Natural Health Glossary
Medical Terms, Therapies, Accreditation

Don't forget to check the Herbal Remedies/Herbology 101 reference for more definitions!

traditional chinese medicine (tcm)

A heading that encompasses a vast field of modalities and practices, including acupunture, Chinese herbal remedies, tai chi, Qi Gong, tui na, anma, mind-body therapies, and dietary therapy.   (more info below)

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TCM is based on the classical Chinese belief that people are fundamentally interconnected with nature and their environment. Beyond this, there are differences in the ways it may be practiced depending on the philosophical influences (e.g. Buddhism, Taoism, or Neo-Confucianism).

Some of the goals of TCM are to restore the flow of Qi (the universal life force) throughout the body (which may be blocked at various points of the meridians or channels), to balance yin and yang, and to apply the theories of Wu Xing (the Five Phases or Movements).

TCM is a "Whole Medical System" based on eight primary principles: cold/heat, interior/exterior, excess/deficiency, and yin/yang.

A TCM practitioner will customize treatment to you based on observations and interviewing. Feel free to ask about their training and background as their treatment will be informed by the philosophical differences mentioned above.

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