Traditiional chinese medicine (TCM) is considered to be alternative medical system in the western world nowadays but is the main form of healthcare in most of Asia.
TCM uses acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy and Tui Na and Shiatsu massage. Mind relaxation and energy methods are used the main ones are Taiji and Qigong.
TCM was devised thousands of years ago from observation of the body, nature and the cosmos. TCM is very complex and the major theories are the five phases, Yin-yang, Zang Fu organ theory, six conformations, the human body channel system, four layers etc.
They use such methods as acupuncture (fine needles are stuck into a patient in specific points, this causes increased circulation and balances energy in the body), food therapy (the chinese believe when the five flavors are balanced you willl have a healthy body), auriculotherapy (mixture of acupuncture and moxibustion), herbal medicine (herbs are combined into potions to cure illnesses, there are over 500 herbs used), cupping(cupping is a type of chinese massage,the doctor lights a match in the cup causing oxygen to burn causing the cups to stick to the body and with a bit of massage oil can be slid around causing an anti pressure massage), Die-da (practised by martial artists who have suffered bone fractures, spranes and bruises, gua sha (An ancient type of medicine to help people with illnesses like fevers), Moxibustion (moxibustion is the burning of chinese mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) on acupoints, Tai chi chuan (Standing Meditation , Yoga, Brocade Ba duan jin exercises are all types of Taichi chuan) , qiqong(breathingand meditation exercises and Tui na(A type of massage).
