A Relationship between Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese ...

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Maxine Tan
FORD 2012
Forum Paper
A Relationship between Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Medicine is essential in everyone’s lives today and there are quite a few people who
have dedicated their entire life to studying medicine. I hope to be one of those people but I
have realised that although I have been studying different aspects and concentrations in the
field of medicine, I was never educated about its history. Medicine is and has been constantly
changing. In my lifetime, a few examples of this change were the introduction and perfection
of laser surgery, the introduction of genetics and personal medicine and the first therapy for
Ischemic stroke. “Medicine” refers to the use and understanding of the “laws of nature to
investigate possible explanations of the body’s functions” (Hollenberg, 2010) and it has been
around throughout our history and across cultures. Western Medicine is the most well‐known
and the most used throughout the world. People on all continents have had exposure to
Western Medicine at some point in their history. Living in America, Western Medicine is the
most relied upon type of medicine today. However, with almost 1.4 billion people, China has
had much influence on the world in the recent years and so will Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Looking specifically at the two of the most powerful countries in the world today, with the
current globalization, it is important to understand the history of these different types of
medicine, their differences and commonalities, and how they may be a stepping stone to the
future of medicine.

To understand the principles and ideas that are unique to each type of medicine, its
history must first be taken into consideration. Western Medicine, with its roots in the
Mycenaean civilization has evolved significantly over the centuries and its history was very
eloquently summarized by Lois Magner in 1992. In the Mycenaean period, 1500 to 1100BC,
there was a shift away from the belief that Gods were the cause of disease and plagues to
Empedocles’ idea that “all things were composed of various mixtures of four primary and
eternal elements: air, earth, water, and fire” (Magner, pg66). The idea that disease and illness
were not supernatural and could be explained through reason and logic sparked the field of
Western Medicine as we know it today. 700
years later, Hippocratic medicine developed
and was the foundation of Western
Medicine. It emphasized the idea of “at least
do no harm” in addition to “the patient
instead of the disease, observation rather
than theory, [and] respect for facts and
experience rather than philosophical systems”,
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Figure 1: Four Humours and Four temperaments.
and http://intraspec.ca/images/4humors2.png
(Magner, pg68) Hippocrates also thought that health was the result of a balance of the four
humours which corresponded to the four elements (Figure 1). Around 50AD, during the Roman
Empire, Dioscorides discovered and compiled medicinal herbs and was the first Western

herbalist. The ideas of Hippocrates and Dioscorides were analysed in the 2 nd century by Galen,
who was most influential in the “concepts of anatomy, physiology, therapeutics and philosophy”
(Magner, pg87). Galen believed that medicine and
philosophy worked hand in hand as a “true physician
must master the three branches of philosophy: logic,
the science of how to think, physics, the science of
nature, and ethics, the science of what to do” (Magner,
pg89). He further developed Hippocrates doctrine by
associating four temperaments or qualities (warm,
cold, moist or dry) and their combinations to the four
humours (Figure 1). In addition, Galen expanded upon
Dioscorides work to create complex concoctions and
simple medicines, thus initiating the development of
drugs.
However, tradition was eventually replaced by
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Figure 2: Leonardo Da Vinci’s scientific
Sketches depicting the detail and
muscle function of the human arm.
http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/gall
ery/sc62.gif
science which developed Western Medicine into what it is today. Throughout the Renaissance
(1450 to 1700), the idea of Western medicine was altered under the influence of three people,
Leonardo Da Vinci, Vesalius and Paracelsus. Da Vinci combined art, anatomy and mathematics
to study the mechanical functions of the skeleton (Figure 2). Vesalius also studied anatomy
specifically of “the structure of the heart, arteries and veins providing anatomical research that
has been a cornerstone of Western Medicine” (Magner, pg163) while Paracelsus “developed a
system based on analogies to chemical processes” which led to the fields of pharmacology,

diagnostics and therapeutics today (Magner, pg 172)(Magner, 1992). The Scientific Revolution
of the 17 th century also provided new discoveries in the field of medicine with William Harvey’s
understanding of the circulation of blood and later Edward Jenner’s introduction of vaccines as
a preventive measure against smallpox and cow pox. Finally in the 19 th century, Louis Pasteur’s
idea of microscopic cells called bacteria along with technological advances developed Western
Medicine into the field it is today. (Magner, 1992)
The history of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the other hand is not as linear and clear
cut, developing out of myth into history. This history of Traditional Chinese Medicine and most
of the theories and ideas that are part of current medicine can be summarized by two works,
the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of the Internal Medicine and Shen Nong’s Classic of Hernal
Medicine, both of which were compiled in the Han Dynasty in the 3 rd century (Hoizey & Hoizey,
1993). In the stories passed down through generations, it was said that the Yellow Emperor and
Shen Nong were collaborators even though they were 17 generations apart from each other.
Shen Nong, who is believed to have lived in the 25 th century BC, was also known as the “Divine
Cultivator” and the founder of herbal medicine("Basic Principles", 2009). Later, with the
development of the ideas of Confucianism, around 500BC, the Yellow Emperor incorporated
this into his understanding of medicine and these principles are still what current Traditional
Chinese Medicine is based on.
Confucianism mainly focuses on the ability for humans to strive for altruism,
righteousness and appropriate conduct. There are three basic principles of Confucianism that
have become the three main principles in Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of which is the
theory of Yin and Yang. The Yin and Yang theory, which is used to understand relationships
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within the body, is one that illustrates balance between parts and how a part in relation to the
whole. This theory also emphasizes that Yin and Yang can oppose each other, depend on each
other and transform into each other ("Basic Principles", 2009). Another idea that plays a main
role is Traditional Chinese Medicine are the five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
The close relationships that these elements have with Yin and Yang, nature and the body can be
summarized in Table 1. In addition to the theories, there is also the belief in Qi, the most
fundamental “life energy” flowing throughout our body that is necessary for life ("Basic
Principles", 2009). It is when Qi flow is disrupted or blocked that people get sick and/or die,
thus, Traditional Chinese Medicine main goal is to maintain and restore the flow of Qi.
Table 1: The relationship between Yin and Yang, the 5 Elements and Organs
According to Hoizey & Hoizey (2003), Traditional Chinese Medicine was also influenced
by a few other factors during the Three Kingdoms in the 5 th century. Medicine, manufactured
by Daoism alchemy during this time period, was the first Chinese pharmacy while acupuncture
became famous in 200AD with the publication of the book The ABC of Acupuncture and
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Moxibustion. Another publication was Emergency Prescriptions by Ge Hong which allowed for
practical and effective remedies and advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine to be cheap and
easily accessible to the general public. In the 1700s, Chinese were exposed to Western
Medicine for the first time and Mao, in 1958, increased further integration of East and West
Medicine as part of his vision for the Cultural Revolution. (Hoizey & Hoizey, 1993)
With the development of these two types of medicine across time and culture, it is
expected that there would be fundamental differences between the two paradigms. Tao (2011)
states the most obvious difference as the basic hypotheses that these two paradigms are based
on modern science and the balance of Yin and Ying. Western Medicine focuses on the different
fields of science looking at the body in parts and sections relatively independent of each other
while Traditional Chinese Medicine is about balance and “determining treatment by identified
patterns based on an overall analysis” (Tao, 2011). The understanding also differs significantly.
Western Medicine focuses on all the detailed
anatomy of the human body emphasized
through Leonardo Da Vinci’s work (Figure 2).
However, Traditional Chinese Medicine
understands the human body based on the
function of a structure and often overlooks
the need for an understanding of concrete
details (Tao, 2011), represented by Figure 3
("Basic Principles", 2009). Furthermore,
Western Medicine is a science and can be
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Figure 3: Anatomy from a Traditional Chinese
Medicine point of view.

thought to be a scientific experiment, verifying and testing a hypothesis; there is a systematic
approach. On the other hand, Traditional Chinese Medicine depends more on feeling and
experience and its goal is “not to explore the unknown world but to confirm our ancestors’
conclusions” (Tao, 2011). This idea of Traditional Chinese Medicine is supported by its history
with little new discovery over the course of 4500 years. Hence, these two types of medicine do
not appear to have the ability to be integrated as their fundamental ideas on which the entire
system is based is so drastically different.
Yet, there are small similarities between West and East. Since there are many branches
to medicine, each with unique differences, the similarities between Western and Eastern
herbalism will be used to illustrate how similar these two types of medicine can be. Herbalism
was developed very early in both histories of medicine and thus, should be the least similar due
to an inability for cultures to influence each other through contact. There are three main
principles of Western herbal medicine, energetics, organ systems and the government of
circulation(Wood, 2010). Energetics in Western Medicine was initially developed by Galen from
Hippocrates doctrine, associating four temperaments
to the four humours (Figure 1). This is similar to the
“Six Doors and Three Methods” that Zhang Congzheng
added to Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1200 (Hoizey
& Hoizey, 1993). These six doors were wind, heat,
dampness, fire, dryness and cold which could be
derived from the three methods, the heavens, the
earth and man’s behaviour (Hoizey & Hoizey, 1993).
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Figure 4: Location of pathogenic
effects of the “Six Doors”.

These would attack different parts of the body (Figure 4) and weaken the protective Qi of the
person. It is shown that the essential theory of the introduction of illness in herbalism is similar;
however, it is associated with Qi and Three Methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine causing it
to start to differ.
The second similarity was organ systems which Western herbalism would be treated as
systems, where parts are viewed in terms of the whole and are treated with herbs based on its
general function (Wood, 2010). This is similar to the fundamental principle of Yin and Yang in
Traditional Chinese Medicine. Specifically for organs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, organs are
associated with either Yin of Yang based on their function (Table 1) and illness would be treated
as an imbalance in the entire system. However, not all Western Medicine has similar principles
to herbalism which may lead to drastic difference in the method and approach of treatment
between types of medicine.
The third similarity was the government of circulation. In Western Medicine, circulation
is generally understood as governed from the inside out as the temperature of extremities
fluctuate with the circulation of blood while important organs in the core are protected from
the harsh external environments. Galen in Western herbalism “classified herbs according to
whether they opened, closed, moved up or down, thinned or thickened” (Wood, 2010). This is
similar to that of the movement of Qi throughout the body where Qi moved in four directions,
up, down, outward and inward. However, unlike blood, the distribution network of Qi is
through the Meridian System initially described in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal
Medicine ("Basic Principles", 2009). This system is not based on vessels but rather on the 365
acupuncture points throughout the body, forming meridian channels connecting important
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organs (Risse, 1973). Thus, even though there are still differences in the fundamental ideas
around which each type of medicine revolves around, looking at Western herbalism shows that
there is some overlap in ideas and that in terms of herbalism, it would be possible to integrate
West and East to some extent which may not be true for other branches of Western Medicine.
However, these small similarities may prove to be a stepping stone that would allow for
the advancement of the field of medicine as a whole especially in terms of the new field of
natural products. Natural products are defined as the use of naturally produced substances for
medicinal purposes. These products can be used directly as in herbalism, isolated from
organisms through isotopic labelling studies or more recently, through genetic engineering. In
this field, I believe that Western Medicine provides the foundation of technology and scientific
methodology for the discovery of these products while Traditional Chinese Medicine would
provide the knowledge base and novel ideas to Western culture to support this research. An
example of this already occurring is shown through Sertel et al (2010) research in Germany,
where plants used in Traditional Chinese Medicine were found to also be novel epidermal
growth factor receptor inhibitors involved in cancer therapy.
Keeping these new possibilities for future research in mind along we knowledge of the
history of both paradigms of medicine, the importance of the integration of Western and
Eastern medicine is highlighted. I believe that to be fully educated in your field of interest and
be able to make significant contributions to your field, it is essential to understand and learn
about the history of your field while making connections with present day technology amd
ideas. Western Medicine has a very well developed linear history, based on ideas from different
branches of medicine, concrete details and the scientific method; whereas Traditional Chinese
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Medicine has a longer history initially developing from myths and stories and based on
Confucianism, Yin and Yang and Qi. However, these seemingly different types of medicine,
which are based on different theories, have similarities in herbalism such as energetics, organ
systems and the government of circulation. If these areas of similarities are discovered and
expanded upon, this may be a stepping stone for future work in medicine such as the young,
rapidly expanding research in natural product discovery.
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References:
"Basic Principles". (2009). Traditional Chinese Medicine Retrieved April 3, 2012, from
http://www.shen‐nong.com/eng/front/index.html
Hoizey, D., & Hoizey, M.‐J. (1993). A history of Chinese medicine / Dominique and Marie‐Joseph
Hoizey ; translated by Paul Bailey: Vancouver, BC : UBC Press, c1993.
Hollenberg, D. (2010). What Is Medicine?: Western and Eastern Approaches to Healing [Book
Review]. Health Sociology Review: The Journal of the Health Section of the Australian
Sociological Association, 19(3), 395.
Magner, L. N. (1992). A history of medicine / Lois N. Magner: New York : M. Dekker, c1992.
Risse, G. B. (1973). Modern China and traditional Chinese medicine; a symposium held at the
University of Wisconsin, Madison. Edited by Guenter B. Risse: Springfield, Ill., Thomas
[1973].
Sertel, S., Plinkert, P., & Efferth, T. (2010). Natural products derived from traditional chinese
medicine as novel inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor.
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 13(10), 849‐854.
Tao, L. (2011). Philosophic Perspective: A Comparative Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine
and Western Medicine. Asian Social Science, 7(2), 198.
Wood, M. (2010). The Three Basic Principles of Traditional Western Herbalism Retrieved April
3rd, 2012, from http://www.naturasophia.com/Principles.html
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