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There are certain similarities and differences between Chinese and Western medicine. Referred to Needham et al (2000), the ancient Chinese medicine was ahead of the early Western medicine in many aspects that became an important part of the medical civilisation of the world. Modern western medicine is based on modern western science in anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, immunology, etc. All these sciences had not yet formed in the Middle Ages. Chinese medicine had formed its own system at that time, such as the health and preventive medicine in ancient China.
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The Ancient Chinese Medicine
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The Early Western Medicine
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Preventive Medicine
Preventive Medicine
Chinese preventive thoughts have been recorded on the commentary of the I ching (Book of changes).It mentioned the fundamental statement that:
"the chün-tzu (君子) always meditates on trouble in advance and takes steps to prevent it".
"the chün-tzu (君子) always meditates on trouble in advance and takes steps to prevent it".
The Chinese medicine practitioner eliminated the hidden danger before the disease appeared. The Huainanzi (淮南子) and the Huang ti nei ching (黃帝內經) have the similar descriptions. It can be seen that China has a long history of prevention thinking.
Sanitation
Sanitation
In terms of personal hygiene and sanitation, the habit of hand washing and sanitation was already stabilised in the late Zhou period. The Li chi (Record of rites) stated that the nobles of the Warring States Period wash their hands five times a day, hot water every five days, and their hair every three days.
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The western people used the soap to remove stains
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Saponins were used in ancient China for personal hygiene and laundry.
The evolution of health and preventive medicine is an example that are some similar aspects of Chinese and Western medicine.
The Advantages of Chinese & Western Medicine
The Advantages of Chinese & Western Medicine
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The advantage of the modern Western medicine is...
The advantage of the modern Western medicine is...
particularly effective in curing acute diseases, such as the use of antibiotics. when antibiotics battles and routs virus, it would produce side-effects on the patient.
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The advantage of the Chinese medicine is...
The advantage of the Chinese medicine is...
offering the different treatments depending on the patient's physical condition. But the course of treatment needs to go through many stages that would be complicated.
In conclusion, Needham believes that the advantage of Chinese medicine lies in the treatment of chronic diseases and the advantage of western medicine lies in the treatment of acute diseases. It would be valuable for the medical development if the ideas of Chinese medicine and modern western medicine can be combined.
Reference:Fan, Y. (2013).Chinese and Western Medical Culture in the Eyes of Joseph Needham , Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou.
Needham, J., Sivin, N., & Lu, G. (2000). Science and Civilisation in China. Vol.6. Pt.6, Biology and biological technology. Medicine (pp. 65-94). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Needham, J., Sivin, N., & Lu, G. (2000). Science and Civilisation in China. Vol.6. Pt.6, Biology and biological technology. Medicine (pp. 65-94). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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