Title: Traditional Chinese medicine in the United States : in search of spiritual meaning and ultimate health /
Authors: Wu, Emily S., 1978-
Publisher: Lexington Books,
Year: 2013
Subjects: Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Medicine, Chinese.; United States; United States
Abstract: "Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) originated from the traditional medical system in the Chinese civilization, with influences from the Daoist and Chinese folk traditions in bodily cultivation and longevity techniques. In the past few decades, TCM has become one of the leading alternative medical systems in the United States. This book demonstrates the fluidity of a medical ideological system with a rich history of methodological development and internal theoretical conflicts, continuing to transform in our postmodern world where people and ideas transcend geographic, ethnic, and linguistic limitations. The unique historical trajectories and cultural dynamics of the American society are precious nutrients for the localization of TCM, while the constant traffic of travelers and immigrants foster the globalizing tendency of TCM. The practitioners in this book therefore represent an incredible range of clinical applications, personal styles, theoretical rationalizations, and business models. What really unifies all these practitioners is not their practices, but the goal of these practices. The shared goal is to strive for health, not just health in terms of the lack of illness, but the ultimate health of achieving perfect balance in every aspect of the being of a person--physically, mentally, spiritually, and energetically."--Publisher's website.
Contents: Contextualization -- History of local TCM -- Medical training and identity formation -- TCM healers in the Chinese community -- TCM as complementary medicine -- TCM as alternative medicine -- Creating a space for psychic healing -- Going to the culturally authentic -- Environmentalism and lifestyle changes -- The happenings in an acupuncture clinic -- The embodied spirituality of Qi -- Ideal body and the concept of health -- Concluding analysis.