Ancient Chinese Medicine: Diagnosis and Treatment

Chinese ancient medicine (古中医) developed a sophisticated system of diagnosis and treatment that has been refined over three thousand years. From the earliest shamanic healers to the systematic medicine of the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon," Chinese medical knowledge encompasses anatomy, physiology, pathology, and therapeutics.

Classic Texts

The "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon" (黄帝内经), compiled during the Han Dynasty, is the foundational text of Chinese medicine. It establishes the theoretical framework: the concepts of qi, yin-yang, and the Five Elements; the meridian system; and the principles of diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnostic Methods

Chinese medical diagnosis uses four methods: observation (望), particularly of the tongue; listening and smelling (闻); questioning (问) about symptoms and history; and palpation (切), particularly pulse diagnosis. These methods identify the "pattern" (证) of disharmony to guide treatment.