The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi (“breath”, “life force”, or “spiritual energy”), blood, jing (“kidney essence”, including semen and other bodily fluids), the Wu Xing, emotions, and the soul or spirit (shen). TCM has a unique model of the body, notably concerned with the meridian system. Therefore, the imbalance of human body can manifest outside. Chinese medicine doctors collect those manifestations and make the diagnosis. Treatment is based not only on the symptoms, but also on differentiation of syndromes.

Therefore, those with an identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may be treated in similar ways. The main principle of treatment is to adjust the balance of the body’s qi, blood, yin and yang, and therefore, keep the body, the small universe, in harmony. The typical methods of TCM treatment include acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, tui na, electro-acupuncture, and ear acupuncture.