A G E N E R A L I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T R A D I T I O N A L C H I N E S E M E D I C I N E 90445_FM.indd 1 7/21/09 10:17:39 AM A G E N E R A L I N T R O D U C T I O N T O T R A D I T I O N A L C H I N E S E M E D I C I N E E d i t e d b y M e n J i u z h a n g G u o L e i 90445_FM.indd 3 7/21/09 10:17:40 AM CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2010 by Science Press CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 International Standard Book Number: 978-1-4200-9044-4 (Hardback) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the valid- ity of all materials or the consequences of their use. 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CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Men, Jiuzhang. A general introduction to traditional Chinese medicine / Men Jiuzhang and Guo Lei. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4200-9044-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Medicine, Chinese. I. Guo, Lei, 1968- II. Title. [DNLM: 1. Medicine, Chinese Traditional. WB 55.C4 M488g 2010] R601.M37 2010 616’.09--dc22 2009016718 Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com 90445_FM.indd 4 7/21/09 10:17:40 AM Contents Preface Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.1 Establishment and Development of TCM’s Academic System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1.1.1 Primitive Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.1.2 The Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 B.C.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.1.3 The Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 B.C.) and the Spring and Autumn Period (770– 476 B.C.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.1.4 The Qin and the Han Dynasties (221 B.C.–220 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1.1.5 From the Sui Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty (581–1368 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 1.1.6 The Ming (1368–1644 A.D.) and Qing Dynasties (1644–1911 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1.2 Great Historical Achievements of Early TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1.2.1 The Qin and Han Dynasties (221 B.C.–220 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1.2.2 The Jin Dynasty (265–420 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 1.2.3 The Tang, Song, and Yuan Dynasties (618–1368 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 1.2.4 The Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368–1911 A.D.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 1.3 Basic Theoretical Views of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 1.3.1 The Outlook of Man and Nature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 1.3.2 TCM’s Physiological and Pathological Outlooks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 1.3.3 TCM’s Outlook on Health Maintenance and Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Chapter 2 Theoretical System of TCM: Formation and Characters. . . . . . . . . .17 2.1 The Formation of the Theoretical System of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 2.1.1 The Promotion of Social Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 2.1.2 Experiential Accumulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 2.1.3 The Observation of Life Phenomena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 2.1.4 The Penetration of Philosophical Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 2.2 The Disciplinary Properties of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 2.2.1 Multidisciplinary Properties: Natural Science, Humanistic-Social Science, and Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 2.2.2 TCM: Both Basic and Applied Disciplines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Chapter 3 Clinical System of TCM: Formation and Development. . . . . . . . . . . .27 3.1 Accumulation of Clinical Experiences .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 3.1.1 Primitive Cognition of Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 3.1.2 From Witches’ Practice to Medical Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 3.1.3 Medication Development: From Single-Symptom-and-Single-Medicine-Based Medication to Compound-Symptom-and-Prescription-Based Medication . . . . . . . . . 28 3.2 Exploration of Disease’s Cause and Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 3.2.1 The Classic of Internal Medicine and The Classic of Medical Problems: Explorations of the Cause and Law of Disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 3.2.2 The Classic of Meteria Medica: Pharmacological Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 3.3 Preliminary Establishment of TSD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 3.4 Accumulation of Therapeutic Experiences.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 3.4.1 Furthering Cognition of Disease. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 3.4.2 Improving Therapeutic Understanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ��������������������� ��������������������� �������������������� �������������������� vi Contents 3.5 Theory Inheritance and Practice Standardization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 3.6 Complete Summary of Clinical Experiences and the Perfection of the TSD Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Chapter 4 Basic Features of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 4.1 The Concept of Holism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 4.1.1 The Human Body: An Organic Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 4.1.2 The Unity of Man and Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 4.2 Treatment Based on Syndrome Differentiation (TSD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 4.2.1 Specific Contents of TSD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 4.2.2 Relationship between Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 4.2.3 The Principles of TSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 4.2.4 Superiority of TSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Chapter 5 Philosophical Foundation of TCM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 5.1 The Theory of Primordial Qi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 5.1.1 The Formation and Development of the Theory of Primordial Qi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 5.1.2 The Basic Contents of the Theory of Primordial Qi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 5.1.3 The Application of the Theory of Primordial Qi in TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 5.2 The Theory of Yin-yang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 5.2.1 The Origin and Formation of the Yin-yang Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 5.2.2 The Basic Concept of Yin-yang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 5.2.3 Basic Contents of Yin-yang Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 5.2.4 The Application of Yin-yang Theory in TCM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 5.3 The Theory of Five Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 5.3.1 The Formation and Development of the Theory of Five Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 5.3.2 The Characteristics of Five Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 5.3.3 Categorization and Deduction of Things in Terms of Five Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 5.3.4 Fundamental Contents of the Theory of Five Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 5.3.5 Application of the Theory of Five Elements in TCM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 5.4 Interrelationships among Theories of Primordial Qi, Yin-yang, and Five Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Chapter 6 Model, Method, and Architecture of TCM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 6.1 The Model of TCM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 6.1.1 Preliminary Establishment of the Bio-psycho-social-medical Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 6.1.2 TCM’s Peculiar Model and Its Principle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 6.2 The Method of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 6.2.1 General Philosophical Methods of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 6.2.2 Specific Research Methods of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 6.3 The Architecture of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 6.3.1 A Summary of the Fundamental Theories of TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 6.3.2 A Summary of the Clinical System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Main References.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 Subject Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Title Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 Name Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133 ��������������������� ��������������������� �������������������� �������������������� Preface A General Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine is an introductory book on Tra- ditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It attempts to guide readers to learn TCM’s academic thoughts, theoretical system, and clinical practice. The book is trying to provide beginners with TCM’s peculiar way of thinking, more than 2,000 years’ history, and TCM’s philosophy- based theoretical system. The book covers: • Establishment and characteristics of TCM’s theoretical system. • Establishment and development of TCM’s clinical system. • Basic features of TCM. • TCM’s philosophical bases: primordial qi, yin-yang, and Five Elements, and • TCM’s medical model, method, and architecture. The book has been carefully designed to be as accessible as possible, with • Objectives & Requirements and Key Concepts are at the beginning of every chapter to enable readers to understand the core and the outline of the chapter. • Endnotes, not only as one essential part of references for readers to learn more about TCM, but also as a guide for foreign readers to learn some cultural and historical information peculiar to China. • Glossary for readers to understand more specific information about TCM and Chinese culture. We would like to acknowledge a few Chinese famous professors like professor He Yuming from Shanghai University of TCM and Zhang Zhenyu from Shandong University of TCM for their academic enlightenment; our grateful thanks also go to colleagues and friends who share their expertise by contributing materials, reading drafts, and fruitful conversation; we also owe our abundant thanks to the translators of the book, Li Xia from Shanxi University of TCM, and Chai Gaiying and Curtis Evans from Zhejiang Gongshang University. We hope that you will find useful the design, the content, and the support the book will give to your research and practice. Men Jiuzhang & Guo Lei Editors ��������������������� ��������������������� �������������������� �������������������� CHAPTER 1 Introduction Objectives & Requirements 1. Important contents of the initial theoretical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 2. Historical development of TCM. 3. Historical achievements of TCM. 4. Basic views of TCM. Key Concepts Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as a part of medicine in the world, is a great treasure-house. Its unique theoretical system was preliminarily established in the Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.–25 A.D.) under the influence of ancient materialism and dialectics. Its development is closely related to two thousand years of Chinese society, culture, and philosophy, as well as its science and technology. It is not only the summarization of a rich medical practice, but also the crystallization of ancient Chinese wisdom. This chapter will introduce the historical development, the achievements, and the academic characteristics of TCM. Early in the Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 B.C.) and the Warring States Period (475–221 B.C.), TCM, as a systematic and an independent disciplinary system, had already laid its theoretical and clinical foundations. Its unique medical method and rich practical experience not only make a great contribution to the healthcare and the prosperity of China, but also have a profound influence on the world medical system. Especially in the 21st century, through the cultural exchange between the East and the West, TCM has been increasingly recognized thanks to its curative effect. To understand TCM systematically, one has to have a good command of its historical and cultural background, its systematic features, the scientific nature of its practice, and the special cultural form of its theoretical expression. 1.1 Establishment and Development of TCM’s Academic System TCM is an academic system about human physiology and pathology, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Its establishment is based on thousands of years of experience of Chinese medicine, prescription, principle, and reflection on the relationship between man and nature. 1.1.1 Primitive Society It is generally believed that Chinese medicine started from Shennong1 who tasted hundreds of herbs, among which, according to Huainan Tzu,2 about seventy kinds are poisonous. He warned people not to try them. Such a record vividly reflects how the ancient Chinese learned about medicine (including plants, animals, and minerals) and accumulated pharmacological experiences. Chinese medical techniques were attempted in primitive society. The famous TCM tech- nique of acupuncture was originated from the stone-needle practice of the Neolithic Age. Ancient Chinese used a kind of sharp stone to break abscesses and discharge blood and pus. �������������������������� �������������������������� �������������������� ��������������������