Welcome to the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This book is an invitation to join me on an adventure into ideas and practices that may be new to some of you, and will hopefully be intriguing to all of you. These pages offer an introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and I will be your guide for the journey. Like any helpful guide in an unfamiliar place, I want to make your visit rewarding and friendly so that you will be comfortable, enjoy your stay, return often, and benefit from the enormous healing potential of the diverse techniques offered by TCM.
 
    My intention in writing this book is to provide you with an easy to read, enjoyable overview of some of the best known concepts and commonly used modalities in TCM, such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and cupping. TCM is a vast topic with many important concepts and tools. I have chosen to touch on the ideas and techniques that you will find useful and that are used regularly in offices throughout the United States and in many other countries. I want to share my passion for TCM with you by translating the basic, important elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine and explaining how these ancient techniques can change your life. I can’t cover all of TCM and I won’t try. As in any complex field, there is always more to understand. Because Traditional Chinese Medicine originated in an ancient civilization, before there was a written language, the terms that are used to describe ailments, diagnosis, and treatments are often unrecognizable to people who do not have some training in the field, but that is exactly why you have a guide! In the thousands of years that TCM has been developing in Asian countries, many scholars and practitioners have written about their theories, viewpoints and techniques. Gifted medical practitioners and philosophers, much wiser than I, have produced countless writings. Unfortunately, much of their work is hard to decipher and deters potential enthusiasts rather than inviting them to go further. In this book, you will find writing that you can understand, relate to, and hopefully find intriguing.
 
    My desire is that more people comprehend and appreciate Chinese Medicine. It is a fascinating field, with concepts that changed how I view the world. It has a great deal to offer you, too. Traditional Chinese Medicine is more than medical techniques; it is the rooted in the philosophy of yin and yang which is all about balance. By finding balance in our lives and making conscious choices, we can greatly influence and improve the quality of our lives and the health of our bodies.
 
    Who should read this book? If you are considering trying Chinese Medicine to help you feel better; if you are simply interested in this holistic approach to health; if you think you want to go to school for training in TCM; if you teach people who are beginning school in this field; and especially if you are a patient or treat patients who want to learn more about the practices and ideas that guide the methods, this book is for you. I have organized the book into chapters and included pictures, photos, diagrams and charts to make the information as user friendly as possible.