ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains the background, the logic, and the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and present new ideas to promote an understanding of basic concepts on TCM, and its practice using Chinese medicine. It provides a broad introduction to the science and philosophy in the development and use of TCM. The book covers the beneficial uses of the herbs: efficacy, quality, and safety. It also discusses the modern application of TCM as an alternative to Western medicine for medical care and health protection. The book then provides an introduction to some of the scientific methods for collecting data and supporting evidence for the efficacy and safety of a drug. It examines the different views on health, disease, and therapy and their impacts on the relationship between man and nature. It then discusses the current trends in the improvement and modernization of TCM.
