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 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.
For Westerners, traditional Chinese medicine is
invariably associated with acupuncture, but acupuncture is
only one of several applications, all of which arc based on the
precepts of Taoism.
Slow but sure
Chinese medicine usually comes in the form of a variety
of pills and potions with a plethora of bewildering 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
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Pharmacy
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Chinese medicine is considered unscientific and
imprecise by Western practitioner. But a Chinese doctor might well
argue that its imprecision-or flexibility-is in fact its strength.
The Chinese refer to organs, but when they do so it is not the
organs themselves that are important but their function in the
distribution of vital essence (or qi) throughout the body. |
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
| The Chinese doctor examines the state of the flow
of qi through the body's meridians by checking the pulse. He or she
uses three fingers to read the six different pulses in each wrist
that correspond to the 12 meridians. By applying different levels of
pressure with the fingers, |
Chinese Medicine Market
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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.
Skin tonic
| Taoists believe that following a
strict diet for three years will result in the regeneration of
skin tissue throughout the body; after 10 years the teeth and
bones will be renewed. |
Acupuncture
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