Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a system of medicine originating in ancient China that involves unique diagnostic concepts (such as pattern/syndrome differentiation, yin-yang theory, and the five elements) and therapeutic modalities (including herbal medicines, acupuncture, dietetics, and physical practices such as qigong and tai chi)[1][4][7]. TCM does not act through a single molecular mechanism or receptor and is not a chemical or biological molecule, but a holistic approach to diagnosing and treating illnesses based on perceived imbalances in functional energies and systems of the body[4][7][5]. While modern research examines the molecular targets of individual herbal components and attempts to link them to specific biological pathways and diseases, \"Traditional Chinese medicine\" itself cannot be regarded as a single pharmacological target, and it would not be appropriate to treat it as such for structured drug-target databases[2][3][5][6].

Other names

TCMTraditional Chinese medicineChinese medicineZhongyiHerbal medicine (when referring to TCM's herbal practices)