Traditional Chinese medicine has been in existence for thousands of years. It includes herbal medicine, acupuncture, dietary treatment, massages of several kinds and keen observation of bodily functions. All of these are derived from the idea of the body has an intimate relationship with the environment on all levels.

In America, traditional Chinese medicine is considered an alternative medicine and is not totally accepted by the medical field. In many countries in the Far East, it is accepted as the common practice of medicine and highly regarded by many. TCM doctors in America must be licensed. Some colleges are in the United States such as the Dallas Oriental Medicine School in Dallas, Texas and the Pacific Oriental School in California. Arkansas, Florida and several other states also offer training.

Traditional Chinese medicine encompasses a great deal of material. Doctors must know the correct herbs to treat different parts of the body. It must be noted that herbs and synthetic medicines will sometimes conflict with each other so the doctor has to understand the basic chemistry of the herb he is using. Acupuncture (Zhen Jiu) is a type of TCM that helps to work in harmony with the body's natural healing ability through the use of fine needles placed in various places on the body. Foods are classified by their energetic values rather than the caloric or fat value. TCM works with this knowledge for dietary healing. The various massages offered by traditional Chinese medicine fall in the acupressure (Zhi Ya) category. Doctors may specialize in one form of TCM rather than try to do all of the types. Tai chi is an ancient form of exercise that helps the body stay in "synch" and is also another form of TCM.