Tcm fact box

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used for more than 2,000 years to prevent, diagnose and cure illness. It includes various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise and dietary therapy.

Massage

Also called tui na, it often involves pressing with thumbs, rubbing, percussion and stretching. Massage can help relieve pain and stress in muscle and important joints of the body. It is the most popular TCM treatment in China.

Herbal cuisine

Traditional Chinese medicine treats eating as an important part of keeping healthy. Eating the right food at the right season can help prevent disease. Herbal cuisine is the combination of herbal medicine and food ingredients.

Acupuncture

Insertion of needles into superficial structures of the body, usually at acupuncture points, relieves pain and treats or prevents various diseases. Acupuncture is often accompanied by moxibustion, which involves burning the herb mugwort on or near the skin at an acupuncture point.

Tai chi

Part of the TCM system of exercise and meditation, it combines regulated breathing, slow movement and focused awareness. Many of the elderly like to practise tai chi early in the morning.

China Daily

(China Daily 08/20/2014 page22)