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Top Ten National Treasures
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an important part of our brilliant culture and one of the top ten national treasures of China. It has an increasingly significant influence internationally and is loved and welcomed by both the Chinese people and people around the world.
Introduction to TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to the traditional medicine created by the Han people of China, also known as Han medicine or Han prescriptions.
TCM carries the experiences and theoretical knowledge of ancient Chinese people in fighting diseases. It is a medical theoretical system that gradually formed and developed under the guidance of primitive materialism and spontaneous dialectical thinking through long-term medical practice.
The theory of TCM originates from the summary of medical experiences and the ancient Chinese thoughts of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Its content includes the theories of Qi (vital energy), blood, body fluids, organ systems, meridians, constitution, etiology, pathogenesis, treatment principles, and health preservation.
Formation of TCM
TCM originated in primitive society, and by the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the theoretical framework of TCM had basically formed. The disciplines of anatomy and medicine had emerged, and the “Four Examinations” (望, wàng; 闻, wén; 问, wèn; 切, qiè) were adopted. Treatment methods included stone therapy, acupuncture, decoctions, moxibustion, guided breathing, and incantations.
The Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) is one of the four classic texts of traditional Chinese medicine and is the earliest medical classic in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine. It is a monumental work that studies human physiology, pathology, diagnostics, treatment principles, and pharmacology. Theoretical foundations established in this text include the theories of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, pulse diagnosis, organ theory, meridian theory, etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment principles, and health preservation.
TCM is a discipline that studies human physiology, pathology, and the diagnosis and prevention of diseases, primarily based on the traditional medicine created by the Han people of China.
Pioneers of TCM
Bian Que
A physician during the Warring States period, Bian Que is regarded as the ancestor of traditional Chinese medicine and made special contributions to the development of TCM. He established the Four Examinations (望, wàng; 闻, wén; 问, wèn; 切, qiè) and authored the Bian Que Neijing and Bian Que Waijing. Bian Que traveled extensively to practice medicine, excelling in various fields. By observing colors and listening to sounds, he could diagnose illnesses. He led his disciples to practice medicine in various places and was revered by the public as a divine physician, adopting the name of the legendary physician Bian Que from ancient mythology.
Hua Tuo
A physician during the late Eastern Han dynasty, Hua Tuo excelled in internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, and acupuncture, particularly in surgery. His use of the anesthetic Ma Fei San is recognized as the earliest form of general anesthesia in the history of medicine. Hua Tuo pioneered the use of general anesthesia for surgical procedures and is revered as the “father of surgery” by later generations.
Once, while traveling, he saw a funeral procession and noticed blood seeping from the coffin, resembling that of a living person. He rushed forward to provide treatment and ultimately saved a woman who had been presumed dead, earning him the title of