now let me tell you a story about a physician
in ancient China. There once was a famous doctor named 'BianQue'.
He was regarded as the best doctor in his times. One day the king asked him, 'I
know both you and your two brothers are all doctors. Who's the best among you
three?' BianQue answered, 'Well my eldest brother is the best, my other brother
second, and I and the worst.' The King was surprised and asked, 'Why is that so? You
are the most famous among the three of you.'
BianQue then replied, 'My eldest
brother knows how to treat the disease before it's onset. He often prescribes
herbs to people even if the patients don't feel they are sick. Therefore no
one recognizes him. My second brother recognizes and treats patients in their
early stages of sickness. The patients thought only a minor disease were treated.
While for me, I only treat patients when they are very serious. Although I have
successfully treated them, they and their families have experienced pain. But that
is also why I became famous.' So what is the moral of the story? Prevention is
better than cure. One of the most important principles in
Chinese Medicine is treating the disease before its onset. The best Chinese
Medicine doctors can foresee a disease from happening and treating it before it
even occurs. So how can you prevent the disease from happening? Number one,
improve your Vital-Qi. How can you up your Vital-Qi? Well by doing proper
exercises, having a balanced lifestyle, a good diet and taking herbs that could
tonify your body can also help. Number two, distancing from pathogenic factors.
Improving your Vital-Qi is important, but preventing Evil-Qi from invading is
also important. Therefore you can distance yourself from pathogenic
factors such as the six-climatic-evils. Everybody is different.
Understand your body can help you foresee what disease could happen.
Therefore preventing it from happening in the first place. You are actually the
best doctor for yourself, because you can feel yourself. Any minor feedback from
your body should be taken seriously. Thanks for watching today. If you would
like to learn more about Chinese medicine, please hit the subscribe button.
Now that you have understand the foundations of Chinese Medicine, I can
start to talk about the practical, the 'How' in terms of achieving optimal health.
If you have any questions about health or Chinese Medicine or any particular
topics that you would like me to discuss, please leave in the comments section. I
will see you in the next video.