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History of Traditional Chinese MedicineIn Chinese antiquity, religious believes were dominated by gods, demons and the spirits of ancestors. A more structured understanding of natural history arose through the development of Chinese philosophy in the Han period. Back then much like today, traditional Chinese medicine is a heterogenous combination of concepts and methods. In modern days, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) lost touch with its roots. However, in specific areas such as the treatment of chronic disease or acupuncture, it is increasingly appreciated in Western medicine. Gods, Demons and Ancestor SpiritsThe world view of antique China was dominated by gods, demons and ancestor spirits. The common believe was that demons and ancestor spirits can peril the human life. Whereas ancestor spirits can be dulcified with high morals and by abidance of conventions, demons had to be fought with magical rites. These conceptions still influence the modern Chinese society. Dadao, the Great Path and the Law of NatureBetween 300 and 200 BC this archaic world view was replaced by the development of nature studies, and one hundered years later by the development of medicine. This development was forced by Chinese philosophers of the Han era and their thinking of a so called natural path (chin. dao), a higher principle of natural legality. East meets WestThe first reports on Chinese medicine came to Europe by Wilhelm von Rubruk (Journey to Mongolian Lands, 1253 to 1255) and Marco Polo (1254-1324). In the modern times (1500), mostly Portuguese missionaries confronted Chinese medicine with European medical concepts, which were mostly accepted by Chinese doctors. TCM on its Way to Modern TimesIn urban industrial Europe a standarised health care system developed which was forced by medical needs trough two World wars. This is the reason why the use of non standarised herbal remedies was proscriped and assigned to spinsters, charlatans and howdies. According to Unschuld (1997) the popularity of TCM in China is ebbing in the same pace as it is gaining in the Western world. TCM of today certainly can not be compared to the TCM of ancient times, and even TCM in Western clinics is not comparable to the TCM in Chinese ones. Looking into the Future of TCMAccording to Professor Unschuld TCM has lost touch with its roots. However, in specific areas such as chronic, and according to Western medicine hardly curable, diseases TCM may still offer interesting therapeutical approaches, like acupuncture and Qigong. Additional there are about 13,000 to 15,000 existing, not yet avaluated, titels from Chinese practitioners from the years before 1911. ReferencesXavier Lozoya. Pflanzliche Arzneimittel gestern und heute. In: Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Spezial 6: Pharmaforschung. Spektrum der Wissenschaften Verlagsgesellschaft mbH 1997. Back to overview "China - TCM"
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