Cultivating Health with Traditional Chinese Medicine

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The concept of cultivating health permeates all aspects of Chinese life-from daily activity to diet and adjustment of emotions, from trivial activities like combing hair and cleaning teeth to calming the mind-and generally follows the principle of maintaining balance and harmony in every aspect. When falling ill, the Chinese resort to traditional therapeutic methods.

Traditional Chinese medicine is both a science of medicine and a system of philosophy. According to traditional Chinese medicine, every human being is a small universe and the human body is an integrated whole. The inner integration of the human body is achieved by unity of the internal organs as well as the essence, Qi and spirit. Besides, the human body is also integrated with the external world. So in dealing with a certain disease, doctors must diagnose and treat it according to the time, season, local characteristics and customs. That is what unity between man and nature means in classic Chinese philosophy. In ancient times, science and philosophy were often commingled. That is why traditional Chinese medicine adopted the conceptsof Qi, Yin, Yang and five elements from classic Chinese philosophy, and thereby developed a unique way of thinking.

The traditional methods used in diagnosing diseases in traditional Chinese medicine are Wang(inspection), Wen(smelling and listening), Wen(interrogation and inquiry) and Qie(taking pulse and palpation). It is said that these unique diagnostic methods were developed by Bian Que, who lived during the Warring States period (478-21BC). Wang(inspection) means observing the physical build, facial expression and tongue coating.

Generally, obese people are often characterized by excessive phlegm, while thin people by excessive heat; quiet people are vulnerable to colds, while active people are susceptible to overabundant heat.In terms of facialexpression，a whitish complexion indicates cold，a yellow complexion indicates dampness，a blue complexion indicates stagnation and a reddish complexion indicates heat.In terms of tongue coating，a thin coating indicates mild disease and a thick coating indicates severe disease.

Wen（listening and smelling）means diagnoses diseases by smelling the breath of the patient and listening to the voice.Wen（interrogation and inquiry）means asking the patient or patient’s relative about the major symptoms：the duration，any changes of the disease，case history and family history.This method is also used in Western medicine.Qie（taking pulse and palpation）is used to diagnose diseases by feeling the pulse and palpating the hands, abdomen and limbs. The changes of pulse are quite significant in diagnosis. Skillful doctors can decidethe nature and location of a disease simply by feeling the pulse.

Traditional Chinese medicine usually uses Chinesemedicinal herbs to treat diseases. These herbs are characterized by cold, hot, warm and cool properties as well as acrid, sweet, sour, bitter and salty tastes. Usually several herbs are used together to treat diseases. The forms of Chinese herbal medicine include decoction, powder, pill, tablet, granule and paste. Now, people prefer the tablets and granules of Chinese herbal medicine. In terms of therapeutic effect, decoction is the best form of medicine because it is easy to absorb. When herbs are selected and mixed together to treat a certain disease according to the theory of Chinese medicine, they are rinsed in water or millet wine or mixed, half of each. Then they are put into a earthenware pot to heat on high or low heat according to the nature of the herbs prescribed.

The residue is removed and the remaining liquid is taken for therapeutic purposes.

Most decoction tastes bitter but is effective for curing diseases and strengthening the body.

When taking Chinese herbal medicine，the patient has to avoid certain kinds of food.

For instance，in taking herbs to quell a cough，the patient should avoid eating fish；in taking herbs to subdue swelling，the patient should avoid beans；in taking herbsto induce sweating，the patient should avoid eating coldand uncooked foods；in taking herbs to stop diarrhea，the patient should avoid fruits and watermelon.Traditionally Chinese people throw the residue of decoction over the crossroads，hoping the germs are dispersed by being constantly trod upon.