Acupuncture is defined as “puncturing with a sharp instrument”, but the original term in Chinese includes both “needling” and “moxibustion” (burning herbs usually mugwort to stimulate acupuncture points). It is an important component part of TCM for prevention and treatment of diseases. The theoretical basis of acupuncture is the premise that there are patterns of qi that flow through the pathways-meridians of the body, any potential disruptions of this qi flow are believed to be responsible for diseases. The acupuncture treatment can correct imbalances in the flow of qi by inserting a needle at identified acupuncture points. Other stimulating methods can also be applied at the acupuncture points to regulating the body’s qi, and help restore balance and harmony. The deqi (getting the qi or needling sensation) is a crucial factor in achieving acupuncture effects. It involves the feeling of “soreness, numbness, expansion, heaviness” by the patient; at the same time, the operator should feel heaviness and tightness around the needle. As stated in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine: “the acupuncture effects can be achieved only when the deqi is achieved”. There exists many types of stimulating techniques which often produce different results. However, this crucial point has often been ignored in clinical research on acupuncture.

Moxibustion is used to treat and prevent diseases by applying ignited moxa at acupuncture points or certain parts of the human body. The material used in moxibustion is mainly Artemisia Vulagaris (mugwort) – a kind of herb called Ai (moxa) in Chinese. Generally speaking, moxibustion is applied in clod syndrome, deficient condition and chronic diseases. Moxibustion may be used in combination with acupuncture or separately to effect a treatment.

Chinese medication is the primary component of TCM and is used commonly in China. Chinese medication involves the use of herbal medicine, animal parts and minerals. The term “herb” used in Chinese medicine often goes beyond the traditional concept of “plant”. The Chinese medicine uses between 6000 and 8000 substances, including numerous kinds of plants, substances from animals and minerals.

According to Chinese history, Chinese medicine arose from mythical medicine to become a system of herbal medicine. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman`s Classic of Materia Medica; or Shen Nong`s Herbal) is the first work (25-220 A.D) which prescribed the therapeutic effects of herbs and other materials. It contains 365 entries. These are botanical (252 entries), zoological (67 entries), and mineral (46 entries) substances. Beginning with Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, the literature of Chinese materia medica developed continuously by including more and more new herbs, in addition to the re-evaluation and discovery of new uses for existing herbs. To these two pieces of work it needs to note two others: Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica, 659 A.D) that was considered to be the first official pharmacopoeia in China, which was compiled and issued by the government, and Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica, 1596), written by Li Shi-zhen (1518-1593 AD.) is considered up to now as a world renowned classic in this field.

The concept of Chinese medication differs from that of the synthesised drugs in the ways their properties are assessed. The properties of Chinese medication are assessed mainly by the outcomes of their clinically observed interactions within the human body.

The term qigong is composed of two Chinese characters, qi and gong, where qi can be translated roughly into English as “vital energy”, and gong as “method” or “performance”. Qigong is a system of exercise performed by taking a proper posture, adjusting breathing and concentrating the mind and uniting vital essence and energy and mentality as a whole for physical training, health preservation, and prevention and treatment of diseases. Since qi plays an important role in the vital processes of the human body, it is natural that regulation of the flow of qi can be used as a method to preserve health and prevent diseases. Qigong is different from physical exercises. The latter is aimed at building up health or at restoring the body’s physical functioning by enhancing strength, whereas the former focuses on the mobilisation of functional potentialities through regulating the mind and breathing. In other words, physical exercise is purely somatic, whereas qigong therapy is generally psycho-somatic. Another difference between physical exercise and qigong is that physical exercise expands energy by tensing up the muscle and accelerating the heart beat and respiration. Qigong works to relax, calm and regulate breathing so as to accumulate vital energy in the body.

The term “Tuina” is composed of two Chinese characters: Tui and Na, where tui can be translated as “pressing and dragging”, and Na as “grasping”. It belongs to the realm of external therapy and has evolved over thousands years. As a component part of TCM intervention, tuina is based on a solid theoretical foundation. This includes basic theories, diagnostic methods and syndrome differentiation of TCM, particularly the theory of meridians. In addition, tuina also involves a great variety of specific manipulation techniques.

Tuina has some specific benefits and advantages in a wide range of applications. Tuina is used in both prevention and treatment of diseases. It may be used in the treatment of internal and external factors including traumatic injury, and musculoskeletal, gynaecological, obstetric, and paediatric diseases.

Stringent and comprehensive practitioner training is important. When performing tuina, the physician must first concentrate his mind, regulate his breathing, and actuate the qi and power of his entire body towards his hands, elbows or other parts of the body as required by the treatment. He will then work on the appropriate points or areas of the patient’s body to stimulates the flow of qi and blood in order to normalise the functioning of zang fu and the balance yin and yang.