Traditional Chinese Medicine


The foundation and basis of acupuncture developed in China over thousands of years.

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) style is by far the most common system of acupuncture taught and practiced in North America today.

While the term “traditional” might suggest otherwise, TCM acupuncture is a relatively new style of acupuncture developed in the People’s Republic of China after 1949.

Many TCM practitioners in China and other countries utilize not only ancient techniques but also modern techniques such as
electroacupuncture, in conjunction with other recent and older treatment techniques.

Chinese Acupuncture is one of several treatment modalities within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

In the 1950’s with the rise of Communism, Chairman Mao instituted the formulized development of Traditional Chinese Medicine from the knowledge of the remaining traditional doctors in China.

TCM was modernized into a curriculum which included western medicine and was integrated into the hospital care system.

This style of acupuncture is taught in most US Acupuncture schools and has a large amount of research from China supporting its methodology.

It is the most common form of Acupuncture practiced today.

Some acupuncturists identify more with Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) verse Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the former is based more on interpretation of classical Chinese medical texts over modern research.

The creation of TCM removed many of the more esoteric concepts of Chinese Medicine to focus on methods that could more easily be taught in an institutional settings verse the traditional method of long-term apprenticeships.

Chinese style acupuncture utilizes thicker acupuncture needles compared to other styles, and tends to focus on the “de qi”, or getting Qi, sensat ion to achieve a clinic result.