A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) health care project, advocating disease prevention, was started in Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, on Thursday.

A total of 1,006 medical care institutions in 21 cities of Guangdong, which has been chosen as a pilot province for the project, will attend the project.

The TCM will be used to provide medical service for disease prevention, according to an official with the Ministry of Health.

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi attended Thursday's opening ceremony.

Long before the advent of modern medical science, the Chinese had developed comprehensive theories about the treatment of illnesses.

Remedies made from natural ingredients, such as wild plants and herbs, and simple tools like acupuncture needles were used by TCM doctors to treat patients or prevent people from falling ill.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2007)