Traditional Chinese medicine (中医), or TCM,  is a style of medicine that has been around for thousands of years. The two concepts that are fundamental and form the roots to TCM are Qi (or life force) and yin and yang (or harmony of opposites). In TCM, maintaining good Qi and yin and yang means your maintaining good health and wellbeing.

On the contrary, Western medicine's roots are in science. Symptoms of disease in Western medicine can be treated with medical drugs or surgery. Western medicine can come with severe side effects. TCM tends to be natural, so side effects are minimal. In the Western world, when side effects are extremely severe or the infection isn’t very serious, people reach out to alternative treatments, such as traditional Chinese remedies before resorting to medical drugs or surgery.

1) Tiger balm (万金油)
An ointment with a blend of herbal ingredients. It’s used for almost any type of pain relief, from mosquitos bite to arthritis. Tiger balm originated from an herbalist in China who used it to relieve almost every kind of pain. His sons eventually perfected the ointment and named the product after one of them, Aw Boon Haw, whose name means "Gentle Tiger." Tiger balm is readily available in China; it can be bought at your local supermarket or pharmacy.

2) Cupping therapy (拔罐)
Cupping therapy consists using a vacuum inside a glass or plastic cup to lightly suction air out and pull the skin. It’s believed that cupping therapy dates as far back as 3000 BC. It is believed that in ancient Egypt, cupping therapy was regularly done. Cupping is now commonly known as being part of TCM, but ancient Greece also once practiced cupping therapy. So why are civilizations in Asia, Europe and Northern Africa practicing cupping therapy, especially if the procedure leaves circular, red marks on the skin? Cupping therapy has many health benefits including improved circulation and removal of toxins. Many people have also stated that they feel energized and invigorated after a cupping session. So where can you get cupping therapy done? Stop by your local massage parlour or health centre.

3) Ginger root (姜)
Ginger is a spice that is widely used in Asian cuisine and that may be due to its origins being rooted in Asia. But ginger isn’t just part of the Asian diet because of its unique taste, ginger is well thought of in TCM for its many health benefits. It’s used for treating various ailments, from alleviating cold symptoms to getting rid of nausea. Ginger is available in the produce aisle at your local supermarket. For medicine infused with ginger, try your local pharmacy.

4) Tai chi (太极)
Tai chi originated as a form of Chinese martial arts that’s used for self-defence. Tai chi is centuries old and nowadays, and many still practice it as a form of exercise that promotes inner peace and tranquillity. This gentle physical exercise involves a series of movements, which are performed in a focused and slow manner, along with deep breathing. Some of the health benefits from doing tai chi are decreased stress and anxiety, increased energy and stamina, and improved symptoms of congestive heart failure. If you’re interested in doing tai chi, find a tai chi instructor. If your Chinese is pretty good, you might have luck joining the tai chi groups at the park. If you’d rather learn how to do tai chi on your own find a tutorial video online or at your local DVD shop.

5) Traditional Chinese foot massages (脚底按摩)
Involves a deep and intense foot massage on several pressure points in the feet, and sometimes even the ankles and legs. Traditional Chinese foot massages have been around for centuries. It is believed that certain pressure points correspond to certain organs or parts of the body. So getting a foot massage will help improve the flow of energy to that body part. Foot massages are believed to prevent and treat various health ailments, such as migraines, anxiety and depression; and for those who suffer from insomnia, foot massages are believed to improve the quality of your sleep. If traditional Chinese foot massage sound like your kind of thing, check out your local massage parlour or clinic. Usually if you find a shop with an image of the body mapped onto the foot that means they probably do traditional Chinese foot massages.

6) Acupuncture (针灸)
Acupuncture is a vital part of TCM. It involves the insertion of thin needles into the body at certain acupuncture points—yikes, this is definitely not a remedy for those who hate needles! In TCM, it’s believed that acupuncture helps modify the flow of Qi energy into one’s body. In the western world, acupuncture is generally used as a form of alternative medicine. Acupuncture is believed to treat headaches and back pain; it helps shed weight and improves the frequency and severity of hot flashes for those with menopause. If you’re interested in doing acupuncture, head to your nearest clinic or hospital to see if they offer acupuncture sessions.

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Keywords: traditional chinese medicine pander tai qi cupping