What is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)?
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a medical tradition that developed over many centuries in China. It includes acupuncture , Chinese herbal medicine , dietary advice, massage and other treatment methods.
In TCM, a practitioner considers your complaint and the way it manifests in your particular case. Other symptoms and characteristics are also taken into account. This creates a picture of which treatment may suit you at that time.
How does TCM approach complaints?
A Western diagnosis provides important information about a condition. TCM also considers the overall presentation: which symptoms are most prominent, which occur together and what else stands out?
For example, two people may have the same Western diagnosis but experience different symptoms. One mainly has pain and easily feels hot, while the other mainly feels tired and easily feels cold. In TCM, these differences can indicate a different TCM pattern . The treatment may therefore also differ.
A pattern describes how complaints and other findings are related according to TCM. It does not automatically identify the cause of a condition. Possible influences such as illness, stress and lifestyle are also considered when assessing complaints.
What happens during an initial consultation?
During your first consultation, the practitioner discusses your main complaint, your health history and what you would like to achieve through treatment. Depending on your situation, questions may also cover:
- sleep and fatigue;
- digestion, appetite and bowel movements;
- feeling hot or cold;
- pain and restricted movement;
- tension and mood;
- the menstrual cycle, where relevant.
The practitioner may also examine your tongue and feel your pulse. In TCM, these are additional findings that help assess the overall picture.
A TCM pattern may be identified from all this information together. That pattern helps guide the choice of treatment. As your complaints can change, the practitioner reassesses what needs attention during the course of treatment.
Which treatments are part of TCM?
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are two important treatment methods within TCM. They can be used separately or combined.
In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts thin needles at selected points on the body. In Chinese herbal medicine, a formula is chosen to suit your complaints and TCM pattern. Depending on your situation, dietary or lifestyle advice, massage, cupping or moxa may also form part of treatment.
The appropriate approach depends on your complaints, preferences and health situation.
Which terms will you encounter on this website?
TCM uses concepts to describe functions and relationships within the body. They do not always have a direct equivalent in conventional medicine.
- Qi describes activity, movement and the regulation of bodily functions, among other things.
- Blood has a broader meaning in TCM than blood as described in conventional medicine.
- Yin and Yang describe complementary qualities that continually interact.
- TCM organ systems describe a set of functions and do not refer solely to the physical organs with the same names.
- Channels or meridians describe relationships between different areas and functions of the body. Acupuncture points lie along their described pathways.
- A TCM pattern is a recognisable combination of complaints and findings that helps tailor treatment.