PAIN

WHAT IS IT?

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

Pain represents an interruption or blockage of our circulation of various factors which prevent its normal ability of nourishing and healing itself. It is observed, 'where there is blockage there is pain, and, where there is pain there is blockage.'

TCM identifies the location, nature, quality, timing, severity and timing of the pain, as does TWM. However, TCM is aware of more circulation pathways and their associated factors than is TWM, such as the acupuncture pathways both internally and externally.

Often, satisfactory treatment lies in understanding these additional relationships and connections in the body. Pain will eventually affect you physically, mental/emotionally and spiritually. It can first appear in any one of the three areas and proceed to affect the other two areas according to the type of problem and the individual with the pain. To achieve the best chance for recovery we must identify and treat the imbalance in each area.

TRADITIONAL WESTERN MEDICINE (TWM)

Pain is a noxious signal experienced in the sensory nervous system that alerts us to a problem. Many of the chemical components involved in pain initiation and its relationship to specific parts of the brain are continuously being explored to facilitate a better understanding. A majority of painful conditions are simply identified as to their location and underlying nature.

Examples: headache; rectal pain; cardiac pain; costochondritis (rib inflammation pain); emotional pain; muscle and joint pain and many more.