Traditional Chinese Medicine

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a 3000 year old system of medicine that includes meditation, herbal and nutritional therapy, restorative physical exercises, massage and acupuncture. It’s principle is that our bodies can heal themselves if guided in the right direction. It’s practitioners believe that disease has three major causes: environmental factors, internal emotions and lifestyle factors, such as diet.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine Differ From Western Medicine?

Western medicine is the form of health care that we are used to in the U.S. In Western Medicine the physician assesses the symptoms as described by his patient. The physician then uses this information to order testing that confirms or dispels conditions he believes are possibilities. Treatment typically involves prescription medications. By their very nature most medications are given at near toxic levels to combat infection or relieve symptoms. In TCM the physician takes the same history and performs a physical examination. The TCM practitioner looks at the overall health of the individual and ties the presenting symptoms to one of five organ systems (kidney, liver, spleen, heart and lung). Treatment plans are designed to restore normal function in one or more systems rather than remove the symptoms. The TCM practitioner believes that nature will heal if normal function is restored.

What type of conditions do Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners commonly see?

By combining acupuncture and massage with the use of herbal preparations patients have found relief from headaches, dizziness, arthritis, fibromyalgia, allergy and asthma, digestive problems, acne, psoriasis, PMS, male and female infertility, menopause, endometriosis, insomnia, stress, depression, anxiety disorders, general and chronic fatigue, smoking and obesity.

What are the Education Requirements for Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medical doctors go through the same rigorous medical school training as Chinese Medical Doctors who practice western medicine. In China after extensive testing only  a small percentage of students are considered bright enough to enter medical school. Both TCM and western medical degree programs require 4 years of college and a one year internship in China. Traditional Chinese  Medical Practitioners working in the US will typically have either “(M.D. China)” or “OMD” after their names, indicating that while not licensed as medical doctors in the United States they received their medical schooling while in China and are fully integrated into the Chinese medical system.

What is the Future of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the United States?

There are 35 Oriental medicine training programs in the United States. The University of Pittsburgh created an International TCM Center to coordinate research efforts with TCM institutions in China.

Why First Health?

We hire only the brightest and best doctors and therapists. Dr. Yu Zhu, OMD (M.D. China) will head our new Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department. Dr. Zhu received her OMD degree in 1983 from Gansu College in Gansu, China, where for eight years after graduation she also served as an associate professor and department director. In 1986 she completed her Masters Degree program in TCM at Shanghai University. Over the last 24 years she has taught TCM in China, Sweden, Israel and the U.S. She later served as director of the TCM unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. During her illustrious career she has co-authored 5 books and published over 18 papers on TCM. First Health is proud to offer her services to all our patients.