Traditional Chinese Medicine , a complete medical system developed over two millennia, based on the theory of qi, yin-yang, and the Five Elements, still practiced by billions.
中 zhōng (Chinese; middle) + 医 yī (medicine; doctor , the character shows a medical chest with instruments). 中医 = Chinese medicine, as opposed to 西医 xīyī (Western medicine). The distinction runs throughout Chinese healthcare: hospitals often have separate 中医科 and 西医科 departments, and patients routinely consult both systems.
The theoretical foundation of 中医 rests on three interconnected concepts. 气 qì (vital energy) flows through the body's meridian system (经络 jīngluò) and maintains health when flowing freely; illness results from blockage, deficiency, or excess. 阴阳 yīnyáng, the dual nature of all phenomena, must be balanced within the body: excess yin (寒 hán, cold) or excess yang (热 rè, heat) produces characteristic patterns of illness. The 五行 wǔxíng (Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) map onto organ systems, seasons, tastes, emotions, and therapeutic interventions.
Unlike Western medicine's disease-centered model (identify the pathogen, target the pathogen), TCM is person-centered: the same symptom in two patients may receive different treatments if the underlying 证 zhèng (pattern of disharmony) differs. The goal is not to eliminate a disease but to restore the patient's system to harmonious balance.
诊断zhěnduànDiagnosis — The Four Examinations
四诊 sì zhěn · The Four Diagnostic Methods望 wàng , inspection (observe complexion, tongue, eyes, bearing) 闻 wén , listening and smelling (voice quality, breathing sounds, body odor) 问 wèn , inquiry (ten standard questions about symptoms, history, lifestyle) 切 qiē , palpation (pulse diagnosis , the most distinctive TCM diagnostic technique)
脉诊 màizhěn · Pulse Diagnosis
Pulse diagnosis (脉诊 màizhěn or 切脉 qiē mài) is the most distinctive and sophisticated diagnostic technique in TCM. A trained practitioner places three fingers on the radial artery at the wrist and reads 28 classical pulse qualities (脉象 màixiàng): the rate, depth, width, strength, and rhythm of the pulse in three positions on each wrist correspond to specific organ systems. A skilled practitioner can detect patterns of imbalance without the patient saying a word.
Tongue diagnosis (舌诊 shé zhěn) is equally central: the tongue's color (pale/red/purple), coating (thin/thick/white/yellow/greasy), shape (swollen/thin/cracked), and moisture reveal the state of qi, blood, yin, and yang in specific organ systems. 舌苔厚腻 (thick, greasy tongue coating) = dampness and phlegm accumulation. 舌红无苔 (red tongue without coating) = yin deficiency with heat.
针 zhēn (needle) + 灸 jiǔ (moxibustion, burning dried mugwort at acupoints to warm qi). The compound covers both therapies, which are always taught together. Acupuncture inserts fine needles at specific points (穴位 xuéwèi, acupoints) along the meridians to regulate the flow of qi. There are 361 classical acupoints on the 14 main meridians. WHO recognizes acupuncture for 28 conditions with proven effectiveness.
Herbal treatment requires persistence; you cannot stop after just a few doses.
拔罐bá guàncupping therapy
N 名词 míngcí
拔 bá (to pull; to extract) + 罐 guàn (jar; can). Cupping: placing glass or bamboo cups on the skin after creating a vacuum (by heat or suction) to draw up the skin and underlying tissues, promoting local blood and qi circulation. The characteristic circular bruises left on athletes at the 2016 Olympics brought cupping to global attention. Used for musculoskeletal pain, respiratory conditions, and general qi stagnation.
中医 zhōngyī means Traditional Chinese Medicine: 中 zhōng (Chinese) plus 医 yī (medicine, doctor). It names a complete medical system developed over two millennia, built on qi, yin-yang, and the Five Elements, as opposed to 西医 xīyī, Western medicine.
What are the foundational concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine?
中医 rests on three interconnected concepts: 气 qì (vital energy) flowing through the meridians (经络 jīngluò); 阴阳 yīnyáng, balancing cold (寒) and heat (热) in the body; and 五行 wǔxíng, the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) mapped onto organ systems.
What are the four diagnostic methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine?
The four diagnostic methods (四诊 sì zhěn) are: 望 wàng, inspection (complexion, tongue, eyes); 闻 wén, listening and smelling; 问 wèn, inquiry through standard questions; and 切 qiē, palpation, primarily pulse diagnosis, the most distinctive TCM diagnostic technique.