Chinese History in the Field of Medicine

Chinese are well known for their remarkable contribution in the field of medicine. Chinese medicine developed over thousands of years, almost without any outside influence from other medical systems. The Chinese' Yin and Yang represents the rule of opposites that is very important in their medicine process. The Yin is the force that represents qualities such as darkness, while its opposite, the Yang, stands for qualities such as light. It is the attempt to restore the balance between the opposite in Chinese medicine.

The Emperor, Huang Ti, who lived from 2698 B.C. to 2598 B.C., was said to be the author of the great Chinese medical work called, the Nei Ching, which forms the basis of all Chinese medicine.

The Nei Ching (Book of Medicine) is an ancient medical work, that is believed, according to legend, which was written 4,000 years ago by the Yellow Emperor, Huang Ti, that it was more likely to have been written sometime about 200 B.C., but this has formed the basis for most Chinese medical literature since.

The Chinese medicine is based largely on the concept of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang stands for opposite states and conditions. Yin represents states such as feminine, dark and wet, while Yang represents the opposing states of masculine, light and dry. Based on the Nei Ching (Book of Medicine), it is the Yin and Yang that is said to control the body and had been thought of as tiny country with rulers and administrators. This "country" (Yin, Yang) has also a communication system of 12 rivers that is based on the 12 rivers of China. 

These rivers, divided into much smaller channels, carry blood and ch'i (vital energy). It is these channels that connects organs to one another. Kidney connects to the ear, lungs to the nose, and heart to the tongue, as few examples. A healthy body is determined through these channels if they are in good working order. It is the use of the points along the channels to influence the flow of ch'i (vital energy).

Chinese religions does not encourage dissection, as with Hinduism, because it is their belief that medicine was based largely on these channels and their influences on the body. Treatments through acupuncture where needles are inserted into one of the hundreds of points where ch'i (vital energy) is thought to run, has been practiced, because it stimulates the flow of ch'i (vital energy) to restore good health.