Chinese Medicine Thousands of years old and continually refined, is based on the idea of an energy force called qi ("chee") which follows through the whole body along specific routes or "meridians". The unimpeded flow of qi is necessary for the maintenance of health and must be restored to achieve healing. Two major practices are part of Chinese medicine: herbal medicine and acupuncture.

Traditional Chinese medicine (herbal) is a complex system that has been in use for at least 3000 years. It is still widely practiced throughout Asia and is becoming more popular in the US. Its primary focus is prevention, not the treatment of specific symptoms. It is a central belief that the person bears much responsibility for her own health, for a healthy lifestyle, positive thoughts and emotional balance.

Herbal remedies are central to traditional Chinese medicine. Their pharmacy contains more than 3000 herbs as well as certain animal and mineral substances. These are used in various complex formulas to help provide for balance in the body chemically. There are not specific formulas for each illness which are then prescribed for each person suffering from that disease; each person has a formula designed specifically for her, based upon a lengthy history obtained by the doctor. People go for extensive training to be certified as doctors of traditional Chinese medicine. If you choose to investigate this further, always check that the practitioner is certified.