Explainer | What is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)? Its history, therapies and uses

An ancient medical system based on the understanding that qi, or vital energy, is what keeps our health in balance, traditional Chinese medicine is widely used

Its therapies to rebalance qi include acupuncture, gua sha, cupping and taking herbal tea and can help with conditions from chronic pain to insomnia and cancer

Reading Time:4 minutes

Cupping, a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), involves warming a glass cup and placing it on the patient’s skin to open the pores. Photo courtesy of Master Ruth Lee

Published: 8:15am, 12 Mar 2022Updated: 10:46am, 3 Aug 2023

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is fast gaining popularity around the world, with people using it alone or in combination with Western therapies and medicines to diagnose, treat and prevent illness.

This alternative medical system has evolved over thousands of years, says Michelle Zhang, a TCM practitioner at Balanced Health in Hong Kong.

“TCM has its roots in the Shang dynasty period’s shamanistic era, between 1766BC and 1122BC,” she says.

“It developed over the next few centuries, and became a standard medical therapy in China, along with massage, diet, herbal medicine, bleeding [bloodletting through acupuncture] and moxibustion [burning dried mugwort leaves on points on the body].

TCM … believes that the mind and body are closely connected and that our physical and mental health are highly correlated

Master Ruth Lee, TCM practitioner

“Today, most hospitals in China provide treatments that integrate Western and Chinese medicine.

“Patients who’ve had Western surgery may be given Chinese herbs to help with their recovery or treated with acupuncture and/or massage to relieve pain.”

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