Oriental medicine utilizes whatever means necessary to effect a postive outcome; however, in modern times, treatment has been limited to relatively low-risk interventions, leaving high-risk interventions to surgeons and other specialists.

Generally, non-surgical techniques, such as acupuncture, massage, herbology, exercise, and breathing techniques are utilized to restore the normal flow of qi, blood, and fluid, and to harmonize the yin and yang of the organs.

Treatment with acupuncture involves the insertion of stainless steel (or sometimes gold or silver) needles into various points on the body. A low-energy current may be applied to the needles to produce greater stimulation (electroacupuncture). Acupuncture treatment is generally focused on particular meridian pathways and acupuncture points, which are located throughout the body. There are 365 regular meridian points, numerous "extra" points, and always, ahshi (painful) points associated with the particular condition. General rules for the placement of needles include selecting local, adjacent, distal, opposite side and opposite meridian, and different limb points. In other words, elbow pain could be treated with needles in the elbow, up and down the arm on the same meridian, on the opposite elbow, on the opposite side of the same elbow, and on the knee. Additionally, other points could be added which are said to affect the tendons, joints, muscles, organs, etc. on the basis of symptoms.

Modality-specific Oriental Medicine healing arts go by names such as acupuncture, acupuncture medicine, medical acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Oriental massage and bodywork, TuiNa, qi gong, taiji quan (Tai Chi Chuan).

Other procedures used separately or together with acupuncture include: burning of herbs on or near the skin (moxibustion); injection of sterile water, vitamins, herbs, or homeopathic solutions through the inserted needles (not within the scope of practice for most licensed practitioners); low level (cool) laser stimulation; placement of needles in ear points (auriculotherapy); application of vacuum cups (cupping), scraping an area of skin with a smooth instrument (guasha); acupressure, massage, and manipulation (Tui Na), the application of external liniments (gaomo), and the prescription of herbal formulations for internal use.

Why the lack of surgical intervention in TOM? Surgery is, after all, and effective means of treating injuries. Well, In the first place, anatomical knowledge was difficult to obtain around the world for religious reasons until the past century. Surgical procedures were histoically complicated by severe infections, which were as likely to kill the patients as the disease itself. Modern microbial theory, anasthesia, and antibiotics have resulted in the advance of effective surgical intervention. In the late eighteenth century, most Asian countries were ruled by colonialist western governments, and political pressures from the west forced them to abandon many of their traditional medicines. Sanitation, surgical procedures, and drug therapy became the life-prolonging miracles of the twentieth century, and the realm of the Euro-American western-dominated globe, leaving traditional medicines to the rural and inaccessible regions of the world.