TCM explained

Origins

The principles of acupuncture were originally developed to ensure the longevity of the Chinese emperors. Eventually, the practice of health preservation and medicine became available to all Chinese people. Its success led to it being used throughout the East and more recently in the Western world.

Chi & Health
Health is normally maintained by the body’s ability to correct imbalances, combat disease and repair damage. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, our health is dependent on the body’s motivating energy, known as CHI or Qi, moving in a smooth and balanced way through a series of channels. CHI consists of equal and opposite qualities (Yin & Yang), and when these become unbalanced, illness may result. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body’s own healing response and help restore its natural balance. The flow of CHI can be disturbed and cause ill-health through a number of factors. These include emotional states, such as anxiety, stress, anger, fear, grief, inadequate nutrition, weather and climate conditions, hereditary factors, infections, poisons and trauma.

Diagnosis
By assessing the symptoms of your disease or disorder, as well as all other signs, symptoms and life style factors, your acupuncturist can determine what is going wrong and why it is happening. By diagnosing in this holistic way, a treatment plan can be made that is tailored to your individual needs.
Modern medicine and Chinese medicine vary in how health and disease are studied, and consequently, treated but are similar in the way symptoms are grouped in patterns to reach a diagnosis.