The Origins of Chinese Medicine

This arresting statue of Lao Tzu (Laozi), the founder of Taoism, is in in Quanzhou, China. Image by Tom@HK. CC BY 2.0.

Traditional Chinese medicine is possibly the oldest continually used medical system known to humankind. Based on the use of herbal medicines, acupuncture, diet, and lifestyle, traditional Chinese medicine has proven effective in many contexts. A central tenet of Chinese medicine is that ideal health is achieved through harmony with nature.