Chinacyber.com

Slow but sure

Vital essence

Harmony 

Diagnosis  

Treatment 

Skin tonic

 

Chinese medicine was not found by a single person. On the contrary, it was a effort made by several people which contributed to the advancement in this field. The Book of Rites,a manual for ceremonies written in the

Herbalist & his son

 Zhou dynasty (11th c.-256 B.C.), records the court physicians' division of medical teaching into internal medicine, surgery, nutrition and veterinary practice. The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine, which appeared during the Warring States period (475- 221 B.C.), systematically presented what was known in China of physiology, pathology, diagnostics, treatment and preventive medicine. Bian Que, a noted doctor at that time, was the first man in the world to use the pulse for diagnosis. In the first century came Shen Nong's Cannon on Materia Medica, China's earliest book on pharmacology compiled systematically. Hua Tuo was also a famous doctor in the 2nd century, that applied an anesthetic powder in abdominal surgery.

Chinese medicine usually comes in the form of a variety of pills and potions with a plethora of bewilderin instructions. Tempting though it is to ignore them, patience and careful observance of the directions often leadstt to good results. Chinese medicine does not act as quickly as its Western counterpart

Vital essence 

The 11 "organs" by which health is judged are the bladder, circulation, gall bladder, heart, kidney, large intestine, liver, pancreas, small intestine, stomach, and something called the "triple burner," which has no material existence at all but is a driving force. Over the centuries, hundreds of points were located on the body, linked to these organs. By joining them together, meridian paths were drawn that traced the flow of qi.

Harmony 

There are 12 meridians, each corresponding to one of the five Chinese elements (metal, earth, fire, water, wood) and each best treated at a certain time of day. A further eight meridians are important in Taoism but of less importance to clinical medical treatment. What concerns Chinese medicine is not the state of the heart itself but the invisible motor that drives the heart to beat. Illness results from a disharmony between mind and body, which can arise when emotional strain, for example, distorts nature's balance.

Diagnosis 

 he or she will notice irregularities. Having read the pulse, the doctor will ask questions of the patient to decide upon the appropriate treatment.

Treatment 

The aim is to stimulate the flow of qi in the blocked meridian using acupuncture (zhenjiu), acupressure (similar to acupuncture), heat treatment with needles in conjunction with the burning leaves of mugwort (moxibustion), or massage (anmou). The most precise and efficacious of these is acupuncture, which is particularly good for relieving pain. Diet is considered vital to health and partly explains the Chinese obsession with food. Taoist teaching recommends abstinence from a variety of foods and stimulants from eggplants to vinegar, although a less rigorous version of the diet suffices for most. Only food that relates to the organs and the elements associated with them is eaten, so, for example, hot foods are recommended for the lungs. Much of this, although not scientifically expressed according to Western terminology, does correspond to Western ideas, and there is no doubt that Chinese medicine, even if based on amorphous theories, is extremely effective for some diseases. Some aspects, like the use of talismans and incantations, are less likely to win over skeptics, but Chinese medicine in general deserves serious consideration.