What is Chinese Medicine?

Chinese medicine is the oldest form of continuous healthcare employed today. In Asia, it is used to treat any condition that is treated here in the West with biomedicine. It is a complete medical system that includes a wide variety of therapeutic techniques including acupuncture, herbal medicine, exercise and nutrition.

What most people commonly refer to as acupuncture is really the profession of Chinese medicine. The foundation of this medicine is that a life energy flows through the body called Qi (pronounced “chee”). This energy travels in channels known as meridians that connect to all of our major organs. Illness or pain occurs when the cyclic flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or blocked.

A more modern explanation is that the stimulation of certain points on the body release hormones and chemicals that reduce pain, regulate the endocrine system, enhance immune function, and calm the nervous system. This has been shown in scientific research. In fact, Chinese medicine is the most researched of all complementary health systems, and is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).