20221231 LangCult 7

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= =Abstract= =

This chapter contains some basic knowledge and influential modern applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine in terms of disease prevention and control, aromatherapy, regimen and cosmetology.

= =Key Words= =

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), modern applications

= =Introduction= =

TCM could be traced back to a Chinese mythology that Shennong tasted hundred herbs for medical. It’s becoming popular in recent years.

= =Basic Knowledge of TCM= =

a.In Yellow Emperor’s Inner Cannon, theories and therapies of TCM are depicted. It’s the earliest work about Chinese medicine still in existence. It contains some basic concepts of TCM: yin and yang, the five elements, meridian, regimen , pulse condition, etc. b.Bianque, a well-known doctor in the Warring States Period,put forward the Four Diagnosis Methods, namely observation, auscultation, interrogation and palpation. Observation is to observe the patient’s appearance and mental state; auscultation means listening to the voice and breath of patients; interrogation is to ask for the symptoms and changes of illnesses; and palpation is to fell the pulse of a patient.(Hou Xianglang and Houmingxia,2015) c.Compendium of Materia Medica by Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty, is a masterpiece in the pharmacology of TCM. The basic theories of materia medica and TCM before the Ming Dynasty are summarized in the work. As plants, animal by-products and minerals are widely used in TCM, and agricultural civilization is deeply rooted in China for thousands of years, Li’s book not only covers medicine and pharmacy but also botany, zoology, mineralogy, physics, chemistry and agronomy. For example, in the aspect of mineralogy, the origin and characteristics of oil are described in detail; in terms of chemistry, the method of testing the authenticity of chalcanthite is expounded; in the aspect of physics, the magnitude of rainfall is inferred from the change of humidity in the air; in terms of agronomy, grafting technology is depicted to improve fruit tree varieties. d.Traditional Chinese Medicine in China rolled out by the State Council Information Office of the PRC has summarized five characteristics of TCM: (1) Holistic view. TCM deems that the relationship between humans and nature is an interactive and inseparable whole. (2) Emphasis on harmony. TCM holds that a person's physical health depends on harmony in the functions of body organs, good mental state, and adaption to different environments. (3) Personalized therapy. TCM treats a disease based on full consideration of the individual constitution and climatic and seasonal conditions. (4) Preventative treatment as a core. TCM advocates that a person's health can be improved through emotional adjustment, balanced labor and rest, a sensible diet, and a regular life. (5) Simplicity. In addition to medication, TCM has many non-pharmacological alternative approaches such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and gua sha. There is no need for complex equipment.

= =Modern Applications of TCM= =

a.Infectious disease prevention and control Tu Youyou and her research team established the extraction method of artemisinin on the basis of a great deal of researches on traditional Chinese medicine and were inspired by the Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergency. At present, artemisinin and its derivatives are the most effective for the treatment of malaria in the world. Artemisinin combination therapy, used in malaria areas of almost all countries and regions, treats more than 100 million cases a year and has reduced the incidence and mortality of malaria in the world.(Yuan Yanan et al.,2017) During Covid-19, Yupingfeng Powder, Zhenqi Fuzheng Preparation, Huoxiang Zhengqi Preparation, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and other internal medicine are usually recommended for vulnerable people or those under medical observation with fatigue and fever. Although the above prescriptions have played an important role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, it’s not recommended for healthy people to take them.(Chen Hongzhi et al.,2020) b.Aromatherapy of TCM It refers to the treatment in which smoke (烟熏), sachet (香囊), spray made of aromatic Chinese medicines infiltrate into the body through nasal cavity, skin or oral cavity to exert its efficacy. Plant essential oils and other aromatherapy products are used in massage, bath, smell, and external application to improve metabolism and speed up the elimination of toxins in the body.(Yang Dingquan,2017) c.Regimen, Cosmetology and TCM There are great number of records of cosmetic prescriptions in Qing Imperial Palace archives. In modern times, people can improve their health and enhance their appearance by taking medicated diet or using TCM therapies (acupuncture, massage, cupping and gua sha) and beauties containing Chinese herb extracts. Many content creators on varied platforms shared their experiences of receiving TCM therapies. Here is an excerpt from an article by Hannah Seo published in New York Times, Sept. 12, 2022.

If you scroll through Tiktok and Instagram for long enough, you’ll likely find someone scraping, brushing or massaging their skin in pursuit of better health or an enhanced appearance. Testimonies abound — about body scraping to loosen stiff limbs, gua sha for a sculpted jawline, vibrating facial massagers to reduce puffiness, dry brushing for “detoxing”.

Indeed cupping, acupuncture and gua sha are all the rage. Many athletes tried acupuncture and cupping to deal with problems like sore muscles and stiff joints. For instance, in Rio Olympics 2016, swimmer Michael Phelps had cupping, leaving a bunch of reddish-purple marks on his body.

= =Drawbacks of TCM= =

TCM has its shortcomings. For example, it’s difficult to evaluate whether TCM nutrition could play a major role in treatment of various diseases (Zhao Xinyu, et al.,2020). Many TCM prescriptions were based on practitioners’ experience but are lack of evidence-based research. Foreign researchers find that TCM methodology for diagnosis and pathology treatment heavily relies on the time of exposure for all ailments. Other limitations of this metanalysis include the many variables of patient demographics, different herbal preparations, and access to funding to purchase such preparations. ( L. Dr A. Varon, D. Varon & J. Varon,2020) Therefore, many Chinese doctors tend to combine treatments from TCM and western medicine so as to find optimal therapies for patients.

= =Conclusion= =

TCM could provide inspirations for the R&D of modern pharmacy, cosmetology and other fields. Due to its limitations, more researches are to be done about efficacy and safety.

= =Terms and Expressions= =

meridian 经脉 regimen 养生 pulse condition 脉象 observation 望 auscultation闻 interrogation问 palpation切 agronomy农学 chalcanthite胆矾，石胆 Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergency 《肘后备急方》 artemisinin combination therapy 青蒿素联合疗法 Yupingfeng Powder 玉屏风散 Zhenqi Fuzheng Preparation 贞芪扶正制剂 Huoxiang Zhengqi Preparation 藿香正气制剂 Lianhua Qingwen Capsule 连花清瘟胶囊 sachet香囊 cupping拔罐 gua sha刮痧 medicated diet药膳 acupuncture针灸

= =Questions= =

1.What is the earliest work about Chinese medicine still in existence? 2.What are the five characteristics of TCM? 3.Which kind of therapy is used in malaria areas of almost all countries and regions? 4.What is Aromatherapy of TCM? 5.What kind of TCM treatments are all the rage on social media?

= =Answers= =

1.Yellow Emperor’s Inner Cannon 2.Holistic view; Emphasis on harmony; Personalized therapy; Preventative treatment as a core; Simplicity 3.artemisinin combination therapy 4.It refers to the treatment in which smoke (烟熏), sachet (香囊), spray made of aromatic Chinese medicines infiltrate into the body through nasal cavity, skin or oral cavity to exert its efficacy. 5.cupping, acupuncture and gua sha

= =References= =

1.http://www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/ndhf/34120/index.htm《中国的中医药》白皮书[Traditional Chinese Medicine in China] 2.Hou Xianglang and Houmingxia侯香浪，何明霞(2015).中国文化英语教程 [An English Course of Chinese Culture]. Wuhan: Wuhan University武汉大学 3.Yuan Yannan,et al.( 2017)袁亚男, 姜廷良, 周兴, 等. 青蒿素的发现和发展[Discovery and development of artemisinin (in Chinese)].科学通报[Chin Sci Bull](18):1914-1927 4.Chen Hongzhi,et al.(2020)陈泓志,陈虎博,王晨曦,龚彦溶,向兴,张慧卿.中医常用防疫方药的现代应用[Current application of commonly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine and formulae for preventing severe infectious diseases].药学服务与研究[Pharm Care Res](4):292 5.Yang Dingquan(2017)杨顶权.中医美容之路——传承创新,整合发展[Chinese Medicine and Cosmetology --Inheritance,Innovation and Development].皮肤科学通报[Dermatology Bulletin](6):629 6.Hannah Seo, New York Times, Sept. 12,2022 7.Zhao Xinyu, et al.(2020).Nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM): a system's theoretical perspective. European journal of clinical nutrition(2) 8. L. Dr Adylle Varon,Daryelle S. Varon & Joseph Varon.(2020).Traditional chinese medicine and COVID-19: should emergency practitioners use it?. American Journal of Emergency Medicine (prepublish)