ST. PETERSBURG -- Balance is the most important principle of traditional Chinese medicine, a traditional Chinese medicine expert said.

Dr Guan Qingwei, spokesman for Chinese medicine giant Tong Ren Tang, gave an introductory lecture Monday on the core principles of Chinese medicine and its holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment of a variety of medical conditions.

Guan said the Chinese medicine values prevention and ties between health and lifestyle. In his view, Western medicine treats illness in a person, while Chinese medicine treats a person with illness.

Guan, invited by local Confucius Institute and the St. Petersburg Association for International Cooperation, arrived here Monday for a visit aimed at changing attitudes toward Chinese medicine among Russians.