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Herbal medicine, acupuncture and herbal massage are used widely. Although conventional medicine is widely used in the west, there is significant use of eastern techniques.

In the west we often categorize these natural methods as an alternative type of medicine but in China and other eastern countries, it is a way of life and is an integral part of their medical system. Eastern medicine is often described as a deeply rooted and somewhat religious type of treatment that is ancient and sacred to the Chinese people. It has been passed down from generation to generation and it is only now that westerners are starting to hear about and use Chinese forms of medicine for illnesses and conditions.

Many other types of medication in China have become extinct but (TCM) has remained until the present day and is an important part of medicine. Whilst it is considered unusual that Chinese methods have been apart from western medicine for so many years, it is only now that people are realizing the differences between the two medicinal cultures. Some countries practice both approaches simultaneously thus eliminating the barrier between the two.

TCM has a holistic view on medicine and would have a goal of balancing the imbalanced and not just specifically the injury or illness. It is said in China that TCM treats humans whereas western medicine treats diseases. Due to the holistic approach, many practitioners are general practitioners with not one specific technique. It should also be noted that modern practitioners in China often incorporate western medicines into their treatments, creating a combination of treatments and thus providing a complete care system.

To become a practitioner of Chinese medicine takes many years of learning. The practice of the different types of treatments includes the understanding of the healing processes and the consequences of the medication.

Traditionally, branches of Chinese medicine may be a combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustin, Chinese astrology and Chinese food therapy. These combined with modern day western approaches, are being successfully practiced more and more all around the globe.

Many scientific experiments have been done on acupuncture and its benefits to humans in the healing process. Other branches of Chinese medicine such as food therapy and herbal medicine have still to be thoroughly investigated. Chinese authorities are working towards standardizing their medicines to incorporates safe and legal practices.

As western illnesses pervade our society, more and more are looking towards the east to discover alternative forms of medicine. Doctors from the west are working in conjunction with Chinese doctors to help create a bond between the two approaches.  Chinese do not see western medicines as a threat to their society, but more of a compliment and very few will argue otherwise.

Alternative medicine groups are popularizing eastern medicine. These groups are looking for alternative forms of medicine to treat illnesses and conditions that they have found conventional medicine, alone, cannot help and therefore it is necessary for these two cultures to work together to achieve a common goal.

Acupuncture Web Sites

Acupuncture/Acupressure Internet Resources
Comprehensive list of links includes directories, organizations, discussion forums, practitioner databases, education and training and publications.

Acupuncture.com
Includes historical and conceptual information, a search facility, information about acupuncture points, the meridians, symptoms and their treatment.
Information for the consumer, student and practitioner.

AcuBriefs.com
Searchable database of acupuncture references in English. Sponsored by the Medical Acupuncture Research Foundation (US). Click on Citation Sources for a list of journals and databases referred to.

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
Includes general information, faqs and the online journal Medical Acupuncture, with selected articles in full-text.

Current bibliographies in Medicine - Acupuncture
A bibliography from the National Library Of Medicine. Jan 1970-Oct 1997.

Chinese Herbal Medicines and Drug-Herb Interactions

HerbMed
Searchable database provides evidence-based herbal information. Six categories of information are provided for each herb: evidence of activity, warnings, preparations, mixtures, mechanisms of action and related web links.  A project of the Alternative Medicine Foundation.

Dictionary of Chinese Herbs
A user-friendly searchable index with Chinese character, Latin and Chinese ( pinyan) names. Photographs of some herbs are available.

IBIDS database
Produced by Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, in conjunction with the U.S.D.A. This database contains abstracts to articles covering the vitamins, minerals, herbs and botantical supplements.

Therapeutic Goods Administration - Complementary Medicine
This Australian government website includes Alert fact sheets and Adverse drug interactions.

Organisations & Associations

Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd.
National professional association of acupuncture and tradition Chinese Medicine practitioners in Australia.

American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Umbrella organization representing the acupuncture profession in the United States. Click on the resource link for related websites.

British Medical Acupuncture Society
Formed in 1980 as an association of medical practitioners interested in acupuncture. The BMAS was established to encourage the use and scientific understanding of acupuncture within medicine for the public benefit.