Dr. Sun Simiao
Tang Dynasty
Made advancements in understanding the influence of diet
on health

Traditional Chinese Medicine is oldest and most continually practiced literate and professional form of medicine in the world. Documentation stretches back over 2,500 years, though it is highly probable that it is much older. At present, 1/4 of the world's population makes use of Traditional Chinese Medicine, making it and modern Western medicine the two dominant medical systems of the world. The Traditional Chinese Medical System was created throughout China's history by some of the best educated and dexterous scholars.

Throughout this long history, these scholars recorded their theories and clinical experiences in thousands of medical texts. In fact, it was estimated that around the turn of the century there were between 30-40,000 books in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Published journals and books in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong still continue to develop and refine the practice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on an individualized diagnosis as well as diagnosis for the disease or dis-ease. In this way, Chinese medicine focuses more on the individual and reestablishing holistic harmony and balance within the individual. The theory of Chinese is to restore balance to the entire person, not just a piece or a part.

Ren Shen (Ginseng)

When a person receives a custom herbal prescription, it is designed to treat the disease as well as the person's patterns- such as their emotional temperament and constitution. Patients are therefore also counseled on their diet and lifestyle, according to Traditional Chinese Theory. The methods of Chinese herbal medicine encompass the full range of human disease. These range from acute diseases, such as intestinal flu and the common cold, to chronic ailments, such as allergies, gynecological disorders, autoimmune diseases, viral diseases, and degenerative diseases due to aging. It is also good for traumatic as well as internally generated diseases.

What Chinese herbal medicine is particularly advantageous for is promoting the body's ability to heal and recuperate.
However, if a disease is extremely malignant or far advanced, and especially if there a substantial changes in organic tissue, Chinese medicine by itself is sometimes not powerful enough or may be too slow. That is why Chinese medicine is an excellent and effective choice at the beginning of a disease or for diseases that befuddle modern Western medicine.

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Dr. Li Shizhen
Ming Dynasty
Spent 25 yrs. compiling
medical encyclopedia