Classical & Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding Different Approaches Within Chinese Medicine
People often encounter different terms when exploring Chinese medicine - such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM), or approaches linked with ideas like the Five Elements.
These are not competing systems in the way different therapies might be. Rather, they reflect different emphases within the same medical tradition, shaped by history, education, and clinical focus.
This page offers a clear explanation of how these terms are used, and how they relate to the way Chinese medicine is practised in my clinic.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine, commonly known as TCM, is the form of Chinese medicine most widely taught and practised internationally today.
It was systematised in the mid-20th century to make Chinese medicine more accessible and standardised within hospital and educational settings. TCM training typically focuses on:
Structured diagnostic frameworks
Standardised point combinations
Pattern differentiation based on modern textbooks
Clear treatment protocols for common conditions
This approach has made Chinese medicine widely available and clinically effective for many people. Most licensed acupuncturists in the UK are trained within a TCM framework or a closely related model.
Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM)
Classical Chinese Medicine refers to an approach that draws more directly on the classical medical texts, philosophical foundations, and long-term observational principles that informed Chinese medicine before modern standardisation.
Rather than relying primarily on fixed protocols, classical approaches place greater emphasis on:
Pattern recognition over time
The relationship between symptoms, constitution, and life context
Seasonal and cyclical influences on health
Individual variation rather than standard treatment formulas
Classical medicine is not a rejection of TCM. Instead, it works beneath and alongside it, informing how diagnosis is interpreted and how treatment strategy is developed.
How This Affects Treatment in Practice
In clinical work, these distinctions matter less than how care is actually delivered.
At my clinic, Chinese medicine is applied in a way that is:
Pattern-led rather than symptom-led
Individualised rather than formulaic
Responsive to change over time, not just immediate presentation
This means treatment is shaped by how your system is functioning as a whole - physically, emotionally and energetically - rather than following a fixed template.
Acupuncture, bodywork, and supportive guidance are selected based on clinical assessment, not labels.
Where the Five Elements Fit In
Some people encounter Chinese medicine through frameworks such as the Five Elements.
The Five Elements are not a separate type of Chinese medicine, but a classical way of understanding:
Patterns of change
Seasonal movement
Emotional tendencies
Constitutional strengths and vulnerabilities
They are used as a clinical lens, not as a belief system, and may inform how patterns are recognised and treated over time.
A Practical, Non-Dogmatic Approach
Chinese medicine has always evolved through observation and practice. Different approaches reflect different emphases - not divisions.
In modern clinical work, what matters most is:
Careful assessment
Accurate pattern recognition
Appropriate treatment timing
Ongoing adjustment as the body responds
Labels such as “TCM” or “Classical” are useful for understanding background and training, but effective care comes from how these principles are applied in real clinical situations.
Beginning Treatment
You don’t need to decide which approach applies to you before beginning.
Treatment starts with a full clinical assessment, allowing time to understand how your body is functioning and what support is most appropriate. From there, care is shaped gradually and responsively.
If you’re considering Chinese medicine and would like to begin, the appropriate first step is an Initial Consultation + Treatment.