Better health and a long life thanks to traditional Chinese medicineThe two thousand year old practice of traditional Chinese medicine is a practice that continues to be used by hundreds of millions of people. across the world. The advent of more modern medical practices has not changed these traditions in any way. It could be argued that modern medicine has been influenced more by traditional Chinese medicine than the other way around. Although there is very little data on the scientific effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine practice, the anecdotal experiences of many generations - as well as the holistic and spiritual foundations - keep the practices alive and relevant in most Chinese families and not Chinese. My grandmother on my father's side does not adhere to the healing or lifestyle principles of traditional Chinese medicine. She ate whatever she wanted and relied only on modern medical practices for her health care. She died relatively young from type 2 diabetes. However, her sister, my great aunt, always adhered to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, and at 84 years old, she is still going strong. One of the most important ideas in traditional Chinese medicine is the balance between the two parts of traditional Chinese medicine. everything that happens in nature: Yin and Yang. Common allegories for this phenomenon are the sunny and shady sides of a hill or mountain, the sun and the moon, or fire and water. The idea is that many ills arise from an imbalance between these two parts. Curative remedies seek to introduce harmony into the unbalanced area and thus remedy the problem. Yin is the side that concerns itself with water and freshness. Yang is the side that controls fire. Colds, flus and problems......middle of paper......nature balances itself. The sun clears the morning mist and warms the day, then sets again. Thus, the body must balance movement and rest, heat and coolness. The application of pressure (acupuncture) is believed to balance the flow of energy (or qi) to heal pain and other ailments by unblocking qi blockage points. Likewise, the “cupping” method is believed to unblock qi and open pores to draw out bad energy. Kinetic movements and massages are used with great benefit to help enable the healthy flow of qi and thus induce balance and therefore healing. Many remedies born from the complex healing system of traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, exercise therapy, massage techniques and diet therapy are accepted as part of the modern and healthy lifestyle of billions of people around the world..