Concept guide
Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction
Understand the terms behind acupuncture charts and explore a visual guide to points and meridians.
What is traditional Chinese medicine?
Traditional Chinese medicine, usually shortened to TCM, is a broad medical tradition developed in China. It includes different practices and ways of describing health and illness. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, movement practices and manual techniques are often discussed within this field. They are different interventions and should be assessed separately.
Where acupuncture points fit
Point names and meridian codes provide a shared vocabulary for discussing locations used in acupuncture. A digital atlas helps you connect a written point name with a body region and compare it with other points. This English edition begins with that visual and reference task.
Key concepts you may encounter
- Qi
- A traditional concept used to describe activity and function within the TCM framework. Translating it as a measurable form of energy can be misleading.
- Yin and yang
- A way of describing complementary relationships and changing patterns within traditional theory.
- Meridians
- Channels used to organize points and describe traditional relationships across the body.
- Patterns
- Traditional groupings of findings used in clinical reasoning; they are not direct substitutes for biomedical diagnoses.
Tradition and clinical evidence
A traditional explanation describes how a practice is understood within its own system. A clinical study asks a different question: whether a defined intervention improves a specific outcome in a particular population. Evidence for an acupuncture protocol is not automatically evidence for a single point or for pressing that point at home. This site keeps these types of information distinct.
What research can and cannot tell us
Research findings vary by condition and intervention. NCCIH discusses evidence for acupuncture in some pain conditions and describes mixed findings for Chinese herbal products. These findings should not be generalized into a claim that every TCM practice works for every problem. Consult the cited research summaries for the condition and method being considered.
Using TCM information safely
Discuss treatment decisions with a qualified health professional. Herbal products can have side effects and interact with medicines; “natural” does not mean suitable for everyone. Do not delay necessary medical care because of an online chart or a traditional explanation.
Start exploring
- Acupuncture points — read selected point guides.
- Interactive atlas — explore the body map.
- Meridians — understand the channel and code system.
- Chinese reference library — additional Chinese-language material.