Clinical Handbook Of Chinese Medicine

Bob Xu, Chun-Su Yuan

• Publisher: WSPC
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9789814579889
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Science General
• Index: Biological Sciences

This is a concise handbook providing a quick clinical reference on Chinese medicinal treatments for many diseases, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and practice. Organized by different clinical conditions and diseases, it provides clinicians and healthcare professionals with definitions and recommended treatment methods, especially herbal medicine formulae. In addition to being a comprehensive quick reference source, this handbook also conveys a generalized understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Contents:

• Overview:
  • Introduction
  • Chinese History vs. Chinese Medicine
  • Misunderstandings of Chinese Medical History
  • Obstacles in Chinese Medical History
  • Milestones in Chinese Medical History
  • Pre-scientific, Qualitative, and Philosophical Medicine
  • Complexity of Chinese Medicine
  • Methodology of Chinese Medicine
  • Chinese Medicine vs. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
  • Fundamental Characteristics of Chinese Medicine
  • Research and Regulation on Chinese Medicine
  • Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine
• Practice:
  • General Principles
  • Internal Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Surgery
  • Anorectal Diseases
  • Andriatrics
  • Dermatology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Otology
  • Rhinology
  • Laryngology
  • Stomatology
  • Preventive Medicine

Readership: All TCM clinicians, health professionals, and practitioners. Individuals in the following fields: medicine, psychology, psychopathology, life and health sciences, philosophy, humanities, sociology, education, and anthropology. Members of the laypublic.

PART I

OVERVIEW

1. Introduction

Chinese medicine (CM), also called traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is an integral part of Chinese culture and history. It originated from, grows, develops, and evolves side by side with Chinese culture and history, and in return, Chinese medicine has enriched Chinese culture and history. Due to this close relationship, it is necessary to understand Chinese culture and history in order to understand Chinese medicine.

2. Chinese History vs. Chinese Medicine

Generally speaking, Chinese medicine is composed of two parts: theory and practice. The practice of Chinese medicine is the basis and foundation of its theory. The theory of Chinese medicine is a summary and sublimation of the practice.

Medically, the theory and practice of Chinese medicine are closely related. However, during the course of the history of Chinese medicine, the two parts did not evolve side by side. The practice of Chinese medicine started much earlier than the formation of Chinese medical theory.

The origin of Chinese medical practice was closely associated with the activities of Chinese ancestors in the primitive era. During that era, the basic survival needs of human beings were not guaranteed.

Diseases, illnesses, wounds, etc., were constantly threatening the survival of Chinese ancestors. They faced these threats everyday. Basic survival was a huge challenge. In that hostile environment, they tried every possible means available to survive the diseases, illnesses, wounds, etc.

Because one of the most pressing tasks at that time was to fight the diseases, illnesses, wounds, etc., the need for a primitive medicine became evident. In other words, whenever there was a human being, there was a need for medicine. The need for medicine was a top priority for Chinese ancestors of that era.¹

As a result, the practice of Chinese medicine started at the very beginning of Chinese history. In fact, the practice of Chinese medicine began as soon as Chinese history began.

The earliest practice of Chinese medicine, however, was not as sophisticated and advanced as the practice of Chinese medicine today. The early practice of Chinese medicine was primarily composed of simple, random, and non-purposeful behaviors. Many of them could be described as subconscious, unintentional, trial-and-error, and non-systematic approaches.

Since there was no printed or electronic documentation at that time, there was no means of keeping a record of practices in that era. Therefore, the exact date of the start of Chinese medical practice was not documented. However, since the practice of Chinese medicine began as soon as Chinese history started, it is possible to derive the history of Chinese medicine from our knowledge of Chinese history. So far, most of the knowledge on Chinese medicine has been obtained through historical study and research on Chinese culture and history.

3. Misunderstandings of Chinese Medical History

Due to cultural and language differences, there exist some misunderstandings of the history of Chinese medicine in the early English-language accounts of Chinese medicine. Many misunderstandings originated from the book Huang Di Nei Jing.

Huang Di Nei Jing is the earliest book available to date which deals with established Chinese medical theory. This book was the product of many authors spanning several generations. The names of the authors are unknown and the exact times when it was started and finished are unclear. It is generally believed that the book was written from the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 B.C.) to the Warring States Period (475–221 B.C.).

Many English-language accounts of Chinese medicine regarded this book as the beginning of Chinese medicine. However, this is a misunderstanding of Chinese medical history.

Huang Di Nei Jing is a comprehensive encyclopedia-type reference book containing established Chinese medical theory. However, Chinese medicine could not have started with such a comprehensive reference book. Chinese medicine must have started with some primitive publications, documents, and other books first. After the primitive publications, documents, and books had accumulated to a certain degree, and when the knowledge of Chinese medicine had accumulated to a certain level, only then could this encyclopedia of the established theory of Chinese medicine be possible.

Therefore, before Huang Di Nei Jing, there must have been many other primitive and specialized publications, documents, and books on Chinese medicine. Although they were not preserved, they played very important transitional roles in the formation of Chinese medical theory. Huang Di Nei Jing is only a summary of the knowledge established before that era.

4. Obstacles in Chinese Medical History

Living in the contemporary era, we take for granted the many conveniences we enjoy. Since we have no experience of life in the primitive era, it is difficult for us to imagine what it was like then.

The following are the obstacles and diffi culties faced in the history of Chinese medicine, which either slowed down or restricted the growth and development of Chinese medicine from primitive practices to the established theory.

(1) Language

In the primitive era, there was no well-established standard language in China. People in different parts of China spoke very different dialects and even those in the same province could not understand each other. They could not speak, communicate, or exchange ideas with each other as effectively as we do today.

As a result, the knowledge of Chinese medicine developed in one part of China would be restricted to that area for a very long time before being exchanged with people in other places. This severely slowed and limited the growth and development of Chinese medicine.

(2) Documentation

In the primitive era, there was no pen, paper, printing, publishing, or electronic recording techniques. Therefore, knowledge of Chinese medicine could not be documented and shared. The knowledge of Chinese medicine in that era could only be passed on orally. This also severely limited the growth and development of Chinese medicine.

(3) Publication

Even after oracle-bone script (jia gu wen), pen, and paper were developed, there was still no means of publication, so all books were single-copy. Knowledge of Chinese medicine could not be disseminated as effectively as today. This also severely limited the growth and development of Chinese medicine.

(4) Preservation

One important issue relating to single-copy books at that time was that if a book was lost, all of the information in that book would be permanently lost. This happened many times in the history of Chinese medicine. A single-copy book could be lost either through accidents, disasters, or through natural decaying processes.

Because paper older than 2,000 years decays completely, most books and documents from over 2,000 years ago are no longer available. As a result, most Chinese medical books and documents before Huang Di Nei Jing are not preserved.

Once a single-copy book is lost, all of the information in that book is lost permanently. It might take many generations to re-discover that lost knowledge. In some cases, the knowledge in the book might be lost forever. One example is the lost books of Hua Tuo. Up to today, the information lost in Hua Tuo’s books still has not been recovered, developed, or reinvented. This is not only a heavy loss for Chinese medicine, but also a heavy loss for humanity.

Hua Tuo’s books are only one known case. In most other cases, we do not know how much Chinese medicine has suffered and how much knowledge has been lost throughout history due to the loss of single-copy books.

Each loss of a book would slow down the growth and development of Chinese medicine. Therefore, the issue of single-copy books is another factor that severely delayed the development and growth of Chinese medicine.

(5) Transportation

In the primitive era, there were no cars, trains, ships, airplanes, etc. Therefore, the exchange between people was very restricted. As a result, in many parts of China, people did not interact with other areas and could not understand each other for a long time. Thus, the knowledge of Chinese medicine developed in one area could not be shared with people in other areas effectively. This was another factor that severely restricted and limited the growth and development of Chinese medicine.

(6) Communication

In the primitive era, there was no mail service, no post office, no electricity, no radio, no television, no phone, no computer, no Internet, etc. It was very difficult and inefficient for people to exchange knowledge of Chinese medicine with each other.

The poor communication conditions were another factor that severely slowed down the development and growth of Chinese medicine.

Considering all the obstacles to the growth and development of Chinese medicine, it is reasonable to believe that a very long time was needed for the evolution of Chinese medicine from its practice in the beginning to the formation of the current theory. In other words, the beginning of Chinese medical practice was much earlier than the beginning of Chinese medical theory.

5. Milestones in Chinese Medical History

There were many important events in the history of Chinese medicine. The following are some historical milestones.

(1) Beginning of Chinese Medical Practice

According to historical studies and research, the currently available and documented period of the consanguine family in China included the following: Yuan Mou Ren (Yunnan Province) which existed about 1,700,000 years ago; Lan Tian Ren (Shaanxi Province) which existed about 800,000 years ago; Beijing Ren (Beijing) which existed about 690,000 years a...

Table of contents

• Cover
• HalfTitle Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Author
• Note to Readers and How to Use this Book
• Table of Contents
• Part I. Overview
• Part II. Practice
• Appendix I: Acupuncture Points
• Appendix II: Glossary
• Appendix III: Index of Formulae
• Supplement to Appendices
• Bibliography
• Index