疗法 (liáo fǎ) literally combines 疗 (liáo), meaning 'to treat' or 'to cure', and 法 (fǎ), meaning 'method' or 'approach'. Together, it refers to a systematic method used to treat illness, injury, or psychological conditions — essentially 'therapy' or 'treatment method'. It is commonly used in medical, clinical, and wellness contexts, such as physical therapy, acupuncture therapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy.

The word is neutral in register and appears frequently in both formal writing (e.g., medical reports, health articles) and everyday speech when discussing care options. While it can refer to conventional Western treatments, it’s also widely used for traditional Chinese medicine practices like herbal therapy or qigong therapy. Unlike the more general term 治疗 (zhìliáo, 'treatment'), 疗法 emphasizes the structured, methodological nature of the intervention — it's about *how* something is treated, not just the act of treating.