title: Comprehension of the unique characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine.
abstract: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has made great contributions to human history, especially in China, as has been recorded for thousands of years. The characteristics of TCM in both theory and practice make it different from Conventional Western Medicine (CWM). The characteristics of TCM include phenomenological, philosophical, and methodological aspects. This paper briefly discusses some historical turning points and innovations in TCM development in China, explores human body enigmas such as the heart, compares different aspects of TCM and CWM, and identifies the unique characteristics of TCM treatment, as compared to other medical systems.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research, #105 6303-104 Ave. NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada. xutian1@netzero.com
authors.forename: Stevenson
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xutian
authors.forename: Dongyi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junion
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boisvert
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D032882:Comprehension; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology*; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history