Chinese medicine. Desk of a local Chinese pharmacy. On it are herbal books, an abacus, a pestle and mortar (upper left) and weighing scales (top centre). Herbalism is a system of medicine in which plants are used to promote health and treat symptoms. Chinese medicine is based on the theory of a universal bodily life force, Qi. This is balanced by two complimentary forces, yin and yang. Imbalances in these forces disrupt the flow of Qi, causing illness. Chinese medicine therefore aims to rebalance yin and yang. Photographed in Fukien, China.