Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) spans millennia and centers on prevention ("treating before illness"). Tu Youyou's 2015 Nobel Prize for artemisinin refocused the world on it.
Acupuncture: fine needles at acupoints to regulate qi and blood; research supports it for pain, insomnia and anxiety. The most reliable places are hospital TCM departments.
Cupping: glass cups suction the skin, leaving dark marks (subcutaneous congestion, not bruises) — Olympians like Michael Phelps made it famous. Marks fade in days.
Tuina: TCM massage works acupoints and meridians — more "prescriptive" than Thai massage. Reputable studios run ¥60-120/hour; distinguish wellness massage from medical tuina.
Medicinal food and tisanes: goji-chrysanthemum tea, danggui chicken soup, barley porridge — food as medicine. TCM hospitals offer "constitution tuning" formulas, and many hotels serve wellness teas.
