How does Traditional Chinese Medicine view the body?

The answer

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with roots dating back over 2,500 years, views the body as a system of energy (qi) flowing through channels called meridians. Health is understood as a balance between complementary forces of yin and yang, and between the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) that correspond to organ systems. Diagnosis involves reading the pulse at multiple wrist positions, examining the tongue, and assessing the patient's complexion and emotional state. Treatment methods include acupuncture (inserting needles at specific points to redirect qi), herbal formulas (often combining 10 to 20 ingredients), cupping, and moxibustion. The antimalarial drug artemisinin, which won Tu Youyou the Nobel Prize in 2015, was discovered through study of a TCM herbal text from the 4th century.