what is traditional chinese medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that takes the laws and patterns of nature and applies them to the human body. TCM is not "New Age," nor is it a patchwork of different healing modalities. TCM is a complete medical system that has been practiced for more than five thousand years.
At the heart of TCM is the tenet that the root cause of illnesses, not their symptoms, must be treated. In modern-day terms, TCM is holistic in its approach; it views every aspect of a person (body, mind, spirit, and emotions) as part of one complete circle rather than loosely connected pieces to be treated individually.
Fundamentally, Traditional Chinese Medicine is about striking a balance between yin and yang, and it is believed that medical problems stem from an imbalance in these elements which must be corrected. This imbalance leads to a blockage of the flow of the vital energy (Qi). Techniques such as acupuncture, moxibustion, Chinese herbs, nutrition, exercise (meditation/qi gong, tai ji) and tui na (Asian bodywork) are the key treatment components of Chinese medicine and are used to promote balance of the yin and yang and regulate one's vital energy.