Researchers from Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University conducted a study which was designed to test the efficacy of using acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia. More specifically, it was designed to test if a course of acupuncture was more effective than taking a pharmacological drug called Zipiclone.   Zipiclone works by suppressing the central nervous system. […] Read more

The Element of Water In the sequence suggested by Five Element theory, the element of water comes after metal and generates the element of wood. The early Taoist texts explain the element of water as having characteristics of moistening and descending. Both of these make perfect sense and fit well with how we perceive water […] Read more

The Element of Metal Out of all the elements, metal is the one which fits less neatly into the Five Element model. The early Chinese Medicine texts explain the Taoist notion of metal as being able to be moulded and hardened. This appears to be counter intuitive given the organ which relates to metal are […] Read more

The Element of Earth In the early Chinese Medicine texts, it was said that the element of earth permitted sewing, growing and reaping. This theme of cultivating crops makes sense because the element of earth, in a medical context, relates to the spleen and the stomach. These two organs are effectively the Chinese Medicine version […] Read more

The Element of Fire As discussed in an earlier blog (see “The Five Elements”), the five elements used in Chinese Medicine are based on Taoist thought. Each element is said to reflect a natural phenomenon. In the early medical texts, the fire element was explained to encompass the characteristic of “flaring upwards”. Within the sequence […] Read more

THE ELEMENT OF WOOD In five element theory, the elements follow each other in a specific sequence. The element of wood follows water and leads to fire. In spirit with its Taoist roots, this is consistent with observations as they occur in nature. Wood is made from trees. In order to grow a tree, water […] Read more

The Five Elements In line with its origins in Taoism, Chinese Medical theory is based on the observation of nature. Taoist thought suggests there are five naturally occurring elements. These elements are said to give rise to all natural phenomena. These are earth, fire, wood, metal and water. Chinese Medicine uses the notion of these […] Read more

Yin and Yang: The Medical Implications The defining feature of Chinese Medicine (CM) is its application of yin and yang theory. The concept is intrinsic throughout all aspects of the system of medicine. CM is effectively an energetic medicine. The diagnosis involves the identification of imbalances which give rise to signs and symptoms. Further to […] Read more

Yin and Yang: The Founding Principal of Chinese Medicine The concept of yin and yang is simple yet very insightful and profound. Scholars have traced its first known reference back to the Book of Changes, which is said to be written around 700BC. It is believed to be the most defining concept within the theory […] Read more

Hypertension Hypertension is simply high blood pressure. The diagnosis becomes applicable when a blood pressure reading is 140/90 or higher. It is considered to be severe when it is greater than 180/120. Although hypertension can often have no symptoms, if untreated, it can lead to serious health conditions such as heart attack and stroke. Researchers […] Read more