Chinese medicine 2

At present in the medical field, the biggest achievement of the human beings is Western Medicine and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Western Medicine is good at treating about 30% of all the diseases of the human beings like first aid, operation, prevention of spreading of the epidemic diseases, and sustaining life activities, relying upon the accurate check and diagnosis by modern facilities.
History of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for thousands of years. Although the first recorded history of TCM dates back over 2,000 years, it is believed that the origin of TCM goes back more than 5,000 years. Much people said that an origin of Chinese medicine is more legend than history.

The first written documentation on traditional Chinese medicine is the Hung-Di Nei-Jing (Yellow Emperor's Cannon of Internal Medicine). Hung-Di Nei-Jing is the oldest medical textbook in the world, different opinions date the book back to between 800 BCE and 200 BCE.

Some of the most specific discoveries of Chinese medicine were made during the Zhou dynasty, including the theoretical foundations of yin and yang, the five elements, the pathogenic factors of external environment as a cause of disease and further understanding of the meridians of acupuncture. The basic theories of acupuncture were established and stone needles became obsolete, being replaced by metal needles. Bian Que, a famous doctor/physician at the time of the spring and Autumn Warring States Period, was the first man in the world to use the pulse for diagnosis.
The Revolution of 1911 saw the beginning of the People's Republic of China. During this time China developed a desire to modernize and its people began to turn to Western medicine. The government of the time proposed the abolishment of traditional Chinese medicine and took measures to stop its development and use.
As there was very little or no medical services at the time, the new communist government encouraged the use of traditional Chinese remedies because they were cheap, acceptable to the Chinese, and used the skills already available in the countryside. Finally the traditional Chinese medicine regained popularity by the early to mid 1950s and the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine became standard medicine in many hospitals. Many hospital opened clinics to provide, teach and investigate the traditional methods, the main research institutes being in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.

Unfortunately, Chinese medicine, as a reflection of traditional Chinese culture, underwent a period of extreme hardship during the Cultural Revolution. National Association for Chinese Medicine was established, and many of the traditional texts were edited and republished.
The traditional Chinese medicine with its many branches has spread far and wide, gaining popularity in all parts of the world.