Medicine In China.pdf

Chinese medicine originated in the Stone Age, with shamans using primitive medications and surgeries, and believing in a spiritual world that influenced the living. As Chinese history began to be recorded in 722 BC, medicine started to separate from religion, with official archives dividing it into four kinds: physicians, surgeons, dietitians, and veterinarians. Philosophical concepts like qi, yin yang, and wu xin were incorporated into medical theories, illustrating the belief in interconnectedness of the human body. The development of medicine in China took a unique path, with a system based on the circulation of qi and changes in yin yang, and it wasn't until the 18th century that modern medicine was adopted. Ancient myths and archeological evidence show that Chinese medicine dates back to the Shang era, with medical records on oracle bones and stone-crafted instruments. The meridian system, acupuncture, and diagnosis methods were developed, with treatment methods including surgery, acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal drugs. Physicians attributed illnesses to imbalances in yin and yang, and stressed preventative medicine, with professional ethics also taking shape. The Huang Di Nei Jing, compiled around the 3rd century BC, formed the basis of Chinese medicine for centuries to come.