CHINESE MEDICINE
CLASSICAL CHINESE MEDICINE (CCM)
At SHAIOM, we honor the timeless principles of Classical Chinese Medicine, an ancient healing system that views the body, mind, and spirit as one. Through the balance of Yin and Yang, we help patients restore harmony, strengthen vitality, and return to a natural state of wellness.
Chinese Medicine is rooted in the Daoist philosophy of Yin and Yang, two opposing yet complementary forces that create and sustain all life. Yin and Yang are in constant motion, balancing and transforming one another. Yang represents light, activity, expansion, and the sun. Yin represents stillness, rest, introspection, and the moon. Together, they express the dual nature of all things.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF BALANCE
Life itself depends on maintaining harmony between these energies. In Chinese Medicine, balance is supported through three guiding principles:
1. Nutrition | 2. Exercise | 3. Rest
What we eat, how we move, and when we rest all shape our health and longevity. We can choose foods, activities, and habits that support either a Yin or a Yang state. For example, Yang energy is strengthened through warmth, movement, and foods such as meats or spices. Yin energy is nurtured through cooling, hydrating foods like vegetables and fruits, as well as quiet, restorative practices like meditation and sleep.
Health is viewed as a dynamic process rather than a fixed condition. Every action or inaction has an energetic influence on the body. The goal of Chinese Medicine is to help individuals understand and balance their unique constitution, physical, emotional, and spiritual. This balance can be described in three treasures of life energy:
Shen: Spirit or consciousness
Qi: Vital energy or life force
Jing: Essence or foundation
THE ROOTS OF CHINESE MEDICINE
Chinese Medicine’s teachings are based on ancient texts such as the I Ching (Book of Change) and the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, written around 600 BCE. The cornerstone of Chinese medical theory, the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon), was compiled between 300 and 150 BCE and remains a central guide for practitioners today. It consists of two volumes: the Su Wen (Plain Questions) and the Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot).
The Su Wen explores the philosophy of health, illness, and the natural laws that govern life. The Ling Shu focuses more on acupuncture theory and technique, offering insight into how energy flows through the body’s meridians.
These classical texts continue to guide both students and experienced practitioners as they study, interpret, and apply the timeless wisdom of Chinese Medicine, an art and science that remains as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.