Chinese medicine is a vast and expansive field of study. It is a sophisticated medical system that would take lifetimes to understand completely. There are infinite branches and lineages, with influence from Japan, Korea and India and wide adoption in European countries. More inclusively called East Asain medicine, the system incorporates the use of acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, nutrition, gua sha, cupping, and various forms of bodywork and cultivation practices like Qi Gong and Tai Chi.
In this medical system, humans are recognized as whole beings that are impacted by the environment, the emotional state and what is consumed. Treatment within Chinese medicine aims to restore and maintain physical health as well as prevent disease. Human beings are connected to the universe and influenced by the external environment. The earth experiences changes in weather as result of greater celestial movements, and human physiology is affected accordingly. In health, responses to the climate are without ill effects. When imbalances occur within our physiology, pathological responses can occur, seen as physical and mental symptoms. Through the use of acupuncture, herbs and other modalities, balance and flow can be restored, allowing the body to respond appropriately to a changing environment and eliminate dis-ease.