Profound Chinese Medicine
Cheng Koh grew up with Chinese Medicine in Singapore. Her father
owned an herb dispensary, and her grandmother was a village
barefoot doctor, taking pulses and subscribing herbs. "She
taught my father a lot about Chinese Herbal Medicine. As a child
growing up, anytime that I was sick it was off to my Father's
herbal dispensary and if he can't cure us then we were off to
see the Western Doctor! So I grew up with Chinese Medicine first
and Western Medicine last. Today, most of us use Western
Medicine first and Chinese Medicine as a last resort."
Chinese medicine was just a part of Cheng's life, and little did
she know at the time that it was her destiny. "I grew up
surrounded by Chinese Herbs and unexplained and un-clarified
dietary advice. I never thought that I would practice
Traditional Chinese Medicine, but when the opportunity was
presented to me I was drawn to the subject like a magnet; I have
not stopped since. It became important to understand the
unexplained and the unclarified principles that I was taught
from childhood. It has become a great part of my life today and
I value the teachings and the profound knowledge of Traditional
Chinese Medicine."
Cheng studied Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada with a
Chinese Doctor in Toronto. In 1988, she began her clinical
practice, and by 1994 she was doing her advanced clinical
studies in Shanghai, China, under the guidance of medical
masters, working in an out-patient clinic of Shanghai First
People's Hospital. Cheng also broadened her knowledge with
continuing education in Japanese and Korean acupuncture
techniques studying with many renowned practitioners. With a
background in Aesthetics (trained in London) she uses her
knowledge today in Facial Rejuvenation treatments using
acupuncture. Cheng has taught professionally at the Canadian
College of Naturopathic Medicine and the Canadian Memorial
Chiropractic College. She is a regular guest lecturer at York
University in Toronto. She started the Acupuncture and
Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute in 1995, bringing in
world renowned speakers for TCM, Qigong and TaiChi.
Chinese Medicine has a tradition spanning over 5,000 years, and
incorporates several modalities. "This I call the ancient art of
healing," says Cheng. "It is a complete system on its own using
Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, massage, nutrition,
exercise with Qigong and TaiChi, and meditation. These
techniques all focus on regulating and controlling the flow and
balance of energy, Qi. This is the goal and essence of
Traditional Chinese Medicine: harmony and balance. Our bodies
become ill when we are not in harmony and balance. Chinese
medical theory allows for preventative therapy. If you think
back on how the Chinese emperors had their physicians by their
side, they were there to keep them healthy. That was their role.
This medicine excels in its preventative therapy."
Unfortunately, the Western tendency is to seek out medical help
only when there is a problem. This mindset is actively promoted
by the "see-your-doctor" commercial media, that focuses
attention on cures and balms, rather than promoting a
preventative approach to overall health. "And, worse than that,"
says Cheng, "Patients only seek help from Chinese medicine when
Western medicine cannot help. Very seldom in clinical practice
do I get a patient walking in saying, 'I really don't have
anything serious, but my parents weren't so healthy. Could you
assess me and maybe find a way to keep me healthy?' Traditional
Chinese Medical practitioners spend an hour to an hour and a
half in consultation to assess your constitutional health and
your health concerns. It is our belief that: the further back
you look the further forward you can see. The ability to read a
body before structural damage occurs enables Chinese Medicine to
prevent disease before it develops or to slow down the
progression of generative diseases. We tend to want to treat the
root cause of a problem, not just the manifestations of signs
and symptoms. "
This individualization is something Western medicine cannot
accommodate, since the entire system focuses on getting a
diagnosis that matches a known condition that then can be
administered a drug. "The Traditional Chinese practitioner feels
your pulse observes your tongue and face, studies your health
history to determine your constitutional health and determines
the kinds of imbalances that you have in the body," says Cheng.
"Obviously, Western medicine has its place--I think it's really
good for emergency and acute conditions when you need to correct
something right away."
Because most people seek out Chinese medicine in the hope of
getting some immediate relief from symptoms, many practitioners
have resorted to a "cookbook" type of prescription. Cheng
stresses it is important treat the whole person, history and
all, over time. "When you take into account a patient's basic
constitutional health, it enables you to prescribe
individualized treatment whether it be a point prescription for
acupuncture or a herbal prescription customized for that
patient's pattern of disharmony."
"One of the biggest mistakes that I have encountered is the
self-prescribing Chinese Herbs," says Cheng. "There have been
many articles written about the efficacy of certain herbs, and
has resulted in the Western Herbal manufacturers making remedies
focusing on one singular herb. In Chinese Herbal Medicine
formulations are made up of four or more herbs, and have a
particular purpose of harmonizing, balancing the body, and
offsetting the effects of other herbal medicines in a particular
prescription. We usually do not prescribe singular herbs. It is
also not advisable to go to a health food store to buy a Chinese
Herb because of an article in a magazine. Herbs have certain
properties and can create a greater imbalance in your body."
Cheng points out that Chinese medicine is all about energy, and
correcting the subtle imbalances occurring on the day-to-day,
rather than waiting until the imbalances turn into measurable
and miserable conditions. "If you look at statistics, you'll see
that Chinese women suffer less during menopause, because all the
little imbalances and problems that arise from their menstrual
cycle and changes in life are very much corrected as you go. So
a lot of Chinese women traditionally change their diet. They
know what to do, and make adjustments through their life--try to
keep the theory of moderation in their lifestyle."
"Chinese medicine is very logical in its explanation of how
things work," says Cheng. "For example, we call something like
'Qi stagnation,' energy that is 'stuck,' and does not move
properly. I like to use this analogy: Imagine Qi and blood in
the body to be like traffic moving on a highway--smooth flow, no
congestion, everybody gets to where they need to go. Congestion,
slowing down of traffic, will lead to traffic jams. A traffic
jam is similar to serious health problems like heart attacks,
strokes, tumors, cancers, etcetera. We treat when your traffic
is slowing down. Western Medicine treats traffic jams. A common
example can be seen in pre-menstrual syndrome with breast
swelling and distension, mood swings, bloating and menstrual
cramps. These symptoms are not acceptable to Chinese Medicine as
it indicates that the Qi and blood do not flow freely."
Cheng stresses that the entire approach to health with Chinese
medicine is to create balance--not just in the body, but in
life. "Promoting smooth flow of Qi throughout the whole body can
be achieved through lifestyle changes, practicing moderation in
all aspects of our lives, whether it is diet, emotions, or work;
or a balance between personal life and working life. Anything
excessive is not good because your body will eventually suffer
from it."
>From the Chinese medicine perspective, adopting the balancing
lifestyle for a person should go beyond practitioner treatments.
"Tai chi, Qigong and Yoga are the three best exercises for the
promotion of Qi & blood flow," says Cheng. "Qi and blood moves
freely through the body when the body is in a calm, relaxed
state. Any exercise that puts your body in a tense state--like
playing squash, rock climbing--- any activity that puts your
tendons and muscles in a tight, tense position for too long,
will eventually create joint problems. Those who like those
forms of tense exercises or working out in a gym need also to do
the Tai Chi, Qigong or Yoga. The more you like those kinds of
exercises, the more you have to do Tai Chi, Qigong or Yoga as
you need to balance your body between those forms of activity.
One relaxes, the other tightens."
Because Chinese medicine is all about energy, Cheng has made
extensive use of Subtle Energy Solutions formulas. "What
attracted me to the subtle energy products is because of some of
the descriptions that it is a little bit like acupuncture
without needles. I have taught patients to use the E-1, E-2, and
E-4, locally. That is, if they have the E-3 cream, and they want
to enhance the effect of the stress relief, they can actually
put one or two drops of E-1 into the cream and use it. It
strengthens the effect of the cream."
Even Otis, Cheng's dog, has been rewarded for his association
with her. "Animals, pets, respond really well to energy
medicine. My dog takes Chinese herbs regularly, and I include
the subtle energy medicine: E-1 for when he needs calming, E-2
to balance his digestive organs, and E-4 as a foundational
support. Otis gets the E-3 cream for any kinds of little nicks,
cuts and bruises, or itching on the skin. For calming I take a
little bit of the cream and pet his forehead with it. I wouldn't
live without E-1, E-2, E-3 or E-4. They're just great." Cheng
has made available a line of equine energy medicines, as well,
at pawpourripethealth.com.
E-3 cream "With every patient that receives treatment here, the
treatment is completed with E-3 cream," says Cheng. "To each,
depending on the patient, I take the opportunity to explain that
this is a wonderful cream, but it has a wonderful energy in it,
and it will help hold the results of the treatment, and help
balance their body. I'll teach them to balance themselves in the
morning by placing the cream between the eyes, the palms of the
hand, the soles of the feet, and wherever they feel they need
it--neck, shoulders or low back, and any areas of pain or
irritation."
Cheng uses the subtle energy formulas to increase the speed and
effectiveness of her treatments. "The E-3 cream is used on all
patients who are sensitive before starting an acupuncture
treatment," says Cheng. "For complicated cases or emotional
conditions, I like to begin with the energy medicines before I
introduce Chinese herbs. Chinese herbs have a long, long history
of effectiveness, but it is still a substance which you need to
absorb and break down. Energy medicine can prepare the body for
accepting Chinese herbal medicine."
In her busy Toronto practice, Cheng Koh continues to change
people's lives, giving them new tools to achieve the level of
health they want. "I just found Chinese medicine to be so
profound," enthuses Cheng, "Especially as a preventative
medicine. Today, I feel sorry sometimes for people who don't see
that. You can use it to correct a problem, obviously, but their
ability to keep someone healthy is so profound."
Contact Cheng Koh, D.Ac., CMD, Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM), at her clinic,
276 Willard Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, phone:
416-767-6266.