So, what’s with all the buzz behind Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? Over the last decade, it’s holistic approach to therapy and medicine has piqued our Western curiosity as attitudes health and wellness have shifted toward comprehensive care. As people have begun to notice it’s results, celebrities and health gurus alike endorse TCM, and mainstream media isn’t far behind.

To give you a bit more perspective, we cover why this is one bandwagon you’ll want to hop on below. 

Celebrities Can’t Get Enough of TCM 

Let’s be real: Celebrities love TCM and frequently endorse the practice. For example, in 2012 Robert Downey Jr. credited his health transformation to TCM; Katy Perry says it boosts her creativity; and Sandra Bullock refuses to sign a contract unless it includes regular acupuncture treatments. 

We’re not saying you should get into TCM simply because celebrities endorse it, but it helps explain the rise and interest in TCM in pop culture and society as a whole.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Was Accepted into the WHO in 2019

No, we’re not referencing the band here. We’re talking about the World Health Organization (WHO), a global health initiative founded in 1948 by the United Nations. Since its inception, the WHO’s goal has been to “promote health, keep the world safe, and protect the vulnerable.” 

Part of that commission involves updating its global health compendium known as the “International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems” (ICD). In 2019, the WHO made a controversial move by including an entire chapter devoted to traditional medicine for the first time. Historically, Western medicine has ignored more traditional, holistic health approaches like TCM. 

So why the change of heart? According to the WHO, “the purpose of the ICD is to capture information on all health conditions and their treatment — the reason for including traditional medicine conditions and practices is that it is used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.”

Many People Say that TCM Has Worked for Them

TCM incorporates a holistic approach that attempts to bring balance to the body as a whole rather than targeting a specific part of your body. As such, it’s not just the symptoms which are improved, rather when the body is operating as it should, the effects are profound. As more people adopt this whole-health wellness practice, they report feeling stronger, healthier, and happier. 

The results aren’t just anecdotal, either. Treatment from acupuncture and herbs have been heavily studied under strict western standards and have documented empirical evidence proving that these practices can help a wide range of conditions including chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, and even depression. 

People have begun to embrace TCM, and it looks like it’s here to stay. 

Why You Should Give TCM a Shot

TCM will introduce you to a different, more comprehensive way of thinking about your health. Once you delve into it, you’ll notice how it changes the way you think, eat and function on a daily basis. 

We all know that eating well and exercising is better for us, but TCM takes it two steps further by outlining a path specific to you and that plan also addresses mental and spiritual aspects. You’ll learn to listen to your body and focus on maintaining balance of all the things that make you you. It’ll take some time to adjust, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature. 

Do you have questions about TCM? Feel free to leave them in the comments below!