"The mind and body are like parallel universes. Anything that happens in the mental universe must leave tracks in the physical one." -Chinese Proverb

Updated July 2026: This blog has been rewritten to provide a more accurate and practical introduction to traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbalism. The updated version explains how concepts such as Yin and Yang, Qi, pattern recognition, food, and herbal formulas contribute to a more individualized understanding of wellness.

Long before wearable devices, laboratory testing, and wellness apps, practitioners observed the signals found in everyday life. They noticed how appetite changed with stress, how energy shifted throughout the day, how sleep responded to the seasons, and how physical concerns sometimes appeared alongside emotional changes. Over centuries, these observations helped shape traditional Chinese medicine.

This system views wellness through relationships and patterns. Yin and Yang describe complementary forces such as rest and activity, coolness and warmth, or nourishment and expenditure. Qi offers a way to understand movement and function, while Chinese herbalism uses carefully constructed formulas chosen according to the individual’s complete presentation.

These principles are not meant to turn wellness into a collection of ancient remedies. They offer a structured way to pay closer attention to what is changing, what may be connected, and what the individual needs at that point in time.

In this blog, we explore how Yin and Yang, Qi, food, daily rhythms, and herbal formulas contribute to the traditional Chinese medicine perspective. We will also look at how these principles help IHP Health Coaches develop a more individualized understanding of the clients they support.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Begins With Relationships

Traditional Chinese medicine developed through centuries of observation. Practitioners studied how people responded to food, movement, rest, emotions, climate, seasons, herbs, and other influences.

Those observations contributed to a system that considers relationships such as:

• Rest and activity

• Warmth and cold

• Nourishment and expenditure

• The individual and their environment

• One area of the body and another

• Current concerns and broader patterns

This perspective helps explain why two people with similar complaints may receive different recommendations. The visible concern is only one part of the assessment.

A practitioner may also consider when the concern occurs, what improves or worsens it, how it relates to sleep or digestion, and which other changes are present.

One Concern, Three Different Patterns

Consider three people who each report difficulty sleeping.

The first falls asleep easily but wakes during the night feeling warm and restless. The second lies awake with a racing mind after stressful days. The third struggles to settle at night and experiences digestive discomfort after late meals.

They share the same general concern, but traditional Chinese medicine may not view their experiences as the same pattern.

Before recommending herbs, acupuncture, food changes, movement practices, or another form of care, a trained practitioner might ask about:

• Energy throughout the day

• Appetite and digestion

• Temperature preferences

• Emotional well-being

• Menstrual patterns when relevant

• Physical tension or discomfort

• Sleep timing and quality

• Seasonal changes

• Other symptoms occurring alongside the primary concern

These details help the practitioner understand how the person’s experience fits together. Similar concerns may lead to different recommendations because the surrounding patterns differ.

Yin and Yang Describe a Changing Relationship

Yin and Yang are among the most recognizable concepts in Chinese medicine. They describe complementary qualities that exist in relation to one another.

Yin is commonly associated with:

• Rest

• Coolness

• Stillness

• Darkness

• Inward activity

• Nourishment and restoration

Yang is commonly associated with:

• Movement

• Warmth

• Activity

• Light

• Outward expression

• Function and transformation

Neither is inherently good or bad. Both have a role, and their relationship continually changes.

Day transitions into night. Activity creates a need for recovery. Colder seasons may invite different routines than warmer ones. Periods of intense work can increase the need for nourishment and rest.

Balance is therefore not a fixed midpoint. The amount of warmth, movement, nourishment, or recovery someone needs can change with age, season, health, and daily demands.

Recognizing Yin and Yang in Modern Life

Someone may spend the day responding to notifications, meeting deadlines, and relying on stimulation to maintain productivity. When evening arrives, the body may not immediately transition into rest.

That person might benefit from fewer evening demands, a consistent transition into sleep, sufficient nourishment, or time away from stimulation.

Another individual may rest frequently because they feel depleted but still lack the nourishment, gentle movement, social connection, or healthcare needed to regain energy. Additional rest alone may not address the full situation.

Yin and Yang offer a framework for considering these relationships.

Qi Describes Movement and Function

Qi, pronounced “chee,” is often translated as vital energy. Within traditional Chinese medicine, it is also associated with movement, transformation, protection, nourishment, and the body’s ability to perform its functions.

Qi is part of the traditional Chinese medicine framework rather than a substance measured through a conventional laboratory test.

Based on the person’s full presentation, a trained practitioner may assess whether Qi appears sufficient, depleted, constrained, or unable to move effectively.

Daily practices associated with healthy movement and function can include:

• Breathing fully

• Eating regular, nourishing meals

• Moving consistently

• Allowing time for recovery

• Responding constructively to stress

• Maintaining supportive daily rhythms

Tai chi and qigong combine posture, controlled movement, breathing, and attention. People may use these practices to encourage relaxation, body awareness, balance, and gentle activity.

Although these habits can contribute to well-being, persistent or unexplained symptoms warrant evaluation from a qualified healthcare professional.

Chinese Herbalism Uses Formulas, Not Trends

Chinese herbalism is sometimes reduced to a list of plants and their potential benefits. The traditional practice is far more individualized.

A formula may contain several ingredients with different roles. One herb might establish its primary direction, while others reinforce that action, address related patterns, or modify the way the combination functions. The formula may also change as the person’s needs evolve.

This differs from choosing an herb because it has been marketed for energy, stress, sleep, or hormone balance. Within Chinese herbalism, the same ingredient may not suit everyone with the same concern.

Why One Herb Does Not Tell the Whole Story

An herb’s popular reputation rarely explains how it is used within Chinese herbalism. Practitioners consider its traditional properties, the pattern it is intended to address, the other ingredients in the formula, and the individual receiving it.

Ginseng offers a useful example. The term can refer to several herbs with different traditional properties. Some varieties are considered more warming and stimulating, while others may provide gentler or more cooling support. Choosing ginseng solely because it is marketed for energy overlooks these distinctions. Depending on the individual’s broader pattern, a particular form of ginseng may be appropriate, unnecessary, or poorly matched.

This illustrates why Chinese herbalism cannot be reduced to pairing one herb with one symptom.

A trained practitioner considers more than what an herb is generally believed to do. Other questions include:

• Why is it being used?

• Which type and preparation are suitable?

• What dosage is needed?

• Which other ingredients belong in the formula?

• How long should it be used?

Chinese medicine and herbalism are included in the IHP Level 1 Health Coaching Certification to give future Health Coaches a broader foundation for understanding the individual and providing responsible, well-informed support.

Food, Seasons, and Daily Rhythm

Traditional Chinese medicine considers more than the nutrients a food contains. It may also examine how the food is prepared, when it is eaten, how the person responds to it, and whether it suits the season and current circumstances.

A raw, cooling meal may feel refreshing to one person during warm weather. Someone else may find cold foods uncomfortable or less satisfying and prefer warm, cooked meals, especially during colder months.

This does not mean everyone should follow rigid seasonal rules or eliminate entire food groups. It illustrates the attention traditional Chinese medicine gives to the interaction between the individual and their food.

Daily rhythm receives similar consideration. Regular meals, consistent sleep, suitable movement, and periods of recovery give the body greater predictability.

The purpose is not to create a perfect schedule. It is to notice which routines help the individual feel nourished and prepared for daily life.

Chinese Medicine and Herbalism Within the IHP Curriculum

Traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism introduce IHP students to a system that considers relationships, individual patterns, changing rhythms, and the person beyond a single concern.

Within IHP Level 1, students explore foundational principles associated with this tradition, including:

• Yin and Yang

• Qi

• Individual constitution

• Food, seasons, and daily rhythms

• The traditional use of herbs and formulas

• The importance of matching guidance to the individual

The purpose is not to prepare Health Coaches to practice acupuncture, diagnose traditional Chinese medicine patterns, or prescribe Chinese herbal formulas. Instead, this education helps them recognize connections, ask more complete questions, and understand why the same recommendation may not suit every client.

Helping Clients Recognize Their Own Patterns

Clients may know what they are experiencing without recognizing when it improves, when it intensifies, or what else changes alongside it.

For example, a client may report feeling uncomfortable after meals but assume the response is unpredictable. Through conversation and observation, they may notice that it occurs more often when they eat quickly between meetings, choose colder meals, or continue working while eating. On days when they sit down, eat a warm meal, and allow time to digest, their experience may be different.

An IHP Health Coach can help the client explore details such as:

• When the concern is most noticeable

• What was happening earlier that day

• Whether timing, environment, or pace makes a difference

• Which routines appear to support greater comfort

• What the client has already tried

• Which observations are consistent enough to track

• Whether the concern should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional

Instead of leaving with a generic list of recommendations, the client gains a clearer understanding of their daily experience and a practical place to begin.

What an Ancient System Can Teach a Modern Client

Traditional Chinese medicine does not point to one herb, food, or practice that everyone needs. Its enduring value lies in the attention it gives to the person and the relationships shaping their well-being.

For the client, this can mean noticing how activity affects recovery, how food influences comfort and energy, how concerns appear together, and how personal needs change over time.

That awareness can replace generalized advice with more useful questions:

• What has changed?

• Which concerns seem connected?

• What does my current routine require from me?

• Where do I need more nourishment, movement, or recovery?

• Which change can I realistically sustain?

These questions can help someone become a more active participant in their wellness journey while recognizing when guidance from a qualified professional is needed.

If you would like to learn how traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism contribute to the IHP curriculum, schedule a call with an Enrollment Advisor to explore whether IHP Level 1 aligns with your goals.