ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a total and complete system of health care,
and a form of preventive medicine. It is a unique combination of holistic principles
that leads to diagnosis and cure of illness, which has been practised in China for
thousands of years. The oriental approach is still practised in China and is well
integrated with the more conventional western style of health care, but is funda-
mentally different from that of western medicine. In TCM, an understanding of the
human body is based on the theory that the body as a whole organism and the planet
are inextricably linked. Historically, TCM combined herbal and plant medicine, mass-
age, acupuncture, qigong (breathing and meditation exercises), Tai Chi (Chinese
martial arts) and Feng Shui (Chinese astrology). This also encompassed a spiritual
relationship with the environment, earth and universe. At present it is more frag-
mented and focuses mainly on Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, with the
addition of massage and meditation.
