The Heart of Classical Chinese Medicine: A Journey Beyond TCM
Let me guess: you were exploring the idea of healing with Chinese Medicine and got surprised seeing “Classical Chinese Medicine” on my page.
Isn’t it the same as TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)?
Not quite.
How is Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) Different from TCM?
Chinese Medicine, as such, has a rich history rooted in ancient Chinese practices and Daoist philosophy. Over thousands of years, Chinese Medicine was developed and applied throughout China by different doctors, leading to diverse approaches. Knowledge was passed down primarily through oral tradition.
During the Han Dynasty, (206 BC – 220 AD), considered the golden age of medical knowledge, many of the core texts guiding Chinese Medicine were compiled.
These foundational works, often called the "Classics," established the core practices and principles of Classical Chinese Medicine, forming the basis of Chinese Medicine practiced during imperial China.
Medical Classics of this period are:
Huang Di Nei Jing – Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic of Internal Medicine
Nan Jing – Classic of Difficulties
Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing – Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica Classic
Shang Han Za Bing Lun – Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Disease
Mai Jing – Pulse Classic
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emerged after World War II, in the 1950’s, when Mao Zedong, aiming for the country to be seen as modern and more “scientific”, coined the term, aiming to standardize the Chinese Medicine in a western-friendly, “more scientific” manner. TCM was considered “politically correct” and the naturalistic philosophy of CCM was rejected for being “feudal”.
As Lonny Jarrett says, “For the purpose of “standardization” according to Marxist, materialistic principles, the Medicine was significantly sanitized of depth. That is to say all transcendent dimensions of the Medicine’s connection to the natural theories of Daoism, Confucian notions of destiny, and Buddhism’s bodhisattva vow and subtle aspects were lost.”
Traditional Chinese Medicine, as it’s widely practiced today, has been heavily influenced and shaped by Western medicine. TCM doesn’t encapsulate the full breadth of Chinese Medicine’s deep understanding of the body-mind-spirit and can sometimes overlook the unique needs of each patient. This approach may prioritize standardized treatments based on symptoms, like a one-size-fits-all solution.
Classical Chinese Medicine, on the other hand, remains faithful to the ancient Classical texts, philosophy, and practices.
It is the practice of Chinese Medicine prior to the Mao´s standardization.
It prioritizes the original teachings and methodologies that have been passed down through centuries. CCM offers a much more individualized approach to diagnosis and treatment, going beyond what we commonly see in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to really honor the interconnectedness of our body, mind, and spirit, and taking into account the unique constitution and life circumstances of each patient and the profound energy movements in the body, and not the name of the disease.
CCM: A Holistic Approach to Healing
Think of the body as a garden.
Western medicine might focus on eliminating weeds (symptoms) with chemicals (with all the “secondary effects” along the way). TCM would remove the weeds using natural, non-toxic tools – a much more gentler approach with no secondary effects.
CCM considers the soil quality, sunlight, the water amount and quality, and focuses on improving overall environment of the whole garden, so that the weeds would not even grow in it.
In this way, not only the problem of the weeds is solved, the whole garden flourishes and the health of all the plants in it is enhanced.
This is exactly how CCM works for the human body as well.
CCM doesn’t chase symptoms. It looks at the most profound energetic level of the internal environment of a person, and treats the person, not the disease or the symptoms.
Key Principles of Classical Chinese Medicine
While TCM is primarily based on parameters of modern science (virus, inflammation, blood pressure, etc.), CCM diagnoses and treats based on ancient, timeless concepts and principles:
1. Beyond the Physical: Patterns of Nature and Man in CCM
- Concept: There are invisible energy patterns at work in the universe and the human body that precede any illness.
- Application: In CCM, we do not look to dissect the body into the tiniest constituents in order to understand the illness. We look at the metaphysical truths and universal principles in nature and, understanding that a human is a microcosm mirroring the macrocosm, we evaluate the internal energy patterns and correct those.
We understand that when the illness becomes visible through the symptoms, and in the western diagnostic reports, it is a incarnated manifestation of the imbalance that’s been going on in the body for some time already.
2. Yin & Yang: The Dance of Opposites in Health
- Concept: Yin and Yang represent the fundamental dualities in the universe, symbolizing opposing but complementary forces. Yin is associated with qualities such as darkness, stillness, and receptivity, while Yang embodies light, activity, and assertiveness.
- Application: In CCM, health is viewed as a dynamic balance between Yin and Yang. Imbalances between these forces can lead to illness, and treatments aim to restore the harmony and the right relationship between Yin and Yang.
3. Holistic Harmony: Oneness of Body, Mind & Spirit; the Man and the Universe
- Concept: For CCM, the health of a person is inseparable from one’s life: from how they react to life’s circumstances, how they spend their days, what they eat, how much they move, etc.
- Application: The human is inseparable from and affected deeply by the nature and its changes. In a similar manner, none of the internal body systems is separate from another. We cannot successfully treat only the liver, or a backpain. The symptom, or an illness, is only a manifestation of the health of the whole body-mind-spirit unit, not a part that is “broken” – as opposed to the Western approach that often focuses on treating systems or organs within the body as if they were isolated from the whole.
4. The Five Elements: Nature's Symphony in Your Health
- Concept: The Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—describe the dynamic processes and relationships in nature and the human body. Each element is associated with specific organs, emotions, seasons, and other natural phenomena.
- Application: Understanding the interactions and cycles of the Five Elements helps practitioners diagnose and treat various conditions. For example, an imbalance in the Wood element might affect the Liver or Gallbladder and manifest as irritability and anger.
5. Qi: The Flow of Vital Life Force
- Concept: Qi (pronounced "chee") is the vital life force that flows through our body's meridians. There’s a way the Qi moves correctly in the body, and illnesses happen when there´s deviation or blockage of this movement.
- Application: Ensuring a smooth and balanced flow of Qi is crucial. Blockages or imbalances can lead to physical and emotional issues. Practices like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi Gong are used to regulate and enhance Qi flow.
This focus on energy flow, instead of chasing symptoms, is what I love most about this Medicine. It connects physical health with a deeper, more spiritual understanding of well-being, allowing us to address the root causes of symptoms and disease.
CCM: A Philosophy for True Well-being
“This Medicine Leaves No Significant Part Of The Person Behind”,
says Lonny Jarrett, one of my most influential teachers.
Rooted in Daoism and based on understanding that everything is energy at its most fundamental level, Classical Chinese Medicine considers the physical, the mental, and the spiritual to be the same Qi, in different densities.
For Classical Chinese Medicine,
health is not simply the absence of disease.
✓ Health is the ability of your body and mind to function at their highest level.
✓ Health is when you’re able to be open to life because you feel strong and confident.
✓ Health is when not only your digestive system is able to receive, transform, and assimilate food, but also your mind has the same ability receiving the life situations and assimilating life lessons, making you stronger and wiser with every day.
✓ Health is not only healthy lungs able to breathe with ease, it’s as well a regulated nervous system, able to take in life and let go of what is not needed any more.
✓ It’s when you have the energy to discover and express your authentic gifts in the world.
✓ It’s when you have the willpower and courage to pursue your dreams.
✓ It’s when you feel calm and content and are able connect with others from a place of authenticity and overflowing self-love.
CCM in Action: Tools for Healing
CCM shares the tools to influence and balance the internal environment in the body with the TCM, but uses them differently:
looking to influence the movements of Yin and yang, to balance the 5 elements and to rewire the pathological Qi movements in the body so that the body’s internal environment becomes healthy and thus diseases do not even arise, or the body heals itself, as opposed to the TCM using standardized acupuncture points and herbal prescriptions for different symptoms.
All of the tools used are natural, do not have unwanted side effects, and are to be used for a fixed amount of time – because we’re talking here about the real healing, after which the body functions well and there´s no need to keep managing the symptoms.
ACUPUNCTURE
Involves the insertion of very thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.
It works by promoting blood circulation in the body, reducing inflammation, stimulating the release of beta-endorphins and calming the nervous system.
PHYTOTHERAPY
Also known as Herbal medicine, is the use of plants to treat and prevent illness.
An individualized formula is determined for every client, mixing appropriate Chinese herbs out of hundreds described in the Chinese pharmacopeia.
MOXIBUSTION
Involves burning moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near acupuncture points and meridians.
It improves the flow of Qi and warms the body – thus especially important in “cold” conditions.
CUPPING
Involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. Used to release muscle tension, detoxify and rebalance the system.
Great for those with tension in the neck, shoulders and back.
TUI NA
Chinese medical massage that uses acupressure, kneading, rolling, pressing and rubbing techniques to stimulate the flow of Qi in the body.
It helps to release muscle tension, improve circulation and balance the body's energy.
MIND-BODY PRACTICES
Involves Techniques like conscious breathing exercises, Qi Gong, and meditation to regulate Qi, help calm the mind, and promote emotional well-being.
They help to release stress and tension, strengthen the body, improve circulation, and promote a sense of inner peace.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE
Dietary recommendations and lifestyle changes are essential, tailored to support individual constitutions and address the root causes of any imbalances. This personalized approach is empowering because it puts the person in control of their own health.
Conclusion: A Path to Wholeness
Classical Chinese Medicine offers a rich and nuanced approach to health, emphasizing the importance of harmony within ourselves and the natural world.
It empowers you to achieve true, lasting well-being by addressing the root causes of imbalances and fostering deeper self-awareness.