08/24/2026
“Can you explain TCM to me?”
I get this question from clients all the time.
And honestly… where do you start? 😂
Traditional Chinese Medicine is so much more than acupuncture points. It’s a whole system of observing how the body, mind, environment and seasons interact.
We look at things like:
Qi & Blood — the movement and nourishment of the body
Meridians — the pathways through which Qi and Blood circulate
The Six Evils — Wind, Cold, Damp, Heat, Dryness & Fire
The Seasons — because your body’s needs change with the environment
Shen & the Spirits — the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of health
Yin & Yang — constantly shifting forces that need to remain in balance
Food & lifestyle — how what you eat, sleep, do and experience influences your internal landscape
Zang-Fu physiology — the functional relationships between the organ systems
And then there’s Wei Qi — Defensive Qi.
One of my favourite ways to explain it is:
QI = your phone battery
It provides the energy that keeps everything running.
WEI QI = your firewall + antivirus
It helps protect your system from outside influences and helps regulate the body’s relationship with the environment.
In TCM, the environment matters.
Wind. Cold. Damp. Heat. Dryness. Fire.
These aren’t simply things happening outside of you. TCM asks how your body responds to them.
Are you adapting well?
Are you depleted?
Are things getting stuck?
Are you running too hot or too cold?
Is your body able to defend and regulate itself?
That’s why two people can experience the same season, the same stress, or even the same diagnosis — and receive completely different acupuncture treatments.
TCM is individualized medicine.
It’s a conversation between your constitution, your symptoms, your lifestyle, your environment and the patterns your body is showing us.
So when a client asks, “Can you explain TCM?”
My short answer is:
“Yes… but we might be here awhile.” 😉
And that’s the fun part.
CanmoreAlberta BowValley TCMPractitioner HolisticHealth
