Developed over the past 5000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM refers to a number of practices. It is based on the Taoist view of the universe where everything is interrelated. While Acupuncture is perhaps the most recognized area of TCM; herbal therapy, nutritional guidance, exercise, breath and meditation techniques, hydrotherapy, Chinese massage (Tui Na manipulations), and lifestyle counseling are all employed with herbal therapy actually comprising the most widely used modality of TCM. Essentially TCM is based on restoring and maintaining harmony and balance, both externally and internally, through a highly developed medical system modeled on nature. Concepts like Yin, Yang, and Qi are fundamental to and form the basis of this medical system (see "The Theoretical Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine" paper for a detailed description).

Chinese herbal therapy administers natural herbal formulas specifically designed to correct imbalances within the body, thereby aiding in the treatment of disease. In general, herb therapies are best for functional disorders (constipation, fatigue, impotence, etc.), hormonal imbalances, and “organic problems” (changes in tissue structure). For example, herb therapy can be applied to weak digestive power, estrogen deficiency conditions, cysts and tumors. The effects of herbs are usually (but not always) seen after several days of regular use, rather than immediately, but once the effects are established, they often persist for a long time. We should think of herbs as “special super foods” which will help to heal gently through time in addition to a balanced healthy diet. Other associated healing techniques used include warming therapies, such as moxibustion (burning the herb mugwort at an acupuncture point) and TDP lamps (heat generated from far infrared radiation), low-level electrical stimulation applied to the needles, and vasopneumatic stimulation or “cupping” which applies a partial vacuum at the acupuncture points. These modalities can help increase the flow of Qi and promote healing.

To fully appreciate Chinese medicine and how it originated, the average person in the West may need to learn new ways of understanding what health is. Westerners tend to look at a symptom and believe that what they are seeing is the actual problem, not realizing that many factors come together to makeup that symptom. Take for instance when a headache arises the Western habit is to take a pill for the symptom -- the headache. In TCM, on the other hand, the practitioner addresses the big picture -- lifestyle, diet, stress, exercise, etc. -- and looks not only to help symptoms, but also to find the root cause of an ailment. People should recognize and rethink “treatments” that ignore the cause of illness, because in time an ailment that is more severe or even incurable may arise from constant suppression of minor symptoms.

Legend has it that ancient Taoists such as Huang Ti, Shen Nung, and Pien Chueh to name a few have laid the foundation to Chinese medicine. The first teachings were handed down orally, then at a later time actually transcribed. Books such as the Nei Ching, the Ben Ts’ao and the Shan Han Lun are among the first recordings of orally handed down knowledge. The knowledge from these books and great practitioners of TCM is highly respected. Today, this knowledge provides us with a base of information that has evolved through time and been tested empirically, so that a practitioner is able to come to a diagnosis and choose a treatment strategy.

We take this legacy from the past, and apply the best principles of health from today to form a working present day theory that guides us in our approach to medicine. Our goal is to provide all the people of our planet with the highest quality, understandable, affordable healthcare information that is open to and accepting of every available treatment option, modality, and practitioner. We must always remember that HEALTH IS NOT A DESTINATION, it is a journey and a way that we choose to live because we feel better -- mind, body and soul. The healthier the path we choose to live, the healthier it is for the planet. Life is change and our ability to accept and integrate with that change. Our idea of what elements represent holistic healing may be summarized by six basic principles. (1) The healing power of nature: the body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The TCM practitioner strives to create an environment in which this innate intelligence can act to restore the body to a healthy state. (2) Prevention is the best cure. This is accomplished through education and promotion of lifestyle habits that support and promote good health. (3) Identify and treat the cause; underlying causes of illness must be found and removed or treated before an individual can recover. Symptoms are expressions of the body’s attempt to heal and not the disease or its cause. (4) First, do no harm -- therapeutically or diagnostically. (5) Treat the whole person; working with the mind-body-spirit continuum is essential to both disease prevention and recovery. (6) The physician is a teacher. In addition to diagnosing and treating the individual, the role of a TCM practitioner is to create a healthy interpersonal relationship with the patient, educating and encouraging them to take responsibility for their health. The emphasis is on building health rather than fighting disease.