Traditional Chinese Medicine is a type of alternative naturopathic medicine whereby the body is brought into harmony with the spirit and mind within the context of the larger universe. The following therapies are considered part of classic Chinese Medicine:

§ nutrition

§ acupuncture

§ herbal remedies

§ massage

§ therapeutic exercise

Rooted in ancient Taoist philosophy, traditional Chinese Medicine views ultimate health as a balanced energy system consisting of influences from both the body and the mind. Chinese Medicine is holistic and nature and treats the whole person.

In general, traditional Chinese medicine is attributed to three legendary emperors: Fu Si (2852 B.C.), credited as the author of the “Book of Changes” or “I Ching”, the origin of the yin/yang concept; Shen Nong (3494 B.C.), who compiled the first treatise on herbal medicine containing over 365 herbal remedies, “Shen Nong's Herbal Classic”; and Huang Di (2697 B.C.), regarded as the author of the “Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic”, which is hailed as the earliest summary of ancient Chinese medical theories. In their present form, these books were probably manuscripted around the third or fourth centuries B.C. The first Chinese medical school was founded by the first emperor of the Tang dynasty in 629 A.D. Its foundation was followed by standardization of medical books and a set of formal examinations for doctors. In the centuries that followed, other medical schools were established, the curriculum was expanded, and the examination and licensing process became more comprehensive. Shen Nong's original list was expanded by Li Shizhen (1590) to 1892 medicines, and by Zhao Xue Min (1765) to 2500.

Central to the theme of traditional Chinese medicine is the concept of duality, and the belief in a form of universal energy called qi which is composed of two opposing forces that continually interact and produce constant change in the universe called terms yin and yang. Yang is associated with heat, dryness, brightness, upward or outward movement, forceful action, lightness, and speed. Yin represents the corresponding qualities of cold, moisture, dimness, downward or inward movement, quietness, heaviness, and slowness. These opposites are regarded as interdependent rather than mutually destructive or antagonistic. Humans participate in qi, or the universal life force, which circulates throughout the body and determines the person's basic level of vitality.

Over the centuries, doctors of Chinese medicine have worked out elaborate systems of correlation between yin and yang and the so-called five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water); the ten major internal organs of the body; and meridians, or invisible energy pathways that circulate qi and blood throughout the body. The meridians have four functions: to connect the internal organs with the exterior of the body, and connect the person to the environment and the universe; to regulate the yin and yang balance within the body's organs and five elements; to distribute qi within the body; and to protect the body against external imbalances related to weather (wind, summer heat, dampness, dryness, cold, and fire) – protecting the body against external sources of disease.

There are certain points along the meridians where qi is thought to collect or concentrate. These points are used in traditional Chinese medicine for acupuncture treatment as well as diagnosis. Prescriptions for herbal medicines are formulated to correct excesses of yin or yang, blockages or incorrect direction in the flow of qi, disorders located in a specific organ, and the emotional problems that accompany physical illness.