traditional chinese medicine
Acupuncture & Chinese Medical Theory
The oldest Chinese medicine book that discusses acupuncture and medical theory originated from the Han dynasty (206 BCE). This text called the 黄帝内经 Huángdì Nèijīng, translated to the “Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor”, has been the doctrine of Chinese medicine for the past 2000 years. The 黄帝内经 Huángdì Nèijīng has two major texts, the Su Wen and Ling Shu, which share answers and questions between the Yellow Emperor and his Ministers regarding medical theories. The Su Wen text covers Chinese Medicine theory, foundations, and diagnosis whereas the Ling Shu covers acupuncture therapy.
A section of the Su Wen text
However, in 1973, the 马王堆 Mǎwángduī gravesite was excavated in Hunan province. Here, they found ancient medical texts recorded on bamboo strips and silk. This gravesite was constructed in 168 BCE for a mother, father, and son, who were passionate about books on silk and bamboo strips. The discovery of the gravesite suggests that there were existent medical texts even before the 黄帝内经 Huángdì Nèijīng.
導引 Dǎoyǐn Movement Illustrations from the Mǎwángduī
yin & yang
Chinese medicine is based on 阴 yīn and 阳 yáng theory.
The Yin and Yang theory suggests that opposites are interconnected, complementary, and interchangeable with each other. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that humans coexist with heaven and earth, which are Yin and Yang in nature. Yin and Yang exist in our bodies and these opposing forces create balance in our bodies, just like it does in nature. A truly balanced Yin and Yang leads to optimal health. TCM practitioners identify the Yin and Yang energies to resolve pathological issues in the body.
无极 wújí
Chaos
太极 tàijí
16th Century
阴阳 yīnyáng
Modern Day
The beauty of Yin and Yang in our bodies shows a beautiful dance of never-ending flow, healing, and recognition. We are humans who feel the magic of all light and heavy emotions. With the varied emotions we feel day to day, our inner balance sways one way or the other, and with TCM, we are propelled back into balance.
Chinese Herbal Medicine History
Early works of herbal medicine was from the pre-Han and Han dynasty which include those from the 马王堆 Mǎwángduī and from wooden tablets found in Gansu Provence.
The first Chinse herbal text is the
神农本草 Shén Nóng’s Běn Cǎo,
which was credited to 神农 Shén Nóng,
an ancient farmer who tasted herbs
to understand their effects.
The 神农本草 Shén Nóng’s Běn Cǎo
has 3 volumes describing agriculture and
medicinal plants found in China.
The first volume introduces 120 herbs that are non-toxic to humans. Examples are orange, cinnamon bark,
and licorice root.
The third volume introduces 125 herbs that have poisonous properties. Examples are rhubarb and peach pits.
The second volume shares 120 therapeutic substances to treat the sick, however, they have toxic properties. Examples are ginger, peony flowers and roots, and cucumber.
Chinese herbs, existent in our daily diet and in our supermarkets, have certain tastes and temperatures.
These specific tastes and temperatures are used to bring the body back into equilibrium and optimal health. The 6 tastes are sour, salty, bitter, acrid, sweet, and bland.
Each taste has a specific therapeutic property, where sour astringes, salty dissipates masses,
bitter is cooling and draining, acrid disperses, and bland drains damp
All herbs also have a specific temperature, whether they are hot, warm, cool, or cold.
For example, berries are sour and they help astringe or consolidate our vital substances. Ginger is warming and is great for strengthening our stomach. The warming function of ginger also expels cold pathogens and is great as a tea when we have a cold.
There are 530 total herbs in the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica that all have specific therapeutic properties, temperatures, and tastes. When used to heal the body, these herbal properties elegantly bring the body back into balance.