"Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China."
A traditional medicine system that is based on the concept of Qi, or life energy, and involves the use of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and other forms of therapy.
Yin-Yang Theory: The foundational concept of Chinese Medicine, which maintains that all things in the universe are composed of two opposing yet complementary energies- yin and yang.
Five Elements Theory: A theory that states that everything in the universe is composed of five elements- fire, earth, metal, water, and wood- each of which corresponds to a variety of bodily systems and functions.
Qi (Chi) and Meridian Theory: The concept of qi, or life force energy, is central to Chinese Medicine. According to this theory, there are twelve meridians that run throughout the body, which the flow of qi is regulated.
Chinese Medicine Diagnosis: There are numerous diagnostic techniques utilized in Chinese Medicine, including pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, and observation of other physical signs and symptoms.
Acupuncture: The insertion of fine needles into specific points along the body's meridians to balance the flow of qi and promote healing.
Herbal Medicine: The use of plant-based remedies, including roots, leaves, and flowers, to treat various ailments and imbalances in the body.
Diet and Lifestyle: Eating a balanced and healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and avoiding stress are all important aspects of Chinese Medicine and promoting overall wellness.
Tuina Massage: A form of Chinese medical massage that involves the use of rhythmic compression, pressure point stimulation, and various other techniques to stimulate the flow of qi and promote healing.
Cupping: An ancient therapy in which cups are placed on the skin and suction is created, to promote blood flow and relieve pain and tension.
Moxibustion: The burning of processed mugwort onto or near specific acupuncture points to promote the flow of qi and stimulate healing.
"It has been described as 'fraught with pseudoscience', with the majority of its treatments having no logical mechanism of action."
"Medicine in traditional China encompassed a range of sometimes competing health and healing practices, folk beliefs, literati theory and Confucian philosophy, herbal remedies, food, diet, exercise, medical specializations, and schools of thought."
"In the early twentieth century, Chinese cultural and political modernizers worked to eliminate traditional practices as backward and unscientific."
"Traditional practitioners then selected elements of philosophy and practice and organized them into what they called 'Chinese medicine' (Zhongyi)."
"In the 1950s, the Chinese government sponsored the integration of Chinese and Western medicine."
"In the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, [the Chinese government] promoted Chinese medicine as inexpensive and popular."
"After the opening of relations between the United States and China after 1972, there was great interest in the West for what is now called traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)."
"TCM is said to be based on such texts as Huangdi Neijing (The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor) and Compendium of Materia Medica, a sixteenth-century encyclopedic work."
"TCM includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, gua sha, massage (tui na), bonesetter (die-da), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy."
"One of the basic tenets is that the body's qi is circulating through channels called meridians having branches connected to bodily organs and functions."
"There is no evidence that meridians or vital energy exist."
"Concepts of the body and of disease used in TCM reflect its ancient origins and its emphasis on dynamic processes over material structure, similar to the humoral theory of ancient Greece and ancient Rome."
"The demand for traditional medicines in China has been a major generator of illegal wildlife smuggling, linked to the killing and smuggling of endangered animals." Quotes from the passage that answer the questions have been provided immediately after each question.