Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M) is the recognized healthcare system of the Peoples Republic of China.
T.C.M has its roots firmly based in the shamanic (ancient wisdom) rituals of the indigenous populations of China. At the same time it can also be acknowledged that T.C.M is at the cutting edge of medical discovery in our present day scientific age.
Its history is shrouded in mystery and fantastic tales of human discovery throughout the ages. One such tale is that in the year 2500 BC the divine ruler of China the Yellow Emperor wanted to discover the secret of immortality and so he gathered his advisors to find the empires leading experts on Health and Longevity. Eventually the Emperor was presented with experts in sexual behaviour, dietary and herbal advice and internal energy cultivation (Qigong) exercises. After practicing these methods for numerous years, the Emperor left his palace, climbed the highest mountain in China and flew off on the back of a heavenly dragon into the immortal realms.
It is said that the Emperors successor gathered all the texts and techniques into a great library and thus started the research which was later to become Chinese Medicine. For 4500 years this process of research continued under the guise of Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian philosophy all of which added their ‘own nature’ into the blend of medicinal thought.
The communist revolution seized power in 1949 and set about to destroy all Empirical research including that on medicine so that the newly formed state would be recognized in the West as scientifically competent and therefore equal to the likes of the U.S.A. However, during Chairman Mao’s rise to power there was an event where the Red Army had to march and fight a long distance over rough terrain. Casualties were high and Modern Medical supplies could not reach them. Generals were forced to find traditional shamans within the communities they passed through to heal the wounded.
When Chairman Mao went to abolish T.C.M his generals reminded him of the shaman’s work on the long march and how catastrophe was avoided. In respect for Traditional Medicine, Chairman Mao made research into both Traditional and Western Science State policy. Four main Branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine are practiced in hospitals in China and here at the Bodyshen Clinic. They are: -
