Unpacking the Basics of TCM

“TCM.”
It’s not a term most people hear every day.
You’ve probably come across “herbal medicine” or “Eastern medicine” more often—but when you hear “Traditional Chinese Medicine,” it might give you pause. It certainly did for me.

So today, let’s take a look at what TCM really is.

TCM: A Brief Overview

Traditional Chinese Medicine developed over centuries in China.
It’s based on core concepts like Yin and Yang and the Five Elements—terms that might sound mystical at first, but are actually systems for analyzing physical tendencies and internal relationships.

Practitioners use a diagnostic method called the Four Examinations:

• Observation

• Listening and smelling

• Inquiry

• Palpation

These methods guide a process called Differentiation and Treatment (Bianzheng Lunzhi), which classifies and treats illnesses through herbal medicine or physical interventions like acupuncture and Tuina (a type of medical massage).

Is TCM the Same as Eastern Medicine?

Many people assume that TCM and Eastern medicine are the same thing—but they’re not quite interchangeable.

The term Eastern medicine refers broadly to non-Western traditional systems of healing.
This includes TCM, but also Japanese Kampo, Korean traditional medicine (Hanbang), and even Ayurveda from India.

In that sense, TCM is one branch of Eastern medicine—not the whole tree.

That said, in casual Japanese usage, “Eastern medicine” and “Chinese medicine” are often used almost synonymously.
So it’s okay to use the terms flexibly, depending on context.

---

That’s it for today’s topic: What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Next time, I’ll be diving deeper into Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements.

Thanks for reading.

 

ほぐし処　ねこや

住所　〒277-0042
千葉県柏市逆井4丁目24-36
アクセス　逆井駅より徒歩9分
電話番号　04-7113-4346　(10:00~21:00)
営業時間　11:00～21:00　(完全予約制)
定休日　水・木曜日（祝日は営業）
当店facebookはこちら↓
http://bit.ly/1TqmW8d