"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
– Chinese proverb
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a millennia-old health tradition that views body, mind, and emotions as a holistic whole.
This holistic approach is based on a deep understanding of how humans and nature influence and are connected to each other.
Instead of focusing on symptoms alone, TCM works to understand the root of imbalances and illness. Inspired by the philosophy of Taoism, Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on concepts like yin and yang – the two opposing forces that exist in constant change and balance.
When these forces are in balance, a state of physical and mental harmony is created. TCM uses a wide range of techniques and treatments to restore this balance and ensure that the body's energy, called Qi, can flow freely through the meridian channels.
7 characteristics of TCM
- Holistic thinking: Views the body and mind as an interconnected whole, where physical and mental health are closely linked.
- Balance between Yin and Yang: Seeks harmony between the two energies that form the foundation for good health.
- Qi – the life energy: Works with Qi, the body's life energy, to ensure it flows freely and supports the body's functions.
- The Five Elements: The theory of the five elements forms the basis of TCM. They consist of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, all of which affect the body's organs and functions.
- The meridians: Energy pathways in the body that connect the entire body in an energy circuit originating from the organs and aiming to ensure energy flow in the body.
- The organ clock: Follows the body's natural rhythm. Energy is highest in the various organs at specific times of the day.
- Natural treatment techniques: Uses techniques such as acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, and yin yoga to restore balance.
Symptomatic treatment is not the goal of Traditional Chinese Medicine; it is about finding the root of imbalances and creating harmony through an understanding of the body's energies.
In my book "The Energy of the 5 Seasons" I explain much more about TCM. If you are curious to learn even more about Traditional Chinese Medicine and Vedic philosophy, you can buy the book here.
Yin and Yang - The eternal quest for balance
Traditional Chinese Medicine has its roots in Taoism, where the concept of "Tao" describes a primal force divided into two energies: Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposites, but they complement each other in an eternal dance where they attract and repel each other.
One can only exist because of the other – day and night, hot and cold, activity and rest.
Everything is relative and can only be understood in relation to something else; a hot cup of water can be yang compared to cold water, but yin compared to boiling water.
This dynamic between yin, which seeks stability, and yang, which seeks change, is the key to balance in TCM.
When one of the energies dominates, an imbalance arises, which can create blockages and tensions that Traditional Chinese Medicine seeks to resolve through treatment forms such as yin yoga, acupressure, and massage.
"Where there is no movement there is pain. Where there is movement there is no pain."
In TCM, the balance between yin and yang is crucial for our health. These two energies are opposites, but they define each other. When yin and yang are in balance, the body is strong and resistant to both internal and external influences.
Qi, Jing, and Shen - the body's energy system
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi, Jing, and Shen are 3 fundamental energies, all essential for our existence.
- Qi: Qi is our life energy – Qi is our life force. Qi is the energy in the body that brings life energy to all organs, tissues, and cells of the body. Qi thus drives all vital functions in the body and keeps the body alive. Qi flows through the body's tissues and organs, where the meridian channels serve as the primary energy pathways for Qi. When Qi flows freely, we feel healthy, energetic, emotionally, and mentally balanced.
- Jing: Jing can be described as our life essence. It is the innate energy that we in modern medicine associate with genes and that affects our physical strength and ability to grow and develop.
- Shen: Shen is our soul or consciousness – the energy that connects thoughts, feelings, experiences, and our deeper self. Shen constitutes our learning and development, where life experiences are stored, integrated, and become a part of us. When Shen is in harmony, we experience clarity, mental and emotional balance, and a feeling of deep connection with ourselves – and with everything else.
The more harmonious Qi, Jing, and Shen are, the better we will be able to experience balance in body, mind, and emotions. Imbalances in these energies can easily lead to tension and blockages in the body, which can result in injuries or illnesses.
The Five Elements – Wu Xing
TCM is based on the theory of the five elements, each associated with a pair of organs influenced by the external climate and thus linked to a season:
- Wood: Spring, liver and gallbladder - symbolizes growth and new beginnings.
- Fire: Summer, heart and small intestine - associated with creation/manifestation and joy.
- Earth: Late summer, spleen and stomach - relates to mental energy, and is therefore relevant for preventing stress and racing thoughts.
- Metal: Autumn, lungs and large intestine - focuses on cleansing, tidying up, and letting go.
- Water: Winter - kidneys and bladder. Deals with rest and deep reflection.
Through the Sheng-Ko cycle, the elements influence each other in a cycle of nourishment and control. When one element is out of balance, for example, a deficit in energy, it will consequently create imbalance in the other elements as well, as it then draws on the energies of the other elements.
The meridians - the body's energy network
The body's meridian channels act as channels for Qi, flowing through the body
and connecting the organs. These energy pathways are a central part of TCM.
Meridians can be compared to rivers, where stagnant
energy can lead to blockages and health disturbances. The many forms of treatment within Traditional Chinese Medicine, such as acupuncture and yin yoga, aim to release these blockages and restore the natural flow of energy, allowing it to move more freely and effortlessly again.
The organ clock - the body's natural cycle
Another important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the organ clock.
By understanding the rhythm of the organ clock, we can better work with the body's natural needs throughout the day and thus help support and maintain the body's balance.
Below you will find a simple description of the organ clock, which will hopefully help you gain a deeper understanding of the body's cycle.
3-5 AM - Lungs: The lungs cleanse themselves. If you wake up coughing (perhaps even a dry cough) during this time, it may be a sign of imbalance in the lungs attempting to detoxify.
5-7 AM - Large Intestine: The large intestine wakes up – it's a good time to get up and go to the bathroom.
7-9 AM - Stomach: The stomach needs breakfast – the ability to digest is high, as the energy is strongest in the stomach at this time.
9-11 AM - Spleen: The spleen works – it converts nutrients from food into energy. It's a good time for mental activity and concentrated work.
11 AM-1 PM - Heart: Energy is highest in the heart during this period – a good time to slow down, prioritize time for socializing, lunch, or a well-deserved break or nap.
1-3 PM - Small Intestine: The small intestine works – the body absorbs nutrients.
3-5 PM - Bladder: The bladder detoxifies – it's highly recommended to drink plenty of water or tea.
5-7 PM - Kidneys: The kidneys can help renew energy – This is a good time to have a light dinner and add new energy to the body.
7-9 PM - Pericardium: The pericardium (circulation) is active – In other words, it's a good time to enjoy and cultivate close relationships/partnerships. It is said that sexual energy is highest here.
9-11 PM - Triple Warmer (San Jiao): Energy is highest in the triple warmer, which regulates the body's heat and energy distribution. According to the organ clock's rhythm, it is actually recommended to go to bed during this time, and preferably sleep before 10 PM.
11 PM-1 AM - Gallbladder: The gallbladder helps, among other things, to break down fats and support digestion. At this time, it supports the body's ability to cleanse and repair while you sleep.
1-3 AM - Liver: The liver works – the body cleanses and rebuilds, which happens best if we are in deep sleep.
Traditional Chinese Medicine - treatment methods
The treatment methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine all aim to restore balance in the body and ensure the free movement of Qi. Here are two of the most popular methods:
Acupuncture & Acupressure
Acupuncture has become very widespread, recognized, and in demand in Denmark and the rest of the West – and for good reason. Although we may not fully understand the principles behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or be able to measure the energy pathways that acupuncture works with, the results are clear.
Many of us have experienced the effect of acupuncture without necessarily understanding how it works.
In acupuncture, thin needles are used to stimulate specific points in the body's meridian channels. The goal is to get Qi – the body's life energy – to flow freely again. This stimulation can also be achieved with pressure, as seen in acupressure.
When the needles are very thin, they can precisely activate the points, although it is believed that a point can be stimulated by working within an area the size of a five-kroner coin around the point.
By activating the points with needles or pressure, one seeks to boost energy either locally in an area, in the meridian channel, or in the organ pair that the point is connected to.
Acupuncture can thus relieve pain both locally and elsewhere in the body. Since body, mind, and emotions are closely connected in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture can also be used to address emotional imbalances or to strengthen mental energy.
Therefore, acupuncture is often used as a method to reduce stress – one of the major health topics of our time.
Cupping & Gua Sha
Cupping has a similar purpose to Gua Sha, which has also become popular. Gua Sha means "sand scraping," because a stone, often a flat jade, is used to gently scrape the skin along the meridian channels.
When there is resistance or stagnant energy, it can feel like small grains of sand under the skin, like small crystals.
The goal of Gua Sha is to "crush" these crystals, so that energy can flow freely in the area again. This method often leaves red marks, which later turn into bruises.
In cupping, the same principle is applied, but here the skin is sucked into a cup, where the vacuum releases blockages in the energy.
Both cupping and Gua Sha increase blood flow and energy flow to the area and release tension in the muscles. It is worth noting that you do not necessarily need marks on the skin to achieve the effect of the techniques. Many people, for example, use face-gua-sha as a relaxing facial massage that increases blood circulation and relieves tension.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a meditative form of yoga with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and, of course, also based on Vedic philosophy in the form of yoga.
Both traditions look at the whole person and work with the energy in the body as crucial for our health and well-being. Yin Yoga unites these traditions and creates a unique practice that brings balance physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In Yin Yoga, we work deeply with connective tissue and meridian lines through long, gentle stretches that last 3-5 minutes. These stretches release blocked energy, allowing Qi to flow freely, which brings both physical and mental calm.
When we hold the stretches, old emotions and traumas can emerge and be processed, as the body remembers everything we suppress or accumulate. Emotions such as anger or frustration, which are linked to the gallbladder and liver, for example, can be processed particularly effectively in the spring, when the energy in the gallbladder and liver is at its highest.
By viewing emotions as energy, we can use Yin Yoga to create inner balance and make space for new, healthy patterns.
In my book The Energy of the 5 Seasons, you will find an overview with suggestions for yin yoga poses that suit the individual seasons. You can buy the book HERE.
Traditional Chinese Medicine in modern times
Today, many are seeking a deeper understanding of health that goes beyond
symptom treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a holistic perspective with a focus on body, mind, and emotions. With an increasing focus on mental health and holistic approaches, TCM can be a help in managing, working with, and releasing emotions, traumas, and stress through, for example, Yin Yoga, acupuncture, and Qi Gong.
TCM is often used as a supplement to Western medicine, especially for chronic diseases. At the same time, we see a movement towards natural treatment methods, where herbs, dietary advice, lifestyle advice, and supplements from Traditional Chinese Medicine are also starting to gain recognition.
In the West, there is a growing tendency for us to seek a deeper understanding of ourselves on several levels. Self-insight, self-development, personal growth, self-care, self-nurturing, and self-love are just some of the concepts that have received increased attention and are appearing everywhere.
We seek answers and want to understand ourselves on a deeper level. As I see it, this search is about creating more quality in our lives, and many also strive to free up time in a busy daily life. As we seek to gain more time and a better quality of life, deeper questions about the meaning of life become unavoidable.
To find a deeper meaning in life, we must turn our gaze inward and examine our different components. Emotions, experiences, traumas, thought patterns, lifestyle, mindset, philosophy, and ethics are all interesting areas for self-development.
Many of the answers are found in ancient traditions, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Vedic philosophy, which offer deep insights into and tools for how we can better live in harmony with ourselves and the world around us.
The role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the future of health
Although Traditional Chinese Medicine has roots dating back thousands of years, it still offers extremely relevant knowledge for modern health and well-being.
With its focus on prevention, balance, and natural methods, TCM can become an important element in the future's view of health, where holism and sustainability are central themes.
In a time when sustainability also means protecting the environment, TCM contributes with natural treatment methods that support the body's own healing powers.
By prioritizing herbal medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes, TCM offers a health philosophy that benefits both our own well-being and the planet's resources.
Sincerely,
Isabelle Evita
