Oriental Medicine

"Oriental medicine" is a term that is used to refer to a diverse collection of medical theories and applications developed and practiced in the Far East. This includes the many and varied cultures of China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Most of these traditions have more than geography in common. Many share a common philosophy and a foundation of fundamental principles and theories that can be traced back at least 2500 years to the civilization of ancient China.

These fundamental principles, such as the concept of Qi, the theory of yin and yang, and the theory of five elements continue to inspire, inform, and shape the evolution of Oriental medicine even now. Indeed, many of the ideas originally found in Oriental medicine are having an increasing influence on healthcare philosophies around the world.