For thousands of years Chinese medicine, although considered as alternative medicine in the Western world, has been the primary medical system in China. More and more people in the Western world are turning to Chinese medicine attracted by the natural healing rather than modern medicines reliance on synthetically produced drugs.

Said to have been practised for 5,000 years the history of Chinese medicine is anything but lucid. The first written document concerning Chinese medicine is thought to be Hung-Di Nei-Jing (Cannon of Internal Medicine) and is considered to date back 2,000 years. It is attributed to the Yellow Emperor although the dates and author is still the subject of much debate.

Most people are familiar with the primary methods of healing within Chinese medicine, which are herbal medicine and acupuncture with other methods such as massage, qi gong, or food therapy playing a secondary role. The aim of Chinese medicine is restore harmony and balance to the system and is not so much concerned with the illness or disease.

A lack of harmony is seen as the main cause of any illness. Whereas modern medicine treats bacteria and viruses directly by the use of antibiotics or vaccines, Chinese medicine has a holistic view and targets the imbalance with the philosophy that well-balanced human bodies can resist most everyday illness and disease.

While more and more medical schools are including classes on alternative medicine in their syllabuses, the relationship between Chinese medicine and Western medicine is still contentious. A more subjective view of Chinese medicine is more likely amongst Chinese modern medical practitioners than their older Western counterparts.

Even though, the techniques are of value in the west. In fact, pharmaceutical companies have recognised the value of traditional medicines and teams of scientists in many parts of the world are engaged to collect knowledge from traditional Chinese medical practitioners. Furthermore, inpatient and health programme classes of hospitals and clinics are now including T'ai Chi Ch?uan or qigong.

Not even conceived as alternative medicine by over three quarters of the worlds population, Chinese medicine excels in the areas of prevention of physical and emotional illnesses. It has been developed over time as a form of non-invasive, therapeutic and risk free treatment.

Attitudes towards Chinese medicine are changing by the day and an increasing number of people are finding relief in this form of alternative medicine after failing with modern medicine and prescription drugs. Increasingly people are maintaining their health at optimum levels by having regular treatments and are applying Chinese medicine as a first option instead of a last resort.