What is TCM?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a healthcare system from China that dates back thousands of years. It views the body as a whole, where body and mind are closely connected. Rather than focusing primarily on individual symptoms, TCM works to understand and restore balance throughout the entire organism.

At the core of TCM is the concept of life energy, called qi, which moves through the body via the meridians. When this energy flows freely and remains balanced, the body is considered healthy. If the energy becomes blocked or imbalanced, it may lead to both physical and mental discomfort.

Another central concept is yin and yang, which describe the balance between opposing forces — for example activity and rest, heat and cold. Health arises when these forces are balanced, while imbalance may create illness or discomfort.

TCM uses several different treatment methods to restore this balance.

The most well-known are:

• Acupuncture, where thin needles stimulate specific points on the body

• Acupressure, which uses pressure on the same points without needles

• Reflexology, which among other things also works through the meridian system

• Chinese herbal medicine

• Movement practices such as Qi Gong and Tai Chi

In a modern context, TCM is often used as a complement to Western medicine.

Many people experience that it can be especially helpful for creating calm in the body, reducing stress, and increasing body awareness. Although not all concepts within TCM can be directly measured by modern scientific methods, there is growing interest in how some of these treatments may affect, among other things, the nervous system and the body's ability to regulate itself.