Dao and the doctor: the thought and practice of chinese medicine

Abstract

The explanatory models used in Chinese traditional medicine dramatically differ from those in Western scientific medicine. Acquisition of a foreign conceptual medical vocabulary is required in order to grasp its logic. Such terms as yin-yang, qi, moisture, blood, shen, jing, and the organ networks known as the liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney constitute the theoretical foundation upon which Chinese medicine is based.

Acupuncture has been continuously employed as a form of primary healthcare for two millenia. Mounting evidence of its usefulness in the West has enhanced acupuncture’s credibility and contributed to its increasing popularity in the United States today. Similarly, the study and clinical application of Chinese medicinal herbs is also expanding. Chinese traditional medicine is becoming a valuable addition to a healthcare system seeking to promote better health and quality of life.