Traditional Chinese Medicine
The body is a system - TCM treats it that way.
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive medical system originating in ancient China over 3,000 years ago. It conceptualises the body as an integrated whole, in which health is maintained through the balanced flow of vital energy (Qi) along meridians.
Differences Between Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine.
Western medicine, which historically developed through dissection and the study of deceased bodies, focuses on anatomy (the physical, material structures), pathology, and physiological mechanisms, often in measurable, isolated, and structural terms. In contrast, TCM views the living body as an integrated energetic system, encompassing spiritual, energetic, and physical dimensions simultaneously. It prioritises patterns and processes over isolated parts, emphasising the flow of vital energy (Qi) and the balance among these dimensions to maintain health.
The Essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine lies in achieving balance —within the body and in harmony with nature. Health is viewed as a state of dynamic equilibrium, similar to homeostasis, maintained through the balance of Yin and Yang. The aim of TCM is not only to relieve symptoms but to restore the body’s natural rhythm to address the root.