The Way of TCM Health Preservation: A Green Solution to the Antibiotic Crisis
1. The Dual Crisis of Antibiotic Abuse
In modern medical practice, the overuse of antibiotics has become a major global public health concern. As renowned TCM master Professor Deng Tietao insightfully noted: "Antibiotics kill bacteria but also damage the body's vital Qi (正气)." In TCM theory, "vital Qi" represents the core concept of immune defense function and self-healing capacity. While antibiotics indiscriminately eliminate pathogens, they simultaneously destroy the probiotic flora that maintains ecological balance within the body—these microorganisms account for 70-80% of our immune response and serve as indispensable guardians of health. Clinical observations show that a standard course of antibiotic treatment can disrupt gut microbiota for at least six months. During this "immune window period," susceptibility to various diseases significantly increases.
The deeper crisis lies in the spread of antibiotic resistance. As early as 1999, antibiotic-resistant "super staphylococcus" emerged in the Midwestern United States, claiming the lives of four children. Over two decades later, the WHO has listed antibiotic resistance among the top ten global health threats. More alarmingly, modern healthcare appears trapped in a vicious cycle: confronting drug-resistant bacteria with increasingly potent antibiotics. These "upgraded" drugs suppress pathogens while simultaneously intensifying their inhibitory effect on the body's vital Qi. Professor Deng frequently witnessed such cases clinically—particularly among elderly pneumonia patients. After receiving the latest antibiotics, their fever might subside, but their bodies grew weaker, with lingering coughs persisting. This reveals the inherent contradiction in the "bacteria-killing but vitality-damaging" treatment logic.
Antibiotic overuse also imposes heavy economic burdens. Professor Deng lamented: *"Daily medication costs exceeding a thousand yuan are beyond what ordinary Chinese citizens can afford."* When medical expenditures outweigh health benefits, we must urgently reexamine healthcare's essence: Is it about short-term symptom suppression or systemic restoration of the body's self-healing capacity?
2. Core Advantages of TCM Health Preservation Wisdom
Confronting the antibiotic crisis, TCM health preservation demonstrates unique and profound health wisdom centered on the integration of holistic balance and natural healing:
- The Immune Philosophy of "Vital Qi Within"
TCM's "vital Qi" encompasses disease resistance, self-healing capacity, and environmental adaptability. The Yellow Emperor's Classic states: "When vital Qi remains strong within, pathogenic factors cannot invade"—a principle aligning remarkably with modern immunology. Rather than relying on external drugs to directly kill pathogens, TCM regulates the internal environment to deprive pathogenic microorganisms of survival conditions. As physician Ye Tianshi emphasized when treating febrile diseases: "Release wind beyond heat, drain dampness beneath heat, preventing their convergence with heat to leave pathogens isolated." This approach proves particularly effective against viral infectious diseases. Professor Deng noted: "Since antibiotics were invented, Western medicine has outperformed TCM in treating bacterial infections, but TCM remains far superior for viral diseases."
- The Energy Network of Meridian Systems
As a unique discovery in TCM theory, the meridian system forms a channel network for Qi and blood circulation, connecting internal organs externally to limbs. Modern research confirms that stimulating specific acupoints produces multifaceted regulatory effects:
- Zusanli (ST36) bidirectionally regulates gastrointestinal motility and gastric acid secretion while enhancing gallbladder contraction
- Neiguan (PC6) paired with Gongsun (SP4) coordinates abnormal heart rhythms and alleviates atrial fibrillation
- Feishu (BL13) relieves bronchospasm and improves airway resistance in asthma patients
These effects stem from complex interactions between acupoints and the neuro-endocrine-immune network, providing natural regulation points for disease prevention.
- The Preventive Healthcare System of "Treating Unmanifested Disease"
TCM health preservation emphasizes "preventing disease before it forms." Simple home massage techniques demonstrate this principle:
- Umbilical rubbing (100 clockwise/counterclockwise circles with palm centered on navel) promotes intestinal peristalsis and improves indigestion
- Pushing apart the abdominal yin and yang (50-100 outward strokes along costal arches) relieves abdominal distension and pain
Practicing these techniques for ten minutes daily effectively maintains organ function and prevents minor ailments from developing into serious illnesses.
3. Practical Value of Meridian Therapies
TCM external therapies offer an effective solution to modern healthcare dilemmas through their green safety and economic accessibility. Remarkably, these methods require no complex equipment and can be implemented at home, significantly reducing medical costs:
3.1 Six Major External Therapies
- Acupuncture Regulation: Fine needles stimulate meridian nodes for bidirectional regulation. Examples:
- Hegu (LI4) enhances white blood cell phagocytosis while regulating thyroid function
- Quchi (LI11), key point for skin diseases, increases platelet count
- Sanyinjiao (SP6) regulates bladder tension and alleviates gynecological disorders
In Hungary, acupuncture has become the preferred alternative for pain management, with local patients stating: "I trust Chinese medicine."
- Therapeutic Massage (Tuina): Distinct from ordinary massage, TCM Tuina employs systematic techniques based on meridian theory. For common orthopedic issues, the "Xiguan Bone-Setting" school advocates "Three No's Principles":
Simple over complex, conservative over surgical, minimally invasive over open surgery.
Clinically proven applications:
- Anxian Zousuomo technique (rubbing from armpit to Tianshu) relieves chest stuffiness and wheezing
- Rubbing Zhongwan (CV12) (4 cun above navel) regulates gastrointestinal function
- Limb massage prevents muscle atrophy in cancer rehabilitation patients (excluding bone metastasis cases), requiring professional assessment.
- Moxibustion Warming: Tianyi Divine Moxibustion, an innovative therapy, gains popularity in Vancouver, Canada. Mugwort combustion produces infrared radiation and medicinal components transmitted through acupoints:
- Yongquan (KI1) moxibustion significantly lowers blood pressure
- Zhiyin (BL67) moxibustion corrects fetal position with >80% success rate
- Acupressure First Aid: Stimulating specific points addresses common emergencies:
- Stiff neck: Press Luozhen (EX-UE) (between 2nd-3rd metacarpal bones)
- Leg cramp: Press Chengshan (BL57)
- Motion sickness nausea: Press Neiguan (PC6) (2 cun above wrist crease)
These equipment-free methods offer quick relief.
- Guided Exercise (Daoyin): Traditional practices like Baduanjin and Taijiquan guide Qi and blood through specific movements. Studies show regular practice reduces medical expenses by 32% for elderly chronic disease patients.
- Medicinal Food Therapy: Dr. Chen Zhen's Hungarian publication Medicinal Recipes and Proven Formulas integrates Chinese herbs with local cuisine, reprinted six times in 10 years. Examples:
- Poria cocos congee strengthens spleen/stomach
- Ophiopogon tea clears lung heat
Using food properties to regulate constitution.
3.2 Internationally Recognized Efficacy
TCM external therapies have received global clinical validation:
- Chronic Disease Management: South Africa's Tongrentang (70% local staff) achieves >85% efficacy treating arthritis with Tuina and moxibustion
- Postoperative Recovery: Acupoint massage (PC6, ST36, etc.) significantly reduces chemotherapy-induced vomiting in cancer patients
- Alternative Pain Treatment**: Polish insomnia patients showed marked sleep quality improvement after six months of acupuncture and herbal therapy
- At St. Petersburg TCM Hospital, Professor Wang Zhaoyang's team restored independent walking ability to a 60+ stroke survivor through acupuncture, earning honors from Russia's State Duma Committee on Traditional Medicine
4. Economic Value of Family Health Management
TCM health preservation's most revolutionary contribution lies in transferring health management from institutions to households, generating two core benefits:
- Precipitous Drop in Direct Medical Costs
When common colds/fever can be treated through:
- Dazhui (GV14) pricking-bloodletting technique for fever reduction
- Feishu (BL13) cupping to ventilate lungs
...antibiotic usage naturally plummets. Professor Deng treated a 72-year-old woman with persistent high fever unresponsive to antibiotics. Using only Buzhong Yiqi Decoction, her fever subsided at less than one-tenth the cost of antibiotic treatment. Such cases demonstrate how TCM achieves recovery by activating self-immunity, avoiding drug-dependency cycles.
- Long-Term Gains from Preventive Systems
TCM's "treating unmanifested disease" system shows tremendous preventive value:
- Daily morning abdominal rubbing (100 circles clockwise/counterclockwise while lying flat) improves intestinal function within one month
- Evening massage of Yongquan (KI1) (anterior foot depression) enhances sleep quality
These simple techniques resolved a 67-year-old man's five-year symptoms of dizziness, abdominal distension, and frequent urination. Preventive investment delivers the highest ROI in health management—U.S. data shows every $1 invested in prevention saves $8.3 in medical expenses.
---
To fellow friends across the world who come across this blog:
You may use this video platform to deepen your understanding of TCM health preservation and healing. For more comprehensive knowledge, feel free to contact us. We can provide consultation services and additional resources for your convenience!