What are the TCM theories?

The Five Elements:

In this way of thinking everything, including energy, is cyclical. In nature this can be seen for example in the seasons, in the body in the interaction between the main organs.

5 Element Laws There are several laws in acupuncture that determines what the configuration of what the patient's symptoms may be. These laws include the law of creating that is the shen cycle, the loq of control that is the KO cycle, and mother-child cycle. The shen cycle is best understood in the macrocosmic images of the five elements. The wood produces plants and trees that is wood, wood brings forth fiver, fire produces ashes that is soil (earht), soil brings forth metal, when heated metal produces steam that is water. The controlling cycle, KO cycle, is illustrated as follows: water overcomes fire, fire melts the metal, metal in the form of a knife overcomes wood, wood as in the form of a spade overcomes soil (earth), soil in the form of a dyke subdues the water. In illness, for example, of the wood an imbalance of this element would cause symptoms to be seen in the wood in the fire through the shen cycle or in the earth through the KO cycle. The outer arrows represent the movement of the shen cycle. The inner arrows represent the movement of the KO cycle. ....

In variance to the Western way of thinking the acupuncture point of view is that every organ has many more functions. For example the Heart (FIRE) provides energy for circulation of blood but also for sleeping, dreaming, ones radiance, perspiration, tongue and speech. Stuttering from this point of view can be seen as a disturbance of the Heart energy.

When there is a weakness or blockage in the flow of energy of one of the 10 organs, this will influence not only this one organ, but also has impact on the energy of other organs. In the long run a web of complaints may arise from this imbalance that may look vague and unconnected to each other but for an acupuncturist they can be related and tracked down to one main source.

Ying and Yang

To explain the movement of energy in man and nature, it's important to have a basic knowledge of the Yin and Yang concept and the theory of the 5 elements. Yin and Yang are counter poles; they are each others opposites in which life is searching for harmony and balance.

Yin represents everything that's descending, going inside, is dark and cool; it takes care of rest, nourishment, night, winter, water etc.

Yang ascends, goes from the inside towards the outside. It's warm, light, active, protecting, day, summer, fire etc.

Yin and Yang are neither good nor bad; they are 2 opposites that are supplemental, transit into and are dependent on each other... After a while Yin becomes Yang and Yang becomes Yin, like day becomes night, summer becomes winter and action becomes rest.

Health in this philosophy means a balance between Yin and Yang. Illness means that one of the two is too strong or too weak. For example: it's possible to have a 'Yang disease' like fever, inflammation, red rash or a 'Yin disease' like arthrosis or edema.

Blood

The concept of Blood in traditional Chinese herbal writings is very different from the Western concept of blood. In the West, blood is a specific bodily fluid that carries chemical compounds and nutrients in and out of the cells. In the Chinese view, Blood is a nourishing, circulating fluid that flows through veins and arteries as well as through the body's energy meridians (see Meridians)

QI

In TCM, the primary emphasis is on building up and/or unblocking the body's basic energy, called QI (pronounced "chee"). When the QI is flowing freely, a person is vital and healthy.

Meridians

According to traditional Chinese medicine, there is a network of bioenergetic pathways called meridians that flow throughout the body, connecting the body's interior with its exterior energy. Meridians bear the name of the major Organ through which they pass.

Organs

The "Organs" spoken of in TCM texts do not correspond exactly with the physical organs identified on anatomical charts in the West. When we discuss organs in this literature, we are not only speaking of the physical, Western organ i.e. the liver, but of many other physical and spiritual functions These Organ systems were believed to create, fortify and balance all bodily functions.