As a representative of traditional Chinese science and technology and a crystallization of traditional culture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has created two miracles in the history of world science: one is a historical miracle, where TCM has safeguarded the survival and reproduction of the Chinese people; the other is a practical miracle, relieving countless patients from suffering. Some may ask, what is TCM? We say that TCM is the experience accumulated by the laboring people over two thousand years in their struggle against various diseases. It is one of the greatest inventions in human history and a science with the most complete theoretical system, whose theories have significant guiding implications for other disciplines and human life.
TCM is a treasure trove derived from nature.
TCM is profound and has a long history. For instance, the understanding of diseases began as early as the Neolithic Age in China. Over twenty diseases, such as eye diseases, ear diseases, and dental diseases, were recorded in oracle bone inscriptions. The Book of Songs, compiled during the Spring and Autumn period, documented over a dozen conditions, including diseases, mania, and confusion. How did the ancients treat various ailments? They used medicinal herbs, acupuncture, massage, and moxibustion, among other methods. Additionally, there were incantations, known as shamanic medicine.
In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, it is stated: “Medicine originates from the stone needle.” The stone needle, or bian (砭), is a wedge-shaped stone that can stimulate acupuncture points or drain pus and blood. The earliest existing TCM text, the Huangdi Neijing (黄帝内经), discusses the invention and discovery of the bian stone. Artifacts from oracle bone inscriptions discovered in Anyang, Henan, also include a set of jade fish-shaped knives, which some believe were used as surgical scalpels.
Tracing the history of Chinese herbal medicine reveals that “all herbs in the world can be used as medicine” is a product of humanity’s gradual understanding of nature and the summarization of practical experiences. This is evidenced in the Records of the Grand Historian: “Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, thus beginning the field of medicine.” Shennong lived during the agricultural era of primitive society in China. Although there is still debate about whether he tasted herbs for food or medicine, it vividly illustrates that traditional Chinese medicine is based on an understanding of nature. Therefore, the Yan Emperor Shennong, along with the Yellow Emperor and Fuxi, is revered as a founding figure of TCM.
The ancients regarded natural substances as a treasure trove of medicine, giving TCM an inexhaustible and ever-renewing advantage. The first pharmacopoeia, the Shennong Bencao Jing (神农本草经), compiled during the Han dynasty, is one of the three great classics of TCM, alongside the Huangdi Neijing and the Shanghan Lun (伤寒杂病论). The Shennong Bencao Jing summarizes pharmacological knowledge before the Eastern Han dynasty, listing 365 medicinal substances according to the 365 days of the year, and creating a classification system based on the three categories of upper, middle, and lower (based on toxicity). The Jing Shi Zheng Lei Bei Ji Ben Cao (经史证类备急本草) by the famous physician Tang Shenwei from Sichuan during the Northern Song dynasty is a groundbreaking work in the history of pharmacology, documenting 1,748 medicinal substances and over 3,000 medical formulas, marking a peak in pharmacology during the Song dynasty, which was only slightly diminished by the publication of Li Shizhen’s Bencao Gangmu (本草纲目) in the Ming dynasty, which recorded 1,892 substances and 11,096 formulas. British historian Joseph Needham remarked that the Da Guan Jing Shi Zheng Lei Ben Cao (大观经史证类本草), published in the second year of the Northern Song Da Guan era, was far superior to early European botanical works of the 15th and 16th centuries.
TCM is evidence-based in its efficacy.
Ancient Chinese natural philosophy posits that the world is composed of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, which are unified, orderly, and interconnected. All herbs possess four qi (cold, hot, warm, cool) and five flavors (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, salty). Humans are children of nature, with five organs and six bowels, seven emotions, and six desires. Using natural substances and methods, TCM treats the natural body. This ancient philosophical thought has nourished the miraculous field of TCM. Thus, for over five thousand years, a needle and a herb have protected countless descendants of Yan and Huang.
The four diagnostic methods of “observation, listening, inquiry, and palpation” are unique diagnostic techniques in TCM that allow for a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the patient’s condition, accurately enabling “differentiation and treatment.” This reflects the ideas of material dialectics and systems theory. The famous Belgian scholar Ilya Prigogine once said: “The traditional academic thought of TCM emphasizes the study of the spontaneity of the whole, coordination, and synergy, which aligns more closely with the philosophical ideas of modern science.”
In contrast to TCM’s holistic view, Western medicine adopts a microscopic approach of “differentiating diseases and treating them.” A vivid metaphor is that TCM sees the “forest,” while Western medicine sees the “trees.” TCM does not treat headaches with head remedies or foot pain with foot remedies; rather, it determines diagnosis and treatment plans based on the patient’s constitution, signs, and various factors such as time, geography, and medical history. This is the famous theory of the three causes—medication based on person, time, and place. Given China’s vast territory, the living environments and constitutions of people in the north and south differ, thus the same disease may require different medication choices and dosages. For instance, when treating a patient from Inner Mongolia, the dosage of medication generally needs to be increased, as the climate is cold, and locals consume more beef and mutton, resulting in a robust physique. The reason why famous doctors are also renowned is due to their ability to discern clearly. The essence of TCM lies in understanding the common and adapting to changes. The four diagnostic methods encompass profound humanistic and natural scientific principles.
On August 30, 1958, a young resident physician in the ENT department of Shanghai First People’s Hospital, Yin Huizhu, successfully performed a tonsillectomy on a patient without the use of anesthetic. This surgery became the first acupuncture anesthesia operation in China. After 1982, the Ministry of Health began to evaluate various acupuncture anesthesia techniques, starting with thyroid surgery under acupuncture anesthesia, followed by gastrectomy, lung resection, cranial surgery, hysterectomy, and anterior cervical orthopedic surgery, all of which passed evaluation. A small silver needle caused a sensation worldwide.
The invention of acupuncture is monumental; the first classic of TCM, the Huangdi Neijing, records a systematic theory of acupuncture. Over 2,000 years ago, the Nanjing (难经) noted that acupuncture at the “yu” points could relieve pain. The ancients also had a song about the four major points: “For facial and oral issues, use Hegu; for headaches, seek Lieque; for back pain, find Weizhong; for abdominal issues, stay at Sanli,” meaning that as long as the correct points such as Hegu, Lieque, Weizhong, and Sanli are needled, the corresponding ailments can be treated. The story of the divine physician Bian Que curing the prince of Guo with acupuncture, bringing him back to life, is well-known. Thousands of years of medical practice have proven that acupuncture can treat hundreds of diseases.
TCM is rooted in Chinese traditional culture.
TCM is an important part of the development of the Chinese nation, a valuable experience accumulated from the long struggle against diseases, and its dialectical thinking is worth emulating. Entering the 21st century, with rapid economic development and constant innovation in various fields, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is no longer an unattainable dream. However, national rejuvenation is not solely about economic revitalization; it also encompasses cultural revival. Once a nation forms its own dominant cultural model, even if it faces economic setbacks for some reason, as long as its cultural foundation remains, there is a possibility of rapid revival. The revival of TCM culture is an important avenue for promoting the renaissance of Chinese culture. TCM is one of the important carriers of traditional culture, and the revival of TCM culture will also be a significant manifestation of the cultural renaissance of the Chinese nation.
In the process of development, TCM has continuously absorbed knowledge from various disciplines such as philosophy, literature, mathematics, history, geography, astronomy, and military science, while also integrating the essence of traditional Chinese culture, becoming an inseparable part of traditional culture. TCM has emerged and grown in the soil of traditional Chinese culture, and in this cultural atmosphere, it can naturally be popularized. In ancient times, from emperors to commoners, various social strata had varying degrees of knowledge about medicine and herbs, with numerous examples of Confucian scholars and officials practicing medicine. The saying “scholars learn medicine, catching chickens in a cage” vividly illustrates the phenomenon that individuals with a background in traditional cultural knowledge find it relatively easier to learn TCM, while also highlighting the close relationship between TCM and traditional culture. Today, if we detach TCM practitioners from the education and dissemination of traditional Chinese humanistic culture, merely learning TCM diagnosis, formulas, and herb properties will ultimately make it difficult to cultivate a generation of renowned TCM practitioners (even if they achieve temporary fame, they will lack lasting impact). Moreover, TCM herbs will struggle to maintain and develop authentic medicinal materials and traditional processing methods, and products related to TCM, including cultural products, will find it challenging to form a good and lasting market atmosphere. Without the nourishment of literature, history, and philosophy, TCM theory will also find it difficult to develop healthily and sustainably. Therefore, in a certain sense, the study of TCM culture not only plays an important role in the revival of traditional culture but also serves as a significant driving force for the national economy, especially the medical market economy.
In recent decades, TCM has developed rapidly overseas. From a certain perspective, this reflects a complementarity between traditional medicine and Western medicine, which is also the charm of TCM. In fact, the encounter between TCM and Western medicine has existed for hundreds of years; intriguingly, throughout this history, one can always sense the gentle, flowing power inherent in TCM.
The inheritance of TCM is a heavy responsibility.
As a precious treasure of traditional Chinese culture, TCM has been passed down from generation to generation, blessing the Chinese people and enriching the vast culture of China. It integrates various theories from traditional Chinese philosophy and the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, along with local medicinal materials and medical tools, forming a relatively complete medical system. Unfortunately, modern TCM has encountered Western science. The comprehensive victory of science in world culture has forced TCM to conform to the scientific perspective of Western medicine. Specifically, the failure of TCM in the face of Western medicine stems from the debate over “whether TCM is scientific.” To align with Marxism and the materialism of Western science, the Chinese TCM community has deleted or altered many traditional concepts. However, using foreign standards to judge oneself is akin to using English grammar to determine the value of Chinese.
Academically, TCM has faced significant crises. “On the surface, TCM appears prosperous, with many practitioners, legal protections, and formal pathways for training students, including universities and graduate programs. TCM is a practical science, and in today’s rapidly developing scientific landscape, many professions prioritize degrees over abilities, placing little value on practical skills, making it difficult for ancient TCM to find practitioners who have grown from practical clinical experience. It is no wonder that outsiders say that truly inheriting TCM is rarer than giant pandas. However, in recent years, TCM culture has gained increasing attention from both domestic and international individuals, with many people eager to learn about TCM, understand TCM, and enjoy TCM, which forms the foundation for the development of TCM and is the charm of TCM.
Under the halo of science, people do not feel its existence; in their impression, it is far from human rationality. For a century, it has stood silently in the storm. When we deeply feel it, we find that it is intertwined with our soul and blood. It is TCM! A great civilization that may soon be lost from our hands, leaving behind only a beautiful shell for future generations. We are the inheritors of this traditional culture of TCM, and it is our glorious mission and responsibility to inherit and promote it, which will also be our lifelong goal of unremitting struggle.
Source:Learning Power APP
