Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated as early as 100,000 years ago, and has evolved over thousands of years. Chinese medicine views the body and mind as an integrated unit, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners use various approaches to treat health problems, such as acupuncture, herbal medicines, food therapy, exercise routines like Tai Chi and Qi Gong, etc.

Acupuncture is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is also the main component that has spread worldwide since the 1970s.

Acupuncture uses thin, solid, metallic needles to penetrate the skin, at specific acupuncture points throughout the body, the needle is often gently stimulated to activate the Qi in the channel of which the acupuncture point is located. Electro-stimulation can also be performed if more points need to be stimulated at the same time. There are over 2,000 acupuncture points in the human body, connected by meridians.

Modern acupuncture needles are hair-thin, sterile, single-used. Most people feel minimal pain during needle insertion and retention. There might be a sensation of pressure, or dull, achy feeling. For pain treatments, a lot of people feel the release of pressure the moment of needle insertion. Most people feel relaxed during their acupuncture session, many fall into an “acu nap” and wake up energized.

There are other modalities in Chinese Medicine that has similar effects as Acupuncture, usually done in conjunction with Acupuncture, that can be performed and used to treat health problems. These modalities include but are not limited to, Moxibustion, Cupping, Acupressure, TuiNa, etc.

Chinese medicine views the body and mind as an integrated unit, the concept of Qi is central to the core of that view. Qi is seen as the vital force of life. “Qi is the very basis of the universe’s infinite manifestations of life” (Maciocia, The Foundations of Chinese Medicine).

The concept of Yin-Yang is very simple, yet extremely profound. Very different than any Western philosophical idea that Yin-Yang is the opposition of contraries, Chinese medicine sees Yin-Yang as opposite but complementary qualities, each could be itself and its contrary, and they contain each other, and are able to transform into each other.

In the Five Elements theory, the elements are qualities of Nature. Mu (Wood), Hui (Fire), Tu (Earth), Jin (Metal), Shui (Water). Similar to Yin-Yang, the Five Elements opposes and compliments one another, each element is essential in generating and controlling the next.