Modern society recognizes three major, globally widespread medical systems:

Ayurveda,
Traditional Chinese Medicine,
the Western medical system.

Although these systems differ in their approaches and methods of treating the human body, they all evolved from herbal therapy and dietary therapy (dietetics). Traditional Chinese Medicine built upon these disciplines with techniques of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, tuina massage, acupressure, and later auriculotherapy, introducing a holistic approach to overcoming illness through identifying the symptoms of underlying disharmony.

A practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine treats the patient on a psychophysical level, thereby addressing the root causes of illness rather than merely relieving symptoms. In East Asia, Traditional Chinese Medicine is widely accepted and recognized alongside Western medicine as an official medical practice, whereas in Europe and the Americas, it is regarded as alternative medicine.

Diagnostics

Therapies