Traditional Chinese Medicine
A 3,000-year-old system built on qi, yin-yang balance, and the five elements, using herbs, acupuncture, and movement.
China & East Asia
History & Philosophy
Origins
Traditional Chinese Medicine developed over more than 2,500 years, with the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, compiled roughly 2,200 years ago) systematizing centuries of earlier practice into the foundation still referenced today.
Core philosophy
TCM reasons from qi (vital energy), the balance of yin and yang, and the five elements (wu xing), mapping the body onto an organ-meridian system where illness reflects a disruption in energetic flow or elemental balance rather than an isolated mechanical fault.
Practiced today
Contemporary TCM combines herbal formulas with acupuncture, tui na massage, cupping, and qigong movement practice, and operates as a fully licensed parallel system alongside Western medicine in China and, increasingly, integrated into hospital settings worldwide.
Herbs, foods & remedies
195 herbs traditionally used within Traditional Chinese Medicine — most often for Inflammation, Digestive Issues, Skin Health.
Acanthopanax (Wu Jia Pi)
Eleutherococcus gracilistylus
Achyranthes (Niu Xi)
Achyranthes bidentata
Acorus (Shi Chang Pu)
Acorus tatarinowii
Ageratum (Huo Xiang)
Agastache rugosa
Agrimony (Xian He Cao)
Agrimonia pilosa
Akebia (Mu Tong)
Akebia quinata
Albizia Bark (He Huan Pi)
Albizia julibrissin
Alisma (Ze Xie)
Alisma orientale
Aloe (Lu Hui)
Aloe vera
Alpinia (Cao Dou Kou)
Alpinia katsumadai
Amber (Hu Po)
Succinum
Andrographis (Chuan Xin Lian)
Andrographis paniculata
Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu)
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Angelica Root (Bai Zhi)
Angelica dahurica
Apricot Kernel (Xing Ren)
Prunus armeniaca
Arctium (Niu Bang Zi)
Arctium lappa
Areca Seed (Bing Lang)
Areca catechu
Artemisia (Ai Ye)
Artemisia argyi
Asparagus Root (Tian Men Dong)
Asparagus cochinchinensis
Astragalus (Huang Qi)
Astragalus membranaceus
Atractylodes (Bai Zhu)
Atractylodes macrocephala
Bamboo Shavings (Zhu Ru)
Phyllostachys nigra
Biota Seed (Bai Zi Ren)
Platycladus orientalis
Black Sesame (Hei Zhi Ma)
Sesamum indicum
Bladder Wrack (Kun Bu)
Ecklonia kurome
Bone Knitting Herb (Xu Duan)
Dipsacus asper
Borneol (Bing Pian)
Dryobalanops aromatica
Bugleweed (Ze Lan)
Lycopus europaeus
Bupleurum (Chai Hu)
Bupleurum chinense
Cardamom (Sha Ren)
Amomum villosum
Carthamus (Hong Hua)
Carthamus tinctorius
Cassia Seed (Jue Ming Zi)
Senna obtusifolia
Celosia Seed (Qing Xiang Zi)
Celosia argentea
Centella (Ji Xue Cao)
Centella asiatica
Chaenomeles (Mu Gua)
Chaenomeles speciosa
Chinese Angelica Stem (Du Huo)
Angelica pubescens
Chinese Foxglove (Sheng Di Huang)
Rehmannia glutinosa raw
Chinese Hawthorn (Shan Zha)
Crataegus pinnatifida
Chinese Lobelia (Ban Bian Lian)
Lobelia chinensis
Chinese Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)
Leonurus japonicus
Showing the first 40 of 195 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.