What is Traditional Chinese Medicine? 

Traditional Chinese Medicine or Asian Medicine, is a stand-alone, self-contained system of medicine. This means that the medicine uses its own theoretical basis and methodology when establishing diagnosis and treatment.  

A TCM practitioner, looks at the same body and disease, however, gathers, organizes and evaluates the collected information rather differently. Consequently, the treatment strategies employed and the actual treatments  that follow are very different as well. 
 
Chinese Medicine was initially brought to the US by immigrants but was largely ignored by the non-chinese population. This changed in 1972, when a New York Times reporter underwent emergency surgery while in China.

His post surgical discomfort and pain were treated with Acupuncture. He was so impressed by his encounter with Acupuncture that he reported on his experience upon his return to the States.

His story set a movement in motion. Acupuncture eventually was legalized in the 1970’s and today there are well over 10,000 practitioners in the US. The profession is licensed in most states and covered by insurance in many instances.
 
TCM is one of the oldest professionally practiced health care system (if not the oldest) in the world today.  It is a comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical tradition of over 2000 years.

The medicine originated in China, but is practiced in many other countries today with various local adaptation (Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese styles of Acupuncture to name a few). 
 
At times you will hear Traditional Chinese Medicine referred to as Oriental/Asian Medicine or simply as  Acupuncture. You will also find that the terms are used interchangeably. Regardless of what terms are used, just know, that we are talking about one and the same: a system of medicine .
 
Traditional Chinese Medicine, is an umbrella term that includes five distinct modalities or branches. Important to remember is that all of the modalities are based on the same theoretical foundation and on the principle of Qi. Here are the 5 branches that make up TCM:
 
Acupuncture - Best known and most commonly used modality in the West. It is most often utilized for the treatment of pain, even though it can be used for much more than pain.

Herbology – In China acupuncture and herbs are often used hand in hand. There are well over 3000 + substances that have been catalogued. Herbs are perfectly safe if taken appropriately. Chinese herbals typically are taken as a formula, a group of herbs together; rarely are individual herbs used by themselves.
  
Tuina - In China it is practiced as a combination of medical massage and adjustment. However, in the US, practitioners typically do not use adjustment.
 
Dietary Therapy  - The foods we eat influence our health. Chinese Medicine is mindful of blending different energies/elements of food together, so that our health is affected positively.  Practitioners utilize dietary therapy in treating patients.
 
Moving/breathing exercises - Tai Qi, Qi Gong, etc., and the many martial art styles that are being practiced.
 
 
Today, approximately 1/3 of the world's population uses some form of Traditional Chinese Medicine on a regular basis. Also, the WHO (World Health Organization) recognizes Acupuncture (as part of TCM) as a viable treatment for a variety of conditions. For further information please visit the following link:

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2002/9241545437.pdf