Chinese medicine had been discovered during the period of Medieval Chinese dynasties, and it uses the idea of knowledge that had developed over the ages within various civilizations before the time of modern medicine. The first evidence of medicine in the Middle-Eastern area dates back almost 4 thousand years to Ancient Egypt. Back then, the analysis and treatment of all sorts of diseases were based on spiritual and religious beliefs.
A mixture of prayers, magic practices, and herbal blends was then used to treat patients. Once Hippocrates developed a new strategy to treat diseases based on scientific observation of the human body, there was this first division between science-based and religion-based medicine. Hippocrates has made a significant contribution to the field of medicine.
How the Traditional Practice of Medicine Begins?
Shang dynasty
The Shang dynasty was alternately known as the Yin dynasty rules the middle and lower Yellow River valley during the second millennium BC. This earliest Chinese dynasty is well supported by the archaeological evidence.
According to Shang, the disease had resulted due to the curse from their ancestors or when a demon spirit the enters body. During this period, they had developed writing, and Shang helped people who wish to talk to their ancestors. Questions to be asked to the ancestors were written on bones or tortoise shells. These writings were referred to as oracular inscriptions.
Stone and bone needles found at the ancient tombs led a British biochemist and sinologist John Needham to theorize that acupuncture might have begun during the Shang dynasty.
Han dynasty
Oldest Chinese medical theory, the Huangdi Nei Jing or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, was composed during this dynasty. The work contains two parts. The first part is a highly referred part, which includes the theoretical ground of Chinese medicine and its diagnostic methods. The second part reviews the acupuncture therapy in detail.
At the end of the Han dynasty, a work called the Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders and Miscellaneous Illnesses, in English) was assembled. It focused more on drug therapy than acupuncture.
Another book, Nan Jing or Chinese medicine, also called the Yellow Emperor Eighty one Nan Jing, had some diseases analyzed in the form of questions and answers. It contained a total of eighty-one questions and hence the name “Eighty-one Nan.” These questions and the corresponding answers cover pulse study, meridian study, urgent illnesses, acupuncture points, and needlepoint methods.
Shennong Bencaojing (Classic of herbal medicine)
It is one of the important medical books that came out of the Han dynasty. This book enlists Chinese medicines originated from plants, animals, and minerals. There is also a category of medicine recorded, which is known to stimulate prolonged life or preserve vitality.
One herb with such an effect is Panax ginseng. There are medicines with toxic side effects on people and should be used in a very critical manner for treating diseases. Croton tiglium is an example of the herb in this category. It is used to heal swelling and relax the bowels.
Shangan Zabinglun (Discourse on fevers and miscellaneous illnesses)
It is a book written by Zhang Zhongjing, who was acknowledged as ‘sage of medicine.’ Diagnosis, analyzing symptoms, and treatment methods for many fever and pathological conditions are contained in this book. Later this book is rewritten into two books- Shanghanlun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases) and Jinkui Yaolue (Summary from the Golden Chest).
Hua Tao practiced anesthesia and was a skilled surgeon. He gave anesthesia as a powder called mafesian that can be dissolved in a fermented drink before the surgery. He also suggested the use of physical exercise to live long.
Chairman Mao Zedong in 1950 promoted traditional Chinese medicine even though he did not believe in it. Traditional Chinese medicine was affected during the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution damaged China’s economy and its traditional culture.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture (Zhen jiu)
In this method, many small metal needles are inserted into the underlying tissues of the skin at precise points on the body to maintain Qi and Yin Yang balance in the body. Yin and Yang are antonyms yet connected and mutually dependent. For instance, if Yin is female, then Yang is male; Yin is darkness, and Yang is light. Therefore, they are opposite and mutually dependent.
Qi is the key force in the body. The meridian system links qi and Yin-Yang elements. Meridian system is a vast web of channels connecting chest, abdomen, head, internal organs, limbs, trunk, muscles, tendons, skin surface, and body fluids to improve and interact within the system. They work as a system, and any dysfunction in any part affects the whole body functions.
Insertion of needles on different specific points varies in the effect it produces. E.g., for swollen joints, excessive heat in joints, bleeding of nose, heart pain, mental stress, needles are inserted in the first six points of the lung meridian. Acupuncture is also used in China as an analgesic before surgery based on a hypothesis that insertions activate natural pain-killing chemicals in the body.
Moxibustion (jiu)
A herb, Artemisia moxa is burned on the top of the needles and are placed on the same points in the meridian used in acupuncture, thus deriving the term moxibustion.
It is practiced at the sensitive points near eyes, ears, and large blood vessels where acupuncture is not recommended. Sometimes, acupuncture and moxibustion are combined to treat diseases or use them as anesthesia. Leaves of mugwort, mulberry, ginger, and aconite plants are also used. The leaves are used after being crushed and wrapped in a special paper.
It is burnt and held above a particular area on the skin that is needed to be warmed. It is removed before overheating takes place. Heated ginger relieves stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, and rheumatic pain; salt is used to activate abdominal organs; and garlic for respiratory problems.
Cupping
It is used to enhance the blood flow by placing cups on the affected area. The cups are usually made of bamboo and ceramic. They are heated before applying to the skin. When the heated cups are placed over the skin, they suck the skin in as they cool off. Cups are heated using alcohol or herbs and are placed directly inside the cup.
When the cups are heated, the fire source is removed and placed over the skin. As the surface area of the cup is comparatively bigger than acupuncture needles, it is possibly effective in treating many issues like skin or digestive problems.
Herbal remedies
Shen-Nong, who lived nearly 5000 years ago, found 70 herbs of medicinal importance. Information about the herbs was first formulated in a book called Shen-Nong-Ben-Cao-Jing, the first user guide to Chinese herbal medicine.
The authors were lived during the Han dynasty. Shang-Shu, Shan-Hai-Jing, Zhou-Li, and Li-Ji documented the use of herbal medicines. Other than the use of herbal remedies, the book Shi-Jing recorded the geographical location of cultivation and the harvesting season of the herbs. Newly revised materia medica, Xin-Xiu-Ben-Cao, is the first pharmacopeia in the world.
Herbs can act on the body as pharmaceutical drugs. Herbalism is a medicinal practice evolved from thousands of years of experience is based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Other synonyms for herbal medicine are botanical medicine, phytomedicine, or phytotherapy, which indicates herbal materials, herbs, herbal preparations, and complete herbal products that contain parts of plants or other materials as active ingredients.
Seeds, berries, roots, leaves, fruits, bark, flowers, or even the whole plants are used in herbal therapy. Herbs are classified into five tastes- bitter, salt, sweet, sour, and pungent. The name herbal medicine is misleading as the medicine also contains a small amount of animal or mineral products along with plant extracts. Most medicinal plants are toxic, and practitioners should choose the combinations of herbs and other ingredients carefully. Herbs, when applied in combination, are believed to have beneficial effects due to their synergistic effects of the drugs.
Chinese Nutrition
Chinese nutrition is an important aspect of Chinese medicine. Nutrition or foods taken by the people of China was believed to hold power to strengthen the body, prevent aging, and improve health. Medicinal herbs are considered as soups, syrups, fermented foods, and wines. Food that we consume tells a lot about our health and mental conditions.
Meditation
Qigong is a traditional Chinese energy exercise and therapy, commonly practiced by a large number of people in Chinese communities. Internal Qigong and external Qigong are two categories of Qigong. Internal Qigong involves the use of movements, meditation, and control of breathing patterns.
The gentle postures and movements of the exercise are designed to achieve a harmonious flow of energy (qi) in the body to improve physical fitness and overall well-being. External Qigong is usually performed by a trained practitioner using their hands to direct emitted “qi” energy onto the patient’s body in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.
Tai chi is a slow martial art practiced for defense and also for health benefits. It shares similarities with Qigong. It is practiced to relieve stress and for good physical fitness.
Massage
Tui na or massage is a type of physiotherapy that has the earliest record of practice during the Shang dynasty. Any imbalance in qi leads to pain or diseases that can be cured by massages. Massage stimulates the flow of qi, similar to acupuncture techniques. Practitioners use fingers or finger points to stimulate acupoints instead of needles in acupuncture.
The eight techniques of massage involve palpating (mo), rejoining (Jie), opposing (duan), lifting (ti), pressing (an), kneading (mo), pushing (tui), and hold (na). Other techniques include rolling for sprains and strains, one finger massage, and Nei Kung, which is a full-body stimulation technique.
Tui na could be used to treat pains of neck, back, and head; musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue, respiratory and digestive problems. It is very beneficial in boosting blood flow and curing depression.
Current Status
Valuable resources and knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine were affected by modernization and unsupportive healthcare systems. When modern or scientific medicines were inducing high impacted side effects in people such as cancers or other diseases, there was a comeback to traditional or folk medicines.
Traditional medicines were cost-effective than western medicines. Knowing the pros and cons of traditional therapy, Western medicine, and young educated people encourage its use, and education is also offered in acupuncture and moxibustion in many universities. The Internet also plays a vital role in spreading awareness of traditional medicines.
For instance, people can read on herbal products and also can order the product online and use it by themselves. All western medications are based on folk practice.
“In this case, science followed the medicine, not the other way round” – As said by Cheng.
Image Credits
Featured Image: Chinese Medicine- vivi14216
Kerala, India
M.Sc Microbiology
