Ayurveda (Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a more than 6,000 year old comprehensive system of medicine based on a holistic approach. Ayurveda also had a tradition of surgery. Homeopathy is based on the theory that each naturally occurring element, plant, and mineral compound will, when ingested or applied, result in certain symptoms. Allopathic medicine treats disease using remedies that will produce symptoms different from the disease treated. Chinese medicine (sometimes known as "TCM," "Traditional Chinese Medicine," or "Traditional Oriental Medicine") is based on the belief that the body will fight off and recover from illnesses when the body is in balance in terms of Yin Yang and the Qi. Despite a long history of practices, Chinese doctors in each generation guarded their knowledge as family secrets. To see more about these systems click on the following links.