Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of methods for treating physical and psychological disorders developed well over 3,000 years ago in China. The principles and practices of TCM have changed very little over the millennia, and untold numbers of people around the world today rely on TCM rather than allopathic medicine for the treatment of disease and disorder. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on a theory of the way the human body works that is very different from that of modern allopathic medicine.

One element of TCM theory is that the human body is the site of a constant battle between two forces, yin and yang. Yin is the more feminine principle, representing forces of darkness, coolness, calmness, flexibility, weakness, passivity, and moisture. Yang is the more masculine principles, representing forces of light, warmth, excitability, rigidity, strength, action, and dryness. The flow of yin and yang is controlled by different organs in the body, yin by the heart, kidneys, liver, lung, and spleen, and yang by the bladder, gallbladder, large and small intestines, and stomach. When organs malfunction, the proper balance between yin and yang is disturbed which, in turn disrupts the proper balance of qi. The goal of the TCM practitioner is to find a way of restoring the proper balance of yin and yang in the body and to ensure the proper flow and balance of qi throughout the body. Three procedures for achieving this objective are acupuncture, massage, and the use of herbal medicine.