Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Researchedby:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of herbs, fungi, or berries that have historical usage as medicine in mainland China and sometimes nearby areas.

    Although their effects are normally based on anecdotes, they are slowly being scientifically validated for their claims.

    Summary

    Traditional Chinese Medicine, at least as far as Examine.com is concerned, is a collection of nutraceuticals and plants that have traditionally been used for treating diseases or otherwise enhancing quality of life in China and surrounding regions.

    In the ages before HPLC-MS analysis and identifying active components, looking at enzymatic interactions with xenobiotics, and assigning these pharmaceutical sounding terms to everything there was still nutraceutical research. This page is devoted to validating the effects of Chinese Medicine using western (peer-reviewed) science and categorizing the herbal combinations that have been traditionally used.

    If primary sources are not given for claims, but the claims have been made via traditional practitioners of Chinese Medicine, it is sort of a grey area as far as Examine.com is concerned.

    What are other names for Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Note that Traditional Chinese Medicine is also known as:
    • TCM
    • Chinese Medicine
    • 中医
    • 中醫
    • zhōng yī
    Traditional Chinese Medicine should not be confused with:
    • Kampo (Japanese Adaption of Chinese Medicine)
    • Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine)