Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is an ancient school of wellness based on Taoist concepts about the intimate relationship between the individual and the environment.In TCM, masculine (yang) and feminine (yin) energies are thought to flow through the human body via energy pathways called meridians. These meridians, in turn, are associated with various organ systems, including the lungs, liver, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidneys, sex organs, gallbladder, and triple warmer, an energy system comprised of three energy centers in the human body.
In Chinese herbal medicine, herbs are classified as yang (hot) or yin (cold). Yin herbs treat yang conditions by moving energy to the interior of the body, while yang herbs treat yin conditions by moving energy to the body’s surface.
In addition to using herbal tonics to balance a patient’s health, practitioners of TCM also rely upon complimentary healing modalities, including acupuncture, acupressure and qi gong practices to balance the body’s energy flow. Traditionally, a TCM practitioner created a remedy for a specific person and illness, but many TCM combination herbal remedies are now available as dietary supplements.