Many people think of Chinese medicine as being all about acupuncture, and they would be right up to a point. In Ireland, acupuncture is certainly the best known modality under the wide umbrella of Chinese medicine. However, acupuncture is only one way in which Chinese medical practitioners help people to heal. The following are descriptions of other modalities that are considered important components of Chinese medicine. 

Chinese Herbal Pharmacology

Practitioners of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology rely on formulas or a combination of herbs to achieve the desired healing effects. Herbs come in many forms, including pills and capsules, powdered or raw, which are cooked in hot water and taken like a tea.
Chinese Herbal Pharmacology is an important treatment modality for many practitioners. It began thousands of years ago in southern China, where the weather was warm and humid, producing a rich variety of plants from which to choose. Herbalists today draw on formulas that have been in use for hundreds, and even thousands of years.
Chinese herbs are effective for a number of reasons. Practitioners are better able to fine-tune their treatments and a formula can be custom tailored or altered as an illness or condition changes. In addition, by taking herbs, you can augment your acupuncture treatment, and continue your care at home. 

Tuina

Bodywork is the use of Tuina, which is a form of medical massage, to treat a variety of conditions. Tuina usually incorporates the stimulation of acupuncture points and energy pathways in to a massage format to achieve the best results.
Tuina may be used for any condition, but is especially effective for musculoskeletal conditions. A practitioner may work on the entire body or just the affected area. 

Cupping

Cupping is a method of treatment that uses suction to move energy and blood. Glass cups are applied, usually after a lit alcohol swab inside the cup has created the vacuum necessary to create suction on your skin. The cups may be left in one position on your body or slid across your skin to affect a larger area.
Cupping is especially effective for painful conditions. Most frequently, your back area or larger muscles on your legs or arms are cupped. 

 
Moxabustion

Moxabustion is a warming method that involves the use of the herb artemesia. The artemesia may be loosely rolled into cones or tightly rolled into a stick, and is lit and placed near your body, usually at acupoints. The smoke produced is extremely warming and penetrating. 
It is commonly used to treat cold conditions such as arthritis that becomes worse during cold, damp weather. 


Lifestyle and Dietary Therapy

Practitioners of Chinese medicine believe that lifestyle and diet play a large role in health and illness. As a result, most practitioners offer lifestyle guidelines on topics such as stress reduction, exercise, and sleep.
Practitioners of Chinese medicine believe that food is the same as medicine. Therefore, most practitioners will offer advice and guidelines about dietary choices. Dietary therapy may consist of ways to improve your digestion and choosing easily digestible and nourishing foods, or they may prescribe foods that nourish a particular organ or system in the body.