One of the most fascinating aspects about being a TCM practitioner is the ability to learn a whole different set of norms that not only characterize medicine but culture, as well. This is most clearly identified in the language. Any TCM practitioner will tell you that to truly learn the science of Chinese Medicine is to learn the language that belies it.

Acupuncture points have a Western, Pinyin name as well as the traditional Chinese name. For example, what we call Lung 1 acupuncture point in the West is called Zhong FU acupuncture point in traditional Chinese. Actually, a major issue, surrounding TCM in the West, concerns the accuracy of the translations of the Ancient texts from the native Chinese language to the modern Western languages.

The same goes with the Meridians. I have often explained to my patient that his Leg Bladder channel is most affected. I could have easily said that the Leg TaiYang channel is affected. I have found that my patients often confuse terms presented in TCM terms, like Bladder or Lung, with the actual named organs in Western medicine.

I cannot tell how many times that a patient tells me that he is having no symptoms associated with his Bladder when I tell him that the Bladder channel is affected. I explain to him that he shouldn’t confuse what Bladder represents in the two fields, as the diagnostic parameters are much different.

Chinese herbs are another field in TCM that showcases the Chinese language. I feel if a person studies Herbs, he is, essentially, learning the Chinese language. Individual herbs like, Bai Mu Er or Zi Won, and complex herbal formulas like, Bai Hu Tang or Cang Er Zi San, give the practitioner access to learning the Chinese language. This, in-itself, is very worthwhile.

I cannot tell how fortunate I feel in being able to access the Chinese Language as a TCM practitioner.