Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has developed over the millennia. Its origins go back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties (around 1500 to 256 BC). The basics of TCM lie in Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. The treatment principles, such as the theory of Yin and Yang and the five elements, emerged from this. These teachings laid the foundation for the later basic works of TCM.

The basics of TCM are in Taoism. In “Huang Di Nei Jing”, the Yellow Emperor’s book on internal medicine (approx. 300 BC), the essential concepts of TCM, that are still valid today, are described for the first time. Over time, more and more theories, philosophies, and treatments were developed.