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Traditional Medicine by Regions - China
The Great Wall lived beyond the pages of history Awesome is the sight, this wall of yonder, Yin and Yang, balance is no mystery Traditional herbal medicine, China's national wonder
Ginseng roots for vitality Revered since China's past dynasties Ginkgo biloba, does wonders for your memory China, a treasure trove of many herbal remedies
A country of 1.3 billion people and still counting. A country with some 35,000 plant species, which 5000 of them are used in its traditional medicine practice. A walk inside a Chinese medicine hall would make you either greatly impressed or utterly confused. You can feast your eyes (or rather later with your mouth) with all kinds of dried herbs; kept in glass jars, bottles, boxes, packages; all neatly arranged and presented in shelves.
Welcome to China (though we can now find many Chinese medicine halls in other countries like Malaysia and Singapore and Chinatowns in US, UK, etc), the land that put ginseng (Panax ginseng) to the apex of one of the great herbal remedies. Besides, here you will find liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) in most of Chinese herbal formulas. This region also has the oldest surviving plant species, Ginkgo biloba. To be precise, it was once widespread during the dinosaur period! Ancient indeed!
Herbalism in China is synonymous with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice. Historically speaking, TCM has been long practiced, since 5000 years ago. Some historians mentioned that the Golden Age of Chinese medicine was during the days of the Han Dynasty. Apart from using herbs, TCM incorporates acupuncture, massage and energy therapy.
There are two 'Bibles' on Chinese herbal medicine. The two important publications, namely Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong's Canon on Materia Medica) and the 1596 book called Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) are the most prominent recordings, which are still imparting their influences (knowledge on herbs) until today (Dahlen and Wong, 1999).
TCM has two main systems, acting as its backbone. They are Yin Yang and the Five Elements (of natural constituents which are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water). Yin denotes 'negative', 'passive' and 'internal' features, whereas Yang denotes 'positive', 'active' and 'external' features. Yin organs are such as heart, liver and spleen. Yang organs are stomach, intestine, bladder and gastrointestinal. Besides organs, symptoms treatment are based on Yin and Yang. Thus, herbs are prescribed on its
effects on the Yin and Yang.
Additionally, herbs are categorized by its five taste (sweet, bitter, sour, salty, acrid). Yet, it is not implying that these are the actual taste of the herbs. Instead, these represent their healing properties (Yang, 2002). Together with 'temperature' of the herbs (warm, hot, cool, cold), all herbal prescriptions are administered by their specific taste and temperature (i.e.: 'cold' conditions are treated using a 'hot' treatment).
China's traditional medicine practice has been boosted during the ruling of the communist government. They have incorporated TCM as part of the public modern healthcare system.
At present, many of its universities now conduct teachings and researches in TCM. In Beijing, the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine was set up to as an effort to boost TCM credibility. TCM has also made its way across the world's continent. In 1995, the French government signed an agreement with the Chinese government to establish a hospital in Paris, offering acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Chevallier, 2000). This shows a promising future for TCM's acceptance and recognition to be considered as a reliable health treatment system. More intensive research and studies remain as the upmost important tools to bring out TCM's credibility.
Ginseng roots for vitality Revered since China's past dynasties Ginkgo biloba, does wonders for your memory China, a treasure trove of many herbal remedies
A country of 1.3 billion people and still counting. A country with some 35,000 plant species, which 5000 of them are used in its traditional medicine practice. A walk inside a Chinese medicine hall would make you either greatly impressed or utterly confused. You can feast your eyes (or rather later with your mouth) with all kinds of dried herbs; kept in glass jars, bottles, boxes, packages; all neatly arranged and presented in shelves.
Welcome to China (though we can now find many Chinese medicine halls in other countries like Malaysia and Singapore and Chinatowns in US, UK, etc), the land that put ginseng (Panax ginseng) to the apex of one of the great herbal remedies. Besides, here you will find liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) in most of Chinese herbal formulas. This region also has the oldest surviving plant species, Ginkgo biloba. To be precise, it was once widespread during the dinosaur period! Ancient indeed!
Herbalism in China is synonymous with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice. Historically speaking, TCM has been long practiced, since 5000 years ago. Some historians mentioned that the Golden Age of Chinese medicine was during the days of the Han Dynasty. Apart from using herbs, TCM incorporates acupuncture, massage and energy therapy.
There are two 'Bibles' on Chinese herbal medicine. The two important publications, namely Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shen Nong's Canon on Materia Medica) and the 1596 book called Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) are the most prominent recordings, which are still imparting their influences (knowledge on herbs) until today (Dahlen and Wong, 1999).
TCM has two main systems, acting as its backbone. They are Yin Yang and the Five Elements (of natural constituents which are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water). Yin denotes 'negative', 'passive' and 'internal' features, whereas Yang denotes 'positive', 'active' and 'external' features. Yin organs are such as heart, liver and spleen. Yang organs are stomach, intestine, bladder and gastrointestinal. Besides organs, symptoms treatment are based on Yin and Yang. Thus, herbs are prescribed on its
effects on the Yin and Yang.
Additionally, herbs are categorized by its five taste (sweet, bitter, sour, salty, acrid). Yet, it is not implying that these are the actual taste of the herbs. Instead, these represent their healing properties (Yang, 2002). Together with 'temperature' of the herbs (warm, hot, cool, cold), all herbal prescriptions are administered by their specific taste and temperature (i.e.: 'cold' conditions are treated using a 'hot' treatment).
China's traditional medicine practice has been boosted during the ruling of the communist government. They have incorporated TCM as part of the public modern healthcare system.
At present, many of its universities now conduct teachings and researches in TCM. In Beijing, the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine was set up to as an effort to boost TCM credibility. TCM has also made its way across the world's continent. In 1995, the French government signed an agreement with the Chinese government to establish a hospital in Paris, offering acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Chevallier, 2000). This shows a promising future for TCM's acceptance and recognition to be considered as a reliable health treatment system. More intensive research and studies remain as the upmost important tools to bring out TCM's credibility.
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