On April 1, 2026, China implemented a landmark national standard: Classification and Determination of TCM Constitution. Although designated as a recommended rather than mandatory standard, it represents a major step in modernizing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by converting traditional constitution theory into a clear, measurable and clinically practical framework. By clarifying the relationship between constitution, disease, and pattern differentiation, the standard strengthens professional credibility, supports research, and enhances patient-centered treatment.
John Orsborn, LAc, Dipl. Ac.
John Orsborn owns Tao of Wellbeing Acupuncture Clinic, LLC, in Bradenton, Fla., and is an adjunct professor at East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, Fla. His undergraduate studies were in Chinese philosophy, and he utilizes his knowledge of Daoist philosophy to enhance and further understand the classical texts of Chinese medicine.