During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) had basically taken shape. Dissections and medical divisions emerged. The "four diagnostic methods" had been adopted, and treatment methods included bian stone therapy, acupuncture, herbal decoction, moxibustion, daoyin (a form of physical exercise), qi distribution, and zhuyou (a form of incantation therapy). Huangdi Neijing is one of the four classic works of traditional Chinese medicine. It is also the earliest medical classic in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine. At the same time, it is a great medical work that studies human physiology, pathology, diagnostics, treatment principles, and pharmacology. Theoretically, it established the theories of yin-yang and the five elements, pulse diagnosis, the theory of zang-fu organs and their manifestations, [3] the meridian theory, the theory of causes of diseases, the theory of pathogenesis, diseases, diagnostic methods, treatment principles, the theory of health preservation, and the theory of the five evolutive phases and six climatic factors in traditional Chinese medicine. Later, traditional Chinese medicine and health preservation began to use yin-yang and the five elements to explain human physiology, and terms such as "medical workers", gold needles, and copper keys emerged. It refers to the medicine mainly created by the Han ethnic group in China and is a discipline that studies human physiology, pathology, as well as the diagnosis and prevention of diseases. [1]

In the Qin and Han dynasties, the TCM classic Huangdi Neijing systematically discussed human physiology, pathology, diseases, as well as the principles and methods of "preventive treatment of disease" and disease treatment. It established the thinking mode of traditional Chinese medicine, marking the transition from the simple accumulation of clinical experience to the stage of systematic theoretical summarization and forming the framework of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbal medicine. [9] In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing's Shanghan Zabing Lun put forward the principles and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of exogenous febrile diseases (including infectious diseases such as plagues). It discussed the causes, symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention of internal injury miscellaneous diseases, as well as the laws and principles of syndrome differentiation, establishing the theory and method system of syndrome differentiation and treatment. At the same time, Shennong Bencao Jing summarized and discussed the theories of the monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy in prescriptions, the combination of the seven emotions, the four natures and five tastes of drugs, etc. It played a very important guiding role in rational prescription, safe drug use, and improving the curative effect, laying the foundation for the formation and development of the theoretical system of Chinese materia medica. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo created the anesthetic "Mafeisan", pioneering the use of anesthetics in surgical operations. [9] In the later period of the Qin and Han dynasties, with the increasingly developed transportation, rhino horns, amber, antelope horns, musk from ethnic minority areas, as well as longans and litchi seeds from the South China Sea gradually came into use by medical practitioners in the inland areas. Medicinal materials from Southeast Asia and other places also continuously entered China. [10]

In the Western Jin Dynasty, Huangfumi's Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing systematically discussed theories related to the zang-fu organs and meridians, initially forming the theories of meridians and acupuncture and moxibustion. [9]

In the Tang Dynasty, Sun Simiao's proposition of "Great Doctors' Sincerity and Consummate Skills" reflected TCM's pursuit of profound medical knowledge, sincere hearts, and prudent words and deeds. It is the concentrated embodiment of the noble moral sentiment and outstanding civilization wisdom of the Chinese nation in traditional Chinese medicine and is the core value concept of traditional Chinese medicine culture. [9] Sun Simiao spent his entire life's energy writing Qianjin Yaofang (Essential Prescriptions for Emergencies) and Qianjin Yifang (Supplement to Essential Prescriptions for Emergencies). Qianjin Yaofang is divided into 30 volumes, containing a total of 5,300 prescriptions and related discussions; Qianjin Yifang is also 30 volumes, recording 2,571 prescriptions. These two books discuss various clinical departments, acupuncture and moxibustion, dietary therapy, prevention, health preservation, etc., and can be regarded as a comprehensive collection of prescription books before the Tang Dynasty. [10]

The Song Dynasty was a heyday in the development of traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbal medicine. The government attached great importance to TCM education and specially established the "Taipu Bureau" as the highest institution for cultivating TCM talents. There were also great improvements in teaching methods. For example, Wang Weiyi, an acupuncture and moxibustion medical official, once designed and cast two bronze human figures, on which the twelve meridians and 354 acupoints were exquisitely engraved for the purposes of acupuncture and moxibustion teaching and physician examinations. As the earliest teaching models, they had an intuitive, specific, and vivid display effect and were a great innovation in the history of Chinese medical education development. The Song government specially established the "Medical Book Correction Bureau" and systematically collected, sorted out, verified, and collated important medical books of previous dynasties over a period of more than ten years. TCM classics such as Suwen (Plain Questions), Shanghan Lun, Jinkui Yaolue (Synopsis of the Golden Chamber), Zhenjiu Jiayi Jing, Zhu Bing Yuanhou Lun (Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Various Diseases), Qianjin Yaofang, Qianjin Yifang, and Waitai Miyao (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library) were all revised, published, and passed down during that time.

分享