Acupuncture and    Traditional Chinese Medicine

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine? 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world's oldest systems of medicine, dating back 5,000 years in China.  Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine are the two primary methods of treatment employed in the practice of TCM.  Good health is maintained through a balance of the person's vital energy called Qi.  Any illness or symptom of the body, mind, or spirit is associated with a disharmony ion Qi.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine differ from Western Medicine?

TCM understands emotional, physical and spiritual symptoms as a single pattern.  It expects mental/emotional conditions to go along with physical diseases.  In Western medicine, the body is segmented into parts.  If one part of the body feels ill, that part of the body is treated.  Chinese medicine cannot separate a person into segmented parts, treating one symptom at the expense of another.  It treats the person, not just the disease.

What is Acupuncture?

 In TCM, the Qi of the body is accessed through special meridians (channels in the body) that have Acupuncture points on them.  The Acupuncturist inserts tiny sterile needles into these points to activate the Qi to either increase the Qi or to get the Qi moving again if it has become blocked.

How is a person diagnosed and treated in Traditional Chinese Medicine?

To determine any imbalances in a person's energy system acupuncturists evaluate the pulse and look at the tongue.  The person will then be treated using a combination of needles and Chinese herbs.  Lifestyle and dietary changes will also be recommended.

Who uses Traditional Chinese Medicine?

People of all ages seek out TCM to address illness.  Some seek relief of particular symptoms, while others use acupuncture or Chinese herbs for their ability to support overall health.  Many turn to TCM when their symptoms are acute, and continue to benefit from ongoing maintenance treatments once their symptoms are gone.

What does Traditional Chinese Medicine treat?

TCM treats all kinds of common illnesses including acute and chronic physical pain, anxiety and depression, asthma, arthritis, back pain, the common cold and flu, constipation and diarrhea, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, headaches and migraines, hepatitis, HIV, impotence, indigestion, infertility, insomnia, menopause, menstrual cramps and PMS, psycho-emotional problems, sinusitis, stress, sprains, sports injuries, and weight loss.  Traditional Chinese Medicine is helpful in supporting withdrawal from various chemical substances such as alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes.  Traditional Chinese Medicine also treats the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of cancer treatments such as chemo therapy and radiation. 

For more information on how Traditional Chinese Medicine helps various conditions, click here.  

Chinese Herbal Medicine

The basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that each person has a vital energy called Qi (pronounced "chee")  Any illness or symptom of the body, mind, or spirit is associated with a disharmony in Qi.  Treating the illness of symptom involved balancing the Qi.  One way to do this is through the use of Chinese herbs. 

Generally Chinese herbs are used in combinations, allowing for the development of individual formulas that respond to a patient's particular needs and concerns.  The formulas are very old and yet they have proven highly effective in addressing modern illnesses.

Chinese herbs need to be used carefully.  When used properly, there are minimal side effects.  They should be prescribed and their use monitored by a licensed Chinese herbologist.  A board certified herbologist understands the relationship of the herbs to the body's meridians.

Chinese herbs come in many forms - whole loose, whole raw powdered, powdered extracts, tinctures, tea pills, capsules and tablets.  Licensed Acupuncturist Laurie Mecham uses primarily capsules and tea pills.   In highly specialized cases, she will prepare a more individualized formula using powdered herbs.   

Laurie Mecham's clinic, The Traditional Acupuncture Health Clinic, is located in the Barn at Lucerne in Ballwin in Greater St. Louis County (West County).   If you would like to make an appointment please call us at

636 527 9188 or email Laurie directly at lauriemecham@att.net.  We would love to hear from you.  

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.  Contact us