History of Traditional Chinese Medicine

 
Traditional Chinese medical science is an important part of Chinese culture. For thousands of years, traditional medical science has made great contribution to Chinese nation, and it is famous with the obvious effect, special characteristics, unique treating methods, systemic theories and abundant data. Traditional Chinese medical science has become the common wealth of all nations in the world. With the developing history of thousand years, traditional Chinese medical science shows its great life-force, and it is developing fast. This is superiority and characteristic of medical science of China.

The characteristics of traditional Chinese medical science are as follows: Yin and yang thoughts and Five Elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) is the theory base, jingluo (passages through which vital energy circulates, regulating bodily functions), internal organs, function of vital energy and state of blood are the functional base, the seven human emotional factors (joy, anger, melancholy, brooding, sorrow, fear and shock) are considered to be the internal factors causing diseases, the imbalance of Yin and Yang is the main cause of diseases, colorful treating means based on medicine taking, acupuncture, massage, qigong (a system of deep breathing exercises) and four methods of diagnosis (observation, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, pulse feeling and palpatation).

As traditional medical science, Chinese medicine can be dated back to primitive society. The ancestors of Chinese created Chinese medical science in the process of fighting with nature. People found that some certain food can ease off diseases or pains. This should be the origin of the discovery and application of Chinese medicines. On the base of lighting fire and getting warm, people found it is useful to ease off pains to get warm with heated rock or sand. This might be the origin of moxibustion. In the process of working with stone, people found that if one part of body get stimulated, another part will feel good. Base on this, the acupuncture method was invented.

Chinese medicine science dialectics is a subject that correctly knowing of Chinese medicine science. This is the bridge between theory and practice of Chinese medical science. The so-called Zheng is a combination of symptoms and signs, a clinical representation of diseases. For example, the clinical representations might be jaundice, rib pains, heat, bitter in mouth, yellow urine, yellow and thick coating on the tongue and so on.  

Chinese medical science started very early. In the Medical Classic of Yellow Emperor, the basic theory system had formed. In late Eastern Han Dynasty, the dialectical treating principles of Chinese medical science had been clearly explained in the book of Shanghan zabinglun which was written by Zhang Zhongjing. Later on, the theory and practice of Chinese medical science developed continuously.