There is absolutely no mistake. I call Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) a practice because it is not only a medical field but also a philosophy.
The theoretical foundation of TCM is Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, which summarize and regulate the movement and changes in nature and the human body.
TCM believes that humans are interconnected and influenced by nature. In order to maintain physical and mental health, people need to adapt to the changes in nature.
The mysterious origin of TCM is said to be taught to ancient Chinese people by extraterrestrial beings. The observation methods and logical reasoning of TCM are different from other human cognitive methods. Additionally, the miraculous effects of TCM treatments such as herbal medicine and acupuncture cannot be created by humans alone.
Extraterrestrial beings may have transmitted the knowledge of TCM to some Chinese people in order to help improve the quality of human life or conduct certain experiments.
The wonders of acupuncture are indescribable. Who was the first to discover the mysterious acupuncture points on the human body?
Humans have two systems, one for the physical body and one for the soul. It is similar to the martial arts in wuxia novels, which are divided into techniques and internal power.
TCM tends to stimulate the soul to promote the repair of the body. By observing the wonders of acupuncture, we can catch a glimpse of its magical effects.
Why can acupuncture stimulate invisible and intangible acupuncture points to achieve therapeutic effects?
This is because the acupuncture points in the human body are important components of the meridian system, which are closely related to organs, qi and blood, nerves, and more.
When the human body undergoes pathological changes, the meridian system will react accordingly, manifesting as changes in the sensitivity, electrical resistance, temperature, and other aspects of the acupuncture points.
By needling these changing acupuncture points, it can trigger reactions in the nervous, vascular, endocrine, and other systems, thereby regulating the body's physiological functions, eliminating pathological factors, and restoring health.
We can metaphorically compare humans to motorcycles. When a motorcycle has a problem, Western medicine analyzes the entire structure of the motorcycle's components to identify the specific faulty part. If it can be repaired, it is fixed; if not, the part is replaced.
How does TCM understand the problem with this motorcycle? Through observation and analysis, TCM perceives the subtle changes in the looseness of various components of the motorcycle system.
This is similar to dividing the motorcycle into five major systems: power, electrical, cooling, support, and control, which correspond to TCM's metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Once the component causing the change is found, it can be repaired.
At first glance, the treatment methods of TCM and Western medicine are not much different. Both aim to find the faulty component and solve the problem.
But what if the motorcycle's problem is not due to a faulty component, but rather due to assembly issues during manufacturing or the entire motorcycle gradually loosening and aging at an invisible speed? How can it be determined?
Unable to be measured, Western medicine is helpless and can only suggest buying a new motorcycle. This is where TCM shows its abilities. Through a series of observations and perceptions, TCM can sense that the motorcycle's seat may have shifted a few centimeters, the fuel line during combustion seems abnormal, and even detect it by smelling the exhaust.
TCM also observes that the slight bumps during motorcycle travel are caused by the deformation of the support system's frame.
In short, Western medicine is like Ant-Man, constantly exploring and researching down to the cellular and molecular structures. TCM, on the other hand, is like Doctor Strange, constantly expanding its horizons and researching the universe and energy fields.
TCM faces challenges such as the decline of the Qi and Sword schools, as the core techniques supporting these systems are disappearing.
Pulse diagnosis requires high skills, with doctors needing rich experience and keen tactile senses to accurately identify changes in pulse conditions such as floating, sinking, slow, rapid, slippery, and rough.
We often say that TCM should not be viewed from the perspective of Western medicine, and it is wrong to mass-produce TCM doctors using the same methods as training Western medicine doctors.
In the traditional apprentice system, the master would diagnose the pulse and tell the apprentice the corresponding disease. The apprentice would be able to feel it immediately and refine their pulse diagnosis technique through continuous learning from the master.
Can students in TCM colleges learn anything by touching a human body model? Can they learn acupuncture by poking needles into various experimental subjects such as pigs, cats, dogs, and chickens?
Especially for acupuncture, which requires precise techniques and dexterity, it is impossible to learn solely from books or video tutorials.
It is like how we cannot mass-produce Olympic champions even with the collective efforts of the entire country. It is even more difficult to find a few people who can play football out of a population of over a billion.
Attempting to mass-produce TCM doctors through assembly-line methods, and even developing advanced diagnostic techniques combining TCM and Western medicine, is not only ineffective but also leads to more cases of "unethical behavior and lack of medical skills." This goes against the pursuit of TCM's realm.
Is there any effectiveness in the prescriptions passed down by our ancestors? We cannot go back in time to try a bowl of medicine, but with the current high prices and uncertainty about the authenticity of medicinal herbs, would you dare to consume them?
TCM faces many challenges today, such as the scarcity of medicinal herbs and difficulties in inheritance. The deeper reason behind these issues is that we have overlooked the unique nature of TCM.
TCM is not equivalent to Western medicine; it is a discipline that combines medical skills and philosophical connotations. It emphasizes a holistic view and accumulated experience, rather than relying solely on experiments and data.