Roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Transcript from an interview by Boyd Martin (2006)

Cheng Koh grew up with Chinese Medicine in Singapore.
“Chinese Medicine is my love and passion, she states. Perhaps it has a hereditary influence as it is also a great passion of my father’s, and his passion is due to my Grandmother’s influence.”

Her grandmother was a traditional “barefoot doctor,” taking pulses and prescribing Chinese herbs for various health conditions. “She taught my father a lot about Chinese Herbal Medicine”.

Cheng said “As a child growing up, anytime that I was sick it was off to my Father’s herbal dispensary and if he could not cure us then we were off to see the Western Doctor! I grew up with Chinese Medicine first and Western Medicine last. Today, most of us use Western Medicine first and Chinese Medicine as a last resort ”

Chinese Medicine was just part of Cheng’s life; little did she know at the time that it was her destiny.

“I grew up surrounded by Chinese Herbs and unexplained and unclarified dietary advises. I never thought that I would practice Traditional Chinese Medicine, but when the opportunity arose, I drew to the healing art like a magnet; I have not stopped since. It became important to understand the unexplained and the unclarified principles taught to me from childhood. Today, it has become a great part of my life and I highly value the teachings and the profound knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine.”

Cheng studied Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada with a Chinese Doctor in Toronto. In 1988, she began her clinical practice. In 1994, she did her advanced clinical in Shanghai, China under the guidance of Medical Masters from Beijing and Shanghai, worked in the outpatient clinic of Shanghai First People’s Hospital.

Cheng also broadened her knowledge with continuing education in Japanese and Korean acupuncture techniques. She also studied with many renowned practitioners such as Giovanni Maciocia, Dr. Richard Tan, Dr. Robert Chu, Andrew Gaeddert, Lillian Bridges, Kiiko Matsumoto and many more.

With a background in Aesthetics and Aromatherapy trained in London, England(1974),  she uses her knowledge today in Facial Rejuvenation treatments .

“My belief in Chinese Medicine led to a desire to share my knowledge by educating the public on this wonderful and effective Medicine.” This led to teaching continuing education classes and numerous public lectures.

Cheng taught professionally at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. She was also a regular guest lecturer at York University.

Cheng started the Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute in 1995. She has brought various world-renowned speakers for the purpose of continuing education for practitioners and organizes classes for the practice of QiGong and TaiChi.

Chinese Medicine is  ancient art of healing, over 5000 years old. It is a complete system on its own using Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Massage (Tuina), Nutrition, Exercise (Qigong & TaiChi) and Meditation. These techniques all focus on regulating and controlling the flow and balance of Energy (Qi). This is the goal and essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine .  Our bodies become ill when we are not in harmony and balance.

“When I first started studying Traditional Chinese Medicine I was told to not equate western disease categories with Chinese symptom patterns.”

Chinese symptom patterns are determined by accurate diagnosis:

• TONG BING YI ZHI –  The same disease different treatment.
  • Two patients with the same disease will receive two different treatments if their patterns are different.
• YI BING TONG ZHI – Different disease same treatment.
  • Two patients with different diseases will receive the same treatment if their patterns are the same.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is important to treat the pattern rather than the disease. If one only sees the disease, it is like failing to see the forest for the trees!

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on both material and energetic description of reality, the emphasis is based on describing the unseen, immaterial, energetic life force called Qi (Energy). By comparison, Western Medicine dictates that if something cannot be seen, measured, or weighed it does not exist. It often equates the control of symptoms with the cure of disease. Chinese Medicine observes energetic imbalances in the body, which if left untreated will eventually progress to changes in material substances in the body.

Chinese Medical Theory allows for preventative therapy. Cheng states ”If you think back on how the Chinese Emperors had their physicians by their side, they were there to keep them healthy. That was their role. This medicine excels in its preventative therapy.”

Unfortunately, the Western tendency is to seek out medical help only when there is a problem. An unhealthy mind set actively promoted by the “see-your-doctor” commercial media. That focuses attention on cures and balms, rather than promoting a preventative approach to overall health. “And unfortunately,” says Cheng, “Patients only seek help from Chinese medicine when Western medicine fails.”

Very seldom in clinical practice do patients walk in saying, “I really don’t have anything serious to address, but my parents weren’t so healthy, could you assess me and maybe find a way to keep me healthy?”

Traditional Chinese Medical practitioners spend one to two hours in consultation to assess your constitutional health and your health concerns. It is my belief that family health history can give you important information. “The further back you look, the further forward you can see.” (Sir Winston Churchill). The ability to read a body before structural damage occurs enables Chinese Medicine to prevent disease before it develops or to slow down the progression of  degenerative diseases. We tend to want to treat the “ROOT” cause of a problem, not just the manifestations of signs and symptoms.

“Individualization of treatment is something Western medicine cannot accommodate, since the entire system focuses on getting a diagnosis that matches a known condition resulting in the administration of a drug. The Traditional Chinese practitioner feels your pulse observes your tongue and face, studies your health history to determine your constitutional health and determine the kinds of imbalances that you have in the body. Obviously, Western medicine has its place–I believe it’s really good for emergency and acute conditions when you need to correct something right away.”

Today, most patients tend to seek help only for their symptoms and doctors tend to treat what is required and necessary. When you take into account, a patient’s basic constitutional health it enables the practitioner to prescribe individualized treatment whether it be a point prescription for acupuncture or herbal formulas customized for that patient’s pattern of disharmony.

“One of the biggest mistakes that I have encountered is therefore self-prescribing Chinese Herbs. There have been many articles written about the efficacy of certain Herbs e.g. Ginseng. Astragalus, Dong Quai (Angelica) and has resulted in the Western Herbal manufacturers making remedies focusing on one singular herb and many readers rushing off to purchase these remedies. In Chinese Herbal Medicine, formulations (made up of four to six or more herbs) have a particular purpose of harmonizing, balancing the body, and offsetting the effects of other herbs in a particular formula. We usually do not prescribe singular herbs. Therefore it is also not advisable to go to a health food store to buy a Chinese Herb because it was mentioned in an article in a magazine. Herbs have certain properties and can create a greater imbalance in your body if not used correctly.”

Cheng points out that Chinese Medicine is all about (Qi) Energy, and correcting the subtle imbalances occurring on the day-to-day, rather than waiting until the imbalances turn into measurable and miserable conditions. “If you look at statistics, you’ll see that Chinese women suffer less during menopause, because all the little imbalances and problems that arise from their menstrual cycle and changes in life are very much corrected as you go. Chinese women traditionally change their diet; they know what to do, and make adjustments throughout their life to keep the theory of moderation in their lifestyle.”

“Chinese medicine is very logical in its explanation of how things work,” says Cheng. “For example, we refer to Qi stagnation to be like Energy that is “Stuck” and does not move properly. Qi (Energy) & Blood requires free flow. I like to use this analogy: Imagine Qi & Blood in the body to be like traffic moving on a highway, free flow of cars results in a smooth movement with no congestion, every car gets to its destination. Congestion, slowing down of traffic will lead to traffic jams. A traffic jam is similar to serious health problems like pain, heart attacks, strokes, tumors, cancers etc. Chinese Medicine treats  when traffic is slowing down, Western Medicine treats at traffic jams. A common example is seen in PMS – Pre Menstrual Syndrome, which can include breast swelling and distension, mood swings, bloating and menstrual cramps. These symptoms are not acceptable to Chinese Medicine as it indicates that the Qi and Blood do not flow freely.

Tai chi, QiGong and Yoga are the three best exercises for the promotion of Qi & Blood flow. Qi & Blood moves freely through the body when the body is in a calm, relaxed state. Exercise that puts your body in a tense state can result in joint problems in the future.”  In fact anything excessive is not good because your body will eventually suffer from it.”

Cheng’s final advice is, “The smooth flow of Qi throughout the whole body can be achieved through life style changes and, practicing “Moderation” in all aspects of our life whether it is diet, emotions, or work, and a balance between personal life and working life.”

Keep Well…