Not everyone may appreciate or believe in TCM. We are more neutral: as with many other science or non-science matters, TCM has many aspects which are tested and proven but there are questionable areas as well. The belief in the healing abilities of herbs is non-exclusive to TCM. The same belief applies to Ayurveda medication and homeopathy too.
The power of herbal medication is also clearly proven in medical science. Micronutrients, vitamins and minerals play a very critical role in health and cure.
Vitamins are necessary for energy production, immune function, blood clotting and other functions. Meanwhile, minerals play important roles in growth, bone health, fluid balance and other processes. I’m sure you are already familiar with some of these minerals: calcium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, sodium etc
Calcium is probably well known for preventing osteoporosis However, it's necessary for much more than strong bones and teeth. Your body also needs calcium for blood clotting and normal functioning of nervous system and muscle function.
Potassium is one of the most important minerals in our body. It helps to regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals. A high-potassium diet may even help to reduce blood pressure and water retention, protect against stroke and prevent osteoporosis and kidney stones.
You don’t need to supplement your body with calcium or potassium pills. Nature has already provided these minerals for us in the form of milk, chess and ikan bilis etc Pomegranate juice is one of the richest source of potassium which helps to lower blood pressure. In fact, pomegranate has long been associated as a heart and skin food.
Some traditional healing practises, including TCM, have laid similar claims but without giving an explanation with some even proclaiming that TCM is ahead of science.
This prompted some practitioners of modern science to label such traditional healing practises as quack.
In traditional healing, it is believed that different organs must co-relate and co-exist in homonym and in smooth ‘communication’. Herbal medication in large part helps to achieve this balance and homonym. The balance and communication between organs are so complex and dynamic that modern science may not yet have the right method to measure it. This makes it hard for modern science to prove the often effectiveness of traditional cures. When you have a headache, you can take a painkiller or use some medicated oil. One is scientifically proven. The other is equally effective (at least to some people).
A good foot massage relieves stress and boosts energy level; a cup of herbal tea soothes sore throat or eye irritation. These are recommended by TCM.
We do not have to be bound by the ‘ideology’ of modern or traditional healing technicalities. Instead, it is more important to have an open mind. A few helpful prompting questions when one is not feeling comfortable: do I need medication or are there alternatives? Do I need to be on this medication for long term? Can a change in diet help?
Whether it is herbs or traditional healing methods, what’s there to lose if it has been proven to be safe? The most important point is: it works after trying it out.
