Traditional Medical Practices in China
China has a medicine history over 5,000 years. It was the first county in the world to have the medical knowledge. It had developed a deep and immense medical theories, medical science, diagnostic methods, theory, prescriptions and cure. The traditional medical practice has developed from the concept of �Taoism� and made a rich contribution in its medical culture.
The traditional medicine in Chinese culture is based on the belief that the human body is formed with the combination of �Yin� and �Yang�. The Yin constitutes the inner part of the body with negative principles. Contrast to this, the yang constitutes the outer part of the body with positive principles. The culture of traditional Chinese medicine believes that yang serves to protect the body from outer harm while Yin serves to store and provide energy for its counter part. Traditional Medicine also believes that the lost of harmony between the two results in the sickness of the body.
The traditional science in Chinese culture believes that the human body is made up of moving and energetic particles, body fluid and state of blood. The internal organs process its movement and function. The great amazing fact of the medical world in Chinese culture is that the doctors could cure a large number of patients without a single help of any assistant or apparatus. This is done through physical examination of the body.
The understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of universe and the treatment of the illness is based on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes. They treat the identical diseases in different way and different diseases having same syndromes are treated in similar ways.
The physical examination of the body includes observation, interrogation, auscultation and olfaction, pulse taking and palpation. The process of observation shows that the doctors directly watch the outward appearance of the patient to understand the condition. If the inner organ runs in a wrong way, it reflects through facial sensory organs, tongue, skin pallor and some excrement.
The doctors interrogate the patients as well as the relatives to know the evolution of the disease, symptoms and previous treatment. The doctor then gathers the message by hearing the sound and smelling the odor through the process of auscultation and olfaction. The taking of the movement of pulse and palpation is to know the inner change of the symptoms.
The traditional Chinese medicine includes treatments like herbal medicine, acupuncture, dietary therapy and both Tui na and shiatsu massage to cure the patients. The patients boil the medicine before taking it inside their body. It is rooted in the close observation of the cosmos, nature and the human body. Herbs like ginger, salvia, licorice, wolfberry and many other varieties are used in Chinese traditional medicine.
The traditional medicine is still plays and important role in the Chinese culture. It has raised a great attention and interest to other parts of the world. The Chinese medicine is considered as an alternative medical system in the western world.