Yes, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for 3000-5000 years. Yes, it is the oldest continuously practiced medicine in current practice. Yes, other medicine like Aryuvedic and other native medicinal practices also have long historical records of practice.

But, the “new” medicine, the current buzz word in conventional medicine, is “Functional Medicine”. What is functional medicine?

• It addresses the underlying cause of disease
• It focuses on the patient instead of the disease
• It addresses the whole person–body, mind, and spirit
• Practitioners spend more time with their patients to gather information on a variety of levels
• Practitioners create an individualized treatment plan for each patient

Hmmmm…that’s what TCM does. We have always done that. But conventional medicine has relatively recently identified this “new” way of practicing medicine!

It kind of reminds me of this quote:

2001 BC Here, eat this root.

1000 AD That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer.

1850 AD That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion.

1920 AD That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill.

1945 AD That pill is ineffective. Here, take this penicillin.

1955 AD Oops… bugs mutated. Here, take this tetracycline.

1960-1999 AD 39 more “oops”… Here, take this more powerful antibiotic.

2000 AD The bugs have won! Here, eat this root.

I love it! 🙂