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traditional Chinese medicine
the diverse body of medical theory and practice that has evolved in China, comprising four branches: acupuncture and moxibustion, herbal medicine, qi gong, and tui na. Although traditional Chinese medicine encompasses a variety of theory and practice, all of its forms share certain underlying
characteristics. The body and mind are considered together as a dynamic system subject to cycles of change and affected by
the environment, and emphasis is on supporting the body's self-healing ability.Fundamental to this are the yin/yang principle and the concept of basic substances that pervade the body: qi (vital energy), jing (essence), and shen (spirit), collectively known as the three treasures, along with the blood (seen as a fluid and material manifestation of
qi) and body fluids (which moisten and lubricate the body). Disease arises from a disturbance of qi within the body, the particular pathological process depending on the location of the disturbance.Causes are classified into three groups: external (those from the environment), internal (the emotions), and miscellaneous (things such as diet, fatigue, or trauma). Diagnosis is by visual assessment, listening and smelling, questioning, and palpation.
A single biomedical disease may be associated with a large number of diagnoses in traditional Chinese medicine, or one diagnosis
in this system may encompass a number of biomedical diseases. Once a diagnosis is established, therapy aims at restoring the
body's homeostasis by treating the root cause of the disease.
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