The Traditional Medicine Network was
formed in 1998 to represent the interests of Traditional Healers.
Its purpose is to forge links between
Traditional Healers all over the world, irrespective of their
ethnic background or medical traditions, to educate the public
about Traditional Healing and to foster its practise here in
Australia as well as Internationally.
The Traditional Medicine Network is the only
organisation within Australia which is dedicated solely
to that purpose.
This site provides background information
on the three main foundations of Traditional Healing in this
region::
The holistic
wisdom medicine that dates back at least 16,000 years and
represents the earliest known form of structured medicine. It has
been an integral part of semi-nomadic and agricultural societies
for eons and still serves millions of people all over the world.
Its practitioners utilise an integrated and coherent system of
healing that includes psychotherapeutics, dietetics, herbal
medicine and physical therapy approaches.
- Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This is the
medical system that originated in ancient China over 6000 years
ago. In its original form it represents a true wisdom medicine and
although there are many Chinese medicine practitioners who still
practise according to these principles, there is an increasing
tendency for it to be split into separate parts, so that some
practitioners practice only acupuncture and others practice only
herbal medicine, and so forth. Sadly this process is causing it to
lose its holistic Traditional Healing heritage.
- Sasang Constitutional Medicine.
This medical
system is based on the earliest Chinese classics and as such can
be traced back at least 2000 years. It was rediscovered in the
late 1800s by Dr. Lee Je-Ma.of Korea. It has an advantage over
other Oriental medical systems as it focuses on the treatment of
the individual rather than just a set a disease syndromes. The
holistic core of this medicine is expressed by its "four pillars
of treatment", namely: 1. counseling, 2. diet and lifestyle
advice, 3. herbal medicines and, 4. reflex therapy. This ensures
that it lies well within the sphere of Traditional Healing.
This medical
system originated over 6000 years ago and traveled to India, where
it became known as Ayurvedic medicine and ancient Greece where it
became Graeco-Arabic Medicine. Graeco-Arabic medicine spread from
its original home into Europe and was its traditional medicine
until about 150 years ago. It was also carried by Islam into the
Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, where it is known as
Yunani Tibb or Unani Medicine. Many practitioners of Graeco-Arabic
medicine still utilise the holistic principles of Traditional
Healing.
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