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Ancient Chinese Remedies

The history of Chinese medicine and many Chinese remedies predates the development of writing in China over 6,000 years ago. Many Chinese texts that date from between 800 B.C. and 200 B.C. refer to earlier documents that have not survived, indicating a much earlier start to most Chinese medical practices.

  1. The Chi

    • Chi, or the vital energy that pervades all living things, has been mentioned in Chinese literature since antiquity. One well known mention of the Chi occurs in Yin-yang mai sihou, or Fatal Symptoms of the Yin and Yang Ducts, dating from before the year 168 B.C..

    Meridians

    • Chi is said to flow through meridians in the body. Manipulating these meridians is an integral part of Chinese medicine. Early references to the meridians include medical texts from the Mawangdui tomb number three, which allows for a general dating of the text to between 221 B.C. and 206 B.C..

    Acupuncture

    • Acupuncture, or the manipulation of chi and meridians by inserting fine needles in pressure points, dates back to legendary Chinese times. According to Acupuncture.com, acupuncture is tied to Taoist traditions that can be traced to nearly 6,000 B.C..

    Moxibustion

    • According to an article in Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao published in 2004, moxibustion can be traced in literature to the Warring States Period of between 475 B.C. and 221 B.C.. Moxibustion is the practice of using smoke and suction to manipulate the chi and meridians.

    Herbs

    • Herbs have been used in Chinese medicine since antiquity. According to Chinesemedicinesampler.com, the exact date of the first literary references to medicinal use of herbs varies from 800 B.C. to 200 B.C.. However, these texts attribute the origins of the use of herbs to the Yellow Emperor who lived around 4,700 B.C..

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