Chinese Medicine And China History And Eastern Culture

The idea of Qi is a lot more complicated. But it intersects both living and non-living objects in nature and universe.

of Qi, or Chi energy. The Wiccan seeks to balance these five energies in their life

Good health means the yin and yang is in balance and in harmony with each other. According to Jarvis (2012), foods are classified in this theory; yin foods are cold, and yang foods are hot; cold foods are eaten with a hot illness and hot foods are eaten with a cold illness. Chinese people have practiced acupuncture for thousands of years for the reduction of pain and for various disorders using fine needles at specific meridian points on the body (Edelman & Mandle, 2010). The Chinese believe that when there is an imbalance in a person’s system is when a person has illness. For health maintenance, they use preventive measures such eating healthy. Chinese people enjoy drinking a variety of tea after meals for the cleansing effect. Health protection means wearing an amulet or jade, eat correctly and with compatible food (Jarvis, 2012). Chinese people use cupping, acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbs such as ginseng roots, and usually will consult with herbalists, for health restoration.

The Daoist Outlook On Life The Daodejing by Laozi is an eastern philosophical piece of literature; in the Daodejing, the teachings of Daoism are taught. Daoism is a system of philosophical, ethical, and religious Chinese teachings and practices that focus on living in harmony with the Dao, ones self, and nature. The word Daodejing can be divided into three separate words; Dao, De, and Jing, which all have different meanings. The Dao means "way" or path as the Dao helps guide the individual. The De means "virtue", "personal character," or "inner strength", which focuses on self-realization, inner peace, and balance; while the Jing means “rules” or “instructions”.

Oriental culture has been shaped by countless ideals, but two notable religions, Daoism and Japanese Zen Buddhism, played a crucial role in influencing the beliefs of the Asian community. Daoism emphasized unity with the Way, Though Daoism and Zen Buddhism emphasized different societal aspects and utilized various training techniques, they both aimed to achieve a similar religious goal of escaping worldly suffering. Daoism was influenced by Chinese traditions and aspired to harmonize oneself with the Dao, otherwise known as the Way. Daoist tradition placed a strong emphasis on the importance of qi, jing and awareness of relativity of perspective. Daoism believed in Qi, vital energy, and Jing, vital essence that was the basis of health, vitality and psychological well-being (The Inner Cultivation Tradition of Early Daoism, PAGE).

Scholars have estimated qigong may be 5,000-7,000 years old, but tracing the exact historical path is difficult due to it being passed down in secrecy among

As an early form of martial arts, Tai chi emphasizes a softer and internalized approach to achieving Dao. While practicing Tai chi, one must internalize themselves in relation to their environment. The basis of Tai chi revolves around the idea that the human body functions as a microcosm of the universe. By understanding one’s qi—energy flow—one attains the capacity to function like the universe. The goal of Tai chi is to harness the energy (qi) of nature itself and bring it into the body. As a result, bringing the natural energy of the environment into the body will produce a balance and thus, improve mental and physical health. The art of Tai chi and its emphasis on the connection between the cosmos and the individual’s body heightens the Taoist idea that everything that exists has a source or a reason behind its existence. Furthermore, since the human body exists as a microcosm of the universe, it has the potential to develop and function similarly to the universe. This connection between the internal and external body can be examined through the Taoist representation of the human

In China, people are aware of the importance of believing in the yin and yang principles. The Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender states, the Chinese view yin and yang as opposites, where yin is dark and yang is light. They are also known to be cool and warm, moist and dry, and decay and growth. Each complements the other and individual change through stages of their lives (“Yin”, Encyclopedia).It is believed that the stages in a being’s life are

Today is the second class of Qi Gong. In this class, we talked more about Qi Gong’s history, Chinese philosophical thinkings, some scientific proofs as well as the inner mechanisms of Qi Gong. Qi Gong is rooted in ancient Chinese culture, being a combination of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient Chinese philosophy, traditional Chinese culture and also ancient Chinese religions. Therefore. we need comprehensive knowledge to understand all of the fundamentals of Qi Gong.

Falun Gong, which translates to Dharma Wheel Practice, follows the teachings of Li Hongzhi, drawing upon popular Buddhism and Taoism, along with a form of Chinese meditation and exercise known as qigong. Though the practice is centred around truthfulness, tolerance, and compassion, the

Similarities and Differences between Greek and Chinese Medicine When one compares Greek medical philosophy to Chinese medical philosophy there will be distinct similarities and differences that stand out. These similarities and differences become apparent when comparing natural and supernatural beliefs, as well as when researching the functions and physiology of the body itself. Another fascinating point, both Greek and Chinese medical philosophy believed in magic and used it when practicing medicine. Both philosophies believed in the idea of dramatic wind change in regards to sickness. There is also a cautious balance both perceived by Greek and Chinese medical philosophy between the body and the seasons, and five natural phenomena.

Chinese traditional medicine refers to Qi, an energy force that is linked to the body’s health. Qi moves through the body via meridians, which are energy pathways that can be likened to blood vessels. If the flow of Qi is interrupted by injury, stress, a bad diet or another factor, then both physical and mental health issues can occur. The purpose of acupuncture is to release the pressure from certain points in the body, which allows the normal flow of Qi to be restored.

Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest systems of medicine to exist among humans, and it is extremely prominent to this day. According to legend, the system has been in use since the third millennium BCE. The views of such an old system differ greatly from those found in modern western medicine. Perhaps most prominent is the fact that TCM focuses more on the patient than the illness. The system considers the human to be a microcosm of the universe, implying that the body is affected by the traditional Taoist forces of yin and yang, the five elements, and Qi in the same way the cosmos are. Each of these forces act upon the “zang fu,” or organ system, directly influencing a patient’s health. Healers use qigong to assist in the restoration of stability in the body. Achieving balance, both internally and externally, is the most important aspect of healing in TCM.

The study of Tai Chi Chuan is unique in the sense that it marks the historical event of many centuries of Taoist study known as Chi Kung ("excellence of Energy"). It was primarily dedicated

This qi is divided into the yin and yang which refer to the opposite and complementary forces in nature. The dark female aspect and the light male aspects both which are dynamic and symbolized the ever changing but perfectly balanced forces of the universe. They stand for the cycles in life that is creation and death, hence transforming into one another ultimately creating the qi in the universe, which is the substance all existence is comprised of. These forces reflect the central concept that all existence is made of the same substance that is qi and humans are merely a small part of a much larger complex cosmos. The