Chinese Medicine
Transcript: Here is a quick youtube video that explains more about the history of Chinese medicine. What is the difference between Chinese and American medicine? What are the ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine? Some Chinese herbal medicine treatments may be safe, but others may not be. There have been reports of products being contaminated with drugs, toxins, or heavy metals not indicated on the ingredients list. Some of the herbs are very powerful, can interact with drugs, and may have serious side affects. Sources: www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/medicine.html www.health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/chinese/traditional www.taijichinesemedicine.com/TCMhistory.html www.china4u2.com/TCMhistory.html www.medicine.mcgill.ca/MJM/issues.pdf Youtube Video Chinese Medicine By: Abby McMillan Chinese herbal medicine uses a variety of herbs such as astragalus, ginkgo, ginseng, green tea, garlic, and eleuthero in different combinations to help restore balance to the body. There is some evidence from randomized clinical trials that some Chinese herbs may contribute to longer survival rates, usually a reduction of side effects, and lower risk of some types of cancer. According to the Chinese, plants are essential to life and significantly enhance health. In the medicine, the number of plants used is more than the number of plants used for making food. What is the history of Chinese medicine and who invented it? Chinese medicine focuses on restoring a balance of energy, body, and spirit to maintain health, while English medicine focuses on curing one particular disease or medical condition. American medicine focuses on curing whichever part of the body is afflicted, while traditional Chinese medicine regards the human body as a complete system. In addition, Americans tend to wait to go to a doctor until they feel that their symptoms are severe enough to have to be checked out, while Chinese citizens immediately go to a medicine clinic as soon as they notice uncommon symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years. It is believed that Chinese medicine is traced back to a legendary emperor and ruler, Shen Nong who invented agriculture. Historians believe that in order to determine the nature of different herbal medicines, Shen Nong would sample various plants to test and analyze their side affects. According to ancient texts, he tasted at least 100 herbs every day hoping to find the remedies that would one day cure people's illnesses, and he did. Because there were no written records, it is said that Shen Nong's discoveries were passed down verbally from generation to generation. In addition, the founding father of Chinese medicine is said to be the Yellow Emperor also furthered in the invention of Chinese herbal medicine in later times. Is Chinese herbal medicine safe?