The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Second Edition

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In the last century, Western medicine developed into a science with a narrow focus: researching separate clinical issues and curing the symptoms of disease. Furthermore, in many place, it has turned into an expensive kind of `equipment medicine`, the cost of which society is barely able to tolerate any longer. Human beings, as both physical and psychological entities, have receded into the background. Measured to maintain health and prevent disease
have not received proper attention. However, the past decade has seen a rising interest in naturopathy, holistic medicine
and traditional Chinese medicine.

East vs West

Health is, according to Chinese doctors, the equilibrium of body and soul. Unlike Western medicine, Chinese medicine does not focus primarily on the treatment of illness. Instead, it focuses on the entire person– the unity of body, psyche and soul. In Chinese medical thinking, illness is only one manifestation of an imbalance that exists in the person as a whole.

Balance

The philosophy behind Chinese medicine is that we live between heaven and earth, and comprise a miniature universe within ourselves. The material of which living things are made is considered to belong to the yin, or the female, passive, receding aspect of nature. On the other hand, the life functions of living things are considered to belong to yang, or the masculine, active, advancing aspect of nature. Yin and Yang are not opposing forces, they belong together. We carry both Yin and Yang aspects within ourselves. If Yin and Yang are in equilibrium, this leads to overall health and well-being. If they are out of balance, illness and disease occur.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang can be forced out of balance in the human body by external or internal elements. Externally, the passage of the seasons and changes in the weather have an influence on the human body. Those having the most pronounced effect are wind, cold, heat(sun), moisture, dryness and fire(internal heat). Excessive or extraordinary changes in these external elements harm the body, and are referred to as the `six external disease-causing factors`. Internally, if mood changes such as happiness, anger, worry, pensiveness, grief, fear and surprise are too extreme,they too can harm good health. These are called the `seven emotions`. In Chinese medicine, the six external disease-causing factors interact with the seven emotions to form the theoretical foundation of disease pathology.

Importance of Chinese Medicine

An important objective of Chinese medicine is disease prevention. In earlier times, the most esteemed doctors were those whose patients did not get sick in the first place. Traditional Chinese doctors administer herbal remedies in many combinations. Various active agents in the remedies complement one another and produce a cumulative effect that defies scientific explanation. When disease does occur, Chinese medicine attempts to eliminate the symptoms by stimulating the person’s self-curing mechanisms.

Recently, Chinese medicine and some of its treatment methods have been acknowledged by many Western-trained doctors, especially as an adjunct to standard medical practices or as a means of preventative medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine relies on the use of many different kinds of herbs, the magnificent effects of which are something inexplicable in terms of modern science. When ailments have already manifested, Chinese medicine acts to stimulate the body’s self-healing ability to counter the diseases.

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