Learn Chinese medicine
In-depth guides to Traditional Chinese Medicine: foundations, diagnosis, therapies, resources and scientific evidence, in English.
Foundations 基础
What Is Chinese Medicine? A Clear and Rigorous Introduction
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a health system with more than two thousand years of history that understands the body as a set of interrelated functions, in balance with its environment. It uses concepts such as Qi, Yin and Yang and the five elements, and relies on therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, tuina massage, dietary therapy and exercises such as qigong.
FoundationsHistory of Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine took shape over more than two thousand years. Its theoretical foundations were set down in texts such as the Huangdi Neijing, around the Han dynasty, and expanded with works such as Zhang Zhongjing's Shanghan Lun and Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu. In the 20th century it was institutionalized in China and spread around the world.
Foundations阴阳Yin and Yang
In Chinese philosophy and medicine, Yin and Yang are two opposite and complementary aspects present in all phenomena: Yin represents what is cold, still and nourishing, and Yang what is warm, active and functional. Traditional Chinese Medicine understands health as their dynamic balance and disease as their imbalance.
Foundations五行The Five Elements
The five elements or five phases (wu xing) are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, five categories that traditional Chinese medicine uses to relate organs, emotions, seasons, colors and flavors. They are linked to one another through a generating cycle (sheng), in which each element nourishes the next, and a controlling cycle (ke), in which each element restrains another.
Foundations精气神Vital Substances
In traditional Chinese medicine, the vital substances are the components that sustain life and the activity of the body: Qi, Blood (Xue), Body Fluids (Jin Ye), Essence (Jing) and Spirit (Shen). According to this theory, they are produced from heredity, food and air, and their abundance and free circulation are the basis of health.
Foundations脏腑Zang Fu
The Zang Fu are the system of organs and viscera in traditional Chinese medicine: five yin organs (Zang) that store vital substances and six yang viscera (Fu) that transform and transport. They do not correspond exactly to the anatomical organs, but to sets of interrelated physiological, emotional and energetic functions.
Foundations经络Meridians
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the meridians (jing luo) are a network of channels through which Qi and Blood circulate and which connect the internal organs with the surface of the body. There are twelve main meridians, paired with the organs, and eight extraordinary vessels, the most notable of which are Ren Mai and Du Mai.
Foundations病因Causes of disease in Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine groups the causes of disease into three categories: external (the six climatic factors, such as wind, cold or dampness), internal (the seven emotions when they are intense or prolonged) and neither internal nor external (diet, overwork, injuries and other habits). It is a traditional model, distinct from the etiology of modern medicine.
Diagnosis 诊断
The four diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine
The four diagnostic methods (si zhen) are the techniques traditional Chinese medicine uses to gather information about a person: observation, listening and smelling, questioning, and palpation, which includes taking the pulse. Their findings are combined to identify a pattern of imbalance, not a disease in the sense of modern medicine.
Diagnosis舌诊Tongue diagnosis in Chinese medicine
Tongue diagnosis (she zhen) is an observation technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine that interprets the color, shape, moisture and coating of the tongue as a reflection of the state of Qi, Blood and the organs. It is part of the four diagnostic methods and is used alongside the pulse and questioning, not on its own.
Diagnosis脉诊Pulse diagnosis in Chinese medicine
Pulse diagnosis (mai zhen) is a palpation technique of Traditional Chinese Medicine in which the radial pulse of both wrists is assessed at three positions (cun, guan and chi) and at three depths. Its rate, strength, rhythm and shape are interpreted as a reflection of the state of Qi, Blood and the organs.
Diagnosis八纲The eight principles of diagnosis in Chinese medicine
The eight principles (ba gang) are the basic framework traditional Chinese medicine uses to classify signs and symptoms. They are organized into four pairs of opposites: exterior and interior, cold and heat, deficiency and excess, and yin and yang. They are used to describe the location, nature and intensity of an imbalance and to guide traditional treatment.
Therapies 疗法
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting very fine needles into specific points on the body. Traditionally it is explained as a way of regulating the flow of Qi through the meridians; current research suggests modest benefits, mainly for some types of chronic pain and for nausea.
Therapies中药Chinese herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is the use of plants, and to a lesser extent minerals and animal products, combined into formulas according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is the most widely used TCM therapy in China; some substances have led to effective drugs, but it also poses real risks of toxicity, contamination and interactions.
Therapies艾灸Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that applies heat to acupuncture points by burning moxa, a material made from dried mugwort leaves. Traditionally it is used to warm and tonify; the scientific evidence on its effectiveness is scarce and of limited quality.
Therapies拔罐Cupping
Cupping therapy consists of placing cups on the skin and creating a vacuum that draws up the tissues. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used to move Qi and Blood and relieve pain; the scientific evidence is limited and of low quality, although some studies suggest some relief of musculoskeletal pain.
Therapies推拿Tuina
Tuina is the therapeutic massage of traditional Chinese medicine: it combines pressing, kneading, rubbing and mobilizations on meridians and acupuncture points. It is one of the classical branches of TCM; the evidence suggests it may relieve some musculoskeletal pain in the short term, although the quality of the studies is limited.
Therapies刮痧Gua sha
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that consists of scraping lubricated skin with a smooth-edged tool until small reddish marks called sha appear. Traditionally it is used to move Qi and Blood and relieve muscle pain; the scientific evidence is scarce and comes from small studies.
Therapies气功 太极拳Qigong and tai chi
Qigong and tai chi are Chinese practices that combine slow movements, breathing and mental focus. Qigong is a set of health exercises and tai chi is a martial art practiced today mainly as gentle exercise. The evidence suggests benefits for balance and fall prevention in older adults and for general physical fitness.
Therapies食疗Chinese Dietary Therapy
Chinese dietary therapy is the branch of traditional Chinese medicine that uses food to maintain health and balance. It classifies each food by its nature, from cold to hot, and by its flavor, and recommends adapting them to the person and the season; these categories are traditional and have not been scientifically validated.
Resources 资源
The Organ Clock
The organ clock is a concept from traditional Chinese medicine that divides the day into 12 two-hour periods, each associated with a meridian and its organ, through which Qi is said to circulate at peak intensity. It is a traditional idea that is useful for understanding the Chinese view of the daily rhythm, but it is not validated as a diagnostic tool.
Resources术语Chinese Medicine Glossary
This glossary brings together 60 basic terms of traditional Chinese medicine with their Chinese characters, their pinyin transcription and a brief definition in English. It serves as a quick reference for understanding concepts such as Qi, Jing, Shen, meridians, diagnostic patterns and acupuncture points.
ResourcesFrequently Asked Questions About Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture
This page answers the most common questions about traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture: whether they hurt, whether they are safe, how to choose a practitioner, how many sessions are usually done and whether they can be combined with medical treatment. The answers are for general guidance only and do not replace a consultation with a health professional.
Health and evidence 证据
Scientific Evidence on Chinese Medicine
The scientific evidence on traditional Chinese medicine is uneven: some techniques, such as acupuncture for certain chronic pain or tai chi for balance, have some support, while for most uses it is limited or insufficient. Studying it is difficult because of the placebo effect, the difficulty of blinding treatments and the variable quality of trials.
Health and evidenceSafety in Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is not without risks. Acupuncture performed by trained practitioners with sterile single-use needles is low risk, but medicinal herbs can be toxic, contaminated or interact with drugs. Using it safely means choosing the practitioner carefully, informing your doctor and never abandoning a prescribed treatment.
