Najpogostejši miti o tradicionalni kitajski medicini

V dolgi zgodovini, ki sega več tisoč let nazaj, so bile koristi in učinkovitost tradicionalne kitajske medicine (TKM) v medicinskem svetu dobro dokumentirane. TKM v zadnjih letih pridobiva zanimanje po celem svetu. Kljub temu pa še vedno obstajajo nekatere napačne predstave in strahovi, ki bi lahko ljudi odvrnili, da bi TKM obravnavali kot dopolnilno zdravljenje zahodne medicine.

V tem članku smo se odločili predstaviti nekaj pogostih mitov o kitajski tradicionalni medicini, ki vam bodo pomagali sprejeti boljše odločitve za svoje zdravje.

1.Kitajska medicina je zakonsko neurejena Pravzaprav je TKM zakonsko urejen in reguliran v mnogih državah: ZDA, Nova Zelandija, Kanada, Avstralija, Švica, Portugalska, Izrael, pa tudi v številnih azijskih državah/območjih, kot so Singapur, Hong Kong, Tajvan. Vse izdelke, ki se uporabljajo v kitajski medicini, kot so tablete, kapsule in tekočine, pa tudi uvoznike, veletrgovce in proizvajalce urejajo lokalne oblasti ter zakoni. Tako kot naziv doktor medicine, mora tisti, ki želi postati certificirani zdravnik TKM ali akupunkturist, končati pet do šest let rednega dodiplomskega študija ali tri do štiri leta rednega podiplomskega študija na akreditirani izobraževalni ustanovi. Ko doseže ustrezno izobrazbo in postane certificirani strokovnjak za TKM, mora dokončati tudi vsa nadaljna izobraževanja na podlagi zahtev različnih držav. Zato o vašem zdravljenju s pomočjo TKM ni nobenega dvoma, dokler sodelujete s certificiranim strokovnjakom TKM.

2. TCM je samo akupunktura V nasprotju s splošnim prepričanjem zdravniki TKM ne izvajajo le akupunkture. Obstajajo tudi drugi načini zdravljenja, ki vključujejo zeliščne izdelke, masaže (tui na), vakumske skodelice, vadbo (tai chi) itd. Glede na posamezna stanja se lahko predpiše kombinacija različnih metod zdravljenja. 3. Akupunktura je boleča Večina akupunkturnih točk se nahaja na površini kože ali blizu nje. Tako se iglice za zdravljenje ne vdrejo tako globoko v vaše telo, kot si v strahu lahko predstavljate. Uporabljene igle so drobne in vitke kot mačji brk. Namesto bolečine bo večina bolnikov čutila le blag do zmeren občutek, rahlega mravljinčenja do zmerne bolečine. Zdravljenje ne sme biti neprijetno. 4. Akupunktura zdravi samo bolečino Večina ljudi domneva, da akupunktura pomaga le pri bolečinah v mišicah in sklepih ali pa pri glavobolih. Vendar pa se lahko tovrstno zdravljenje uporablja tudi za težave, kot so slabost in bruhanje, alergije, duševne težave in celo za hujšanje, pomlajevanje kože in izpadanje las.

5. Učinki TKM so psihološki Učinkovitost TKM, ni psihološki ali placebo učinkek. Obstajajo študije, ki kažejo na njegove pozitivne učinke, saj pomagajo našim možganom pri sproščanju endorfinov, ki so naše naravno zdravilo proti bolečinam. TKM lahko pomaga tudi pri krepitvi našega imunskega sistema. Natančneje, akupunktura je bila znanstveno dokazana in priznana s strani Svetovne zdravstvene organizacije (WHO) kot učinkovito zdravilo za številne motnje in težave. 6. Kitajske medicine ne podpirajo znanstvene raziskave Kitajska medicina se je razvijala in izpopolnjevala v tisočletni praksi in ostaja priljubljena še danes. Nobelovo nagrado za medicino leta 2015 je prejel kitajski raziskovalec medicine za iskanje zdravljenja malarije z uporabo tradicionalnih zelišč. Sodobne raziskave kažejo, da je akupunktura koristna pri pooperativni slabosti in bruhanju pri kemoterapiji pri odraslih, pa tudi pri pooperativnih bolečinah v zobeh ter številnimi drugimi stanji, kot so teniški komolec, fibromialgija, astma in zasvojenost. 7. Kitajska medicina je eksotična Nekateri tradicionalno kitajsko medicino povezujejo z eksotičnimi tujimi sestavinami in zelišči. Večinoma pa zeliščne sestavine običajno najdemo v vseh kuhinjah, vključno z ingverjem, cimetom, pomarančno lupino in ginsengom. Poleg tega so zelišča le ena sestavina kitajske medicine, ki se osredotoča na telo in energijo s celostnim pristopom. Zdravljenje vključuje akupunkturo, zeliščna zdravila, masažo, spremembe življenjskega sloga, vadbo in prehrano. Številna priporočila so usklajena s smernicami sodobnih raziskovalnih in strokovnih združenj.

Vir fotografij: splet

Prevod: Luka Grilc

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Traditional Chinese Medicine Common Misconception

With a long history dating back thousands of years, the benefits and effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been well documented in the medical world. TCM has been gaining global interest in recent years. Despite this, there are still some misconceptions and fears which may deter people from considering TCM as a complementary treatment to western medicine.

In this article, we have decided to address a few common myths about Chinese medicine to help you make more informed decisions about your health. 1. Chinese Medicine is Unregulated

TCM is actually highly regulated in many countries: USA, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Portugal, Israel as well as many Asian countries/areas like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan. All products under Chinese medicine, such as tablets, capsules and liquids, and well as importers, wholesale dealers and manufacturers are regulated by the local authorities. Just like becoming a MD, people who want to become a certified TCM practitioner or acupuncturist, they have to finish five to six years of full-time undergraduate or three to four years full time postgraduate study at an accredited educational institution. After becoming a certified TCM professional, they have to finish continuing education credits based on different state requirements. Hence, there’s no doubt about your TCM treatment as long as you are making sure you are reaching out to certified TCM professionals. 2. TCM Is Just Acupuncture

Contrary to popular belief, TCM physicians do not just administer acupuncture. There are also other treatments that include herbal products, massages (tui na), cupping, exercise (tai chi), and so on. A combination of these treatment methods may be prescribed depending on individual conditions. 3, Acupuncture Is Painful

Most of the acupuncture points are located on or close to the skin’s surface. As such, the treatment needles do not puncture as deep into your flesh as you may fearfully imagine. The needles used are tiny and slender like a cat’s whisker. Instead of feeling pain, most patients will feel a mild sensation that may range from heaviness, to slight tingling, to a dull ache. The treatment should not be uncomfortable for you. 4, Acupuncture Only Treats Pain

Most people assume that acupuncture only helps the obvious kinds of muscle and joint pains, or headaches. However, the treatment can also be used for issues like nausea and vomiting, allergies, mental wellness, and even for weight loss, skin rejuvenation, and hair loss. 5. TCM’s Effects Are Psychological

The benefits that surround TCM are not psychological or placebo effects. There are studies that show its positive effects in helping our brain to release endorphins, which are our bodies natural painkillers. TCM may also help to boost our immune system. Specifically, acupuncture has been scientifically proven and recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be an effective treatment for a number of disorders. 6. There is No Research Supporting Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine has been developed and refined over thousands of years of practice and remains popular today. The 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to a Chinese medicine researcher for finding a treatment for malaria using traditional herbs. Modern research shows that acupuncture is beneficial in adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting as well as postoperative dental pain among many other issues such as tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, asthma, and addiction. 7. Chinese Medicine is Exotic

Some people associate traditional Chinese medicine with exotic foreign ingredients for herbal dispensing. However, herbal ingredients are commonly found in kitchens, including ginger, cinnamon, orange peel and ginseng. Moreover, herbs form just one component of Chinese medicine, which focuses on the body and energy from a holistic approach. Treatments include acupuncture, herbal medicines, massage, lifestyle changes, exercise, and diet. And many recommendations are indeed aligned with the modern research and professional association’s guidelines.