Traditional Medicine in Asia

Traditional Medicine in Asia
delicate harmony and coordination among
different parts of the human body.
Therefore, it lays great emphasis on the
careful readjustment and maintenance of
this natural balance in the body. 5 It uses
zang fu (visceral organs) and the meridians
as its theoretical basis and yin yang and
“five elements” as its theoretical tools.
According to TCM, qi, ‘blood’ and ‘body
fluid’ are the fundamental substances
which make up the human body and
maintain its normal physiological
functioning. 6 Health implies harmonious
coordination among the various parts of
the body and their adaptation to the
physical environment.
The fundamental mechanism of
disease is the breakdown of the relative
equilibrium within the organism or between
the organism and its environment. 7 In TCM
terms, this is known as an imbalance
between yin and yang. 8 In the diagnosis
and treatment of diseases, the basic
characteristic of TCM, which sets itself
apart from modern Western medicine, is
that of ‘syndromes differentiation (9) or
translated as diagnosis and treatment
based on overall analysis of symptoms and
signs’. Holism views not only the human
body as an organic whole but also the unity
of the human body and nature. On the
one hand, nature constantly influences the
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Every modality of intervention is
aimed at regulating and
balancing yin and yang. As stated
in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic
of Medicine, yin is even and well
while yang is firm, hence a
relative balance is maintained
and health is guaranteed
human body and, on the other, the body
adapts to the variations in the natural
environment.
The concept of yin and yang
The concept of yin and yang is fundamental
to the understanding of Chinese medicine.
The earliest reference of yin and yang is
probably the one in the book “Yi Jing” (Book
of Change, 700 BC). Originally, yin and
yang were two topographic terms used to
designate the shady and the sunny sides
of a hill, or the north side and south side of
a mountain. The sunny side of mountain,
in the sunlight, represents warm, bright,
and other active characteristics; and the
shady side of the mountain represents cold,
dark, and other passive properties. By
extension, the theory of yin and yang holds
that the universe consists of two opposing
but mutually dependent forces that
complement and supplement each other,
resonate harmoniously, and maintain a
constant balance. As man is considered
as a microcosm in the universe, to achieve
a healthy state a balance between the
forces of yin and yang in the human body
should be maintained.
With respect to medicine, it could be
said that the whole of the Chinese system
of medicine, its physiology, pathology,
diagnosis, and treatment, can all be
reduced to the basic and fundamental
theory of yin and yang. Every physiological
process and every pathological change
can be analysed in the light of the yin yang
theory. Ultimately, every modality of
intervention is aimed at regulating yin and
yang, to balance yin and yang. As stated
in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of
Medicine, yin is even and well while yang
is firm, hence a relative balance between
yin and yang is maintained and health is
guaranteed.