Chinese pharmacy. Chinese herbal medicine boxes in a pharmacy. The boxes (at upper frame) are filled with medicinal stocks such as cut herbs and sliced horns. The mortar is used to crush medicines. 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 aims to restore the yin-yang balance and the flow of Chi. Photographed in Korea.