Chinese medicine has been exported as far as Europe. Western doctors also choose to go to China to complete and expand their medical training. Preventive, Chinese medicine focuses on the balance of body and mind. Jingfei Zhu, a Chinese expatriate who works in the field of natural health in France, explains the functioning and the different practices of Chinese medicine.
To establish the balance sheet of a patient, the Chinese doctor uses the “four-step method” (Sì Zhěn). In Chinese medicine books, we speak of Wàng, Wén, Wèn and Qiè.
To make his diagnosis, the doctor makes a consultation which takes place in four stages:
- Wàng . It is observation. This phase consists of observing the physical and spiritual aspect of the patient:his face, his complexion, his tongue, his limbs, his nails, his physical and mental behavior, his verbal expression...
- Wén . This is the audio-olfactory examination. The doctor listens to the sounds emitted by the patient:breathing, voice, rumbling. He also pays attention to his body odor.
- Wèn . This is the question. The doctor asks questions and discusses with his patient his living environment, his habits, his lifestyle, his family environment...
- Qie . It's the pulse. It allows the practitioner to analyze the patient's imbalance more precisely.
When the doctor has finished his diagnosis, he performs the health check. According to Jingfei Zhu, the latter is "classified according to the 8 rules" (ba gang):
- Yin/Yang (calm/energy),
- Biao/Li (external/internal),
- Han/Re (cold/hot),
- Xu/Shi (emptiness/fullness).
The practitioner then synthesizes this information to determine the appropriate treatment or treatment.
Traditional Chinese medicine translates into different practices. They aim to allow the body to regain its balance, Yin (calm and the moon) and Yang (energy and the sun).
The different techniques used in Chinese medicine:
- The Chinese Pharmacopoeia is rich in raw materials such as plants, even insects to develop remedies. They make it possible to develop remedies based on plants or even insects.
- Chinese Tuina massage . It is a form of massage that examines the body through touch, finds congested parts and puts them back in place.
-Foot reflexology . It is a massage that relies on the nerve endings of the foot. A nerve ending corresponds to a specific organ. By massaging the foot, the practitioner targets the organ that requires treatment.
- Acupuncture . The doctor positions fine needles on the vital points of the body. This technique makes it possible to relieve pain or to work on chronic pathologies.
- The suction cups . The practitioner works on vital points along the spine. The suction cups are glass bubbles, heated and placed along the column. This therapy removes excess moisture in the body, considered harmful.
- The Chinese diet . It is articulated around food hygiene. It is a question of balancing your diet in order to promote the circulation of energies.
- The qigong . This traditional gymnastics combines the work of breathing and concentration with slow movements. This gymnastics can in particular have a preventive, curative or well-being purpose.
Jingfei Zhu:“A Chinese doctor must master all of these techniques, since they are complementary and combine with each other to obtain an effective treatment . »
Jingfei Zhu:“Traditional Chinese Medicine focus on the cause. ". It is field medicine that takes care of the patient as a whole. It is complementary to Western medicine which is more interested in finding the cause of the pathology at the local level, of an organ. This is why these two practices coexist in China.
Many Europeans, students or doctors, come to train in Chinese faculties. Today, Chinese medical universities offer courses that are specially dedicated to European practitioners.
