Chinese pharmacy. Pharmacist dispenses herbal medication at a Chinese hospital. The woman is weighing out a patient's prescription from powdered herbs. On the shelves there are many other boxes of powdered medicinal stocks such as cut herbs and sliced horns. Herbalism is a system of medicine in which parts of plants are used to promote health and treat symptoms. Chinese medicine is based on the theory of a universal bodily life force, Chi. This is balanced by two complimentary qualities, yin and yang. Imbalance in yin & yang and disruption of the flow of Chi causes illness. Chinese medicine balances yin & yang and the flow of Ch'i. Photographed in Taiwan.