Benefits of Chinese Medical Clinics

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) takes a very different approach to healing and wellness compared to Western medicine.

Dating back more than 5,000 years, TCM is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture and is becoming increasingly popular in the rest of the world too, with almost three million Australians visiting Chinese medical clinics every year. But does it work?

Types of TCM
Chinese medicine is grounded in the Taoist philosophy, which strives to achieve balance and harmony in all things, including the human body. This can be achieved through a range of approaches, including:

• acupuncture – applying needles to key areas to normalise the flow of Qi (energy) through the body.
• herbal medicine – natural remedies in raw, dried, powdered, pill or liquid forms.
• massage therapy – stimulating blood flow and endorphin production as well as soothing aches and pains.

Safe, natural remedies
Unlike chemical prescriptions, herbal remedies prescribed by Chinese medical clinics are made from natural ingredients that are safe for the body, with minimal to no side effects. You will still need to follow usage guidelines however, as some may be toxic if taken in higher doses than recommended, or unsuitable for certain allergies.

Treating the cause
The holistic approach of traditional Chinese medicine aims to get to the root of the problem by identifying and treating the underlying cause, not just the symptoms. This cause may be very different even in people experiencing similar symptoms.

Tailored treatments
This holistic approach takes account of each patient's unique medical history, lifestyle and other factors to develop a customised treatment plan.

Multi-purpose remedies
The same herbs and remedies may be used to achieve different outcomes in different situations, such as preventing insomnia and calming anxiety. Since many herbal medicines have a long shelf life, you won't need to keep buying new remedies every time.

Preventing disease
There is a strong emphasis on prevention in traditional Chinese medicine, which plans for tomorrow by making the body as healthy as possible every day. Patients may be prescribed treatments that lower their risk of becoming ill with serious diseases in the future, even if they currently show no symptoms.

But does it work?
Because Chinese medicine works on a fundamentally different set of concepts to Western medicine, attempts to compare the effectiveness of both approaches has been challenging.

However, there is strong empirical evidence for the success of acupuncture for treating headaches, back pain, asthma, addiction and other conditions, and herbal medicine has proven particularly successful at treating gastrointestinal and gynaecological issues.

Traditional Chinese medicine in Coolangatta
Louie Chinese Medical Clinic at The Strand Coolangatta offers a full range of traditional health and wellness treatments, including acupuncture, herbal medicine and remedial massage.

Speak to their qualified practitioners to start your tailored treatment program.