Brief Discussion on the Origin of Traditional Oriental Medicine

1.Traditional Oriental Medicine Meridian Studies

Many people perceive the study of meridians in Traditional Oriental Medicine as mystical and even dismiss it, with some practitioners themselves not fully acknowledging it. I can only say that the theoretical foundation of traditional oriental medicine is highly profound, making it challenging for outsiders to comprehend immediately. Even the most skilled masters may not be able to teach every apprentice, and valuable knowledge is not easily shared. I have read biographies and works by eminent figures in traditional oriental medicine from ancient to modern times, and the highest level achieved is merely deciphering the true code of the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. None have surpassed the fundamental principles of the Inner Canon. Additionally, due to limited consultation in ancient times, many founding masters only decoded certain essential aspects of the Inner Canon. This highlights the subtlety of the Inner Canon.

However, from today's perspective, it is impossible to unravel the mysteries of each meridian and the fundamental interactions of the Five Elements from the viewpoint of ancient people, using high-tech methods. Even producing good acupuncture needles is a challenge, leading to the ancient belief that many acupuncture points are off-limits due to the risk of life-threatening consequences with thick needles. How were the functions and pathways of these points and meridians accurately identified? Modern advancements in needle-making techniques now allow for safe acupuncture. This suggests that the technological standards at the inception of these practices were at least not inferior to contemporary standards.

Some doctors argue that meridians are simply nerve roots, attributing visibility to meridians through forceful means. It's essential to understand that meridians are not as visually simplistic as depicted in meridian charts, with linear pathways. The courses of various meridians adapt to changes in each hour, corresponding to the fluctuations in the internal organs.

2.Traditional Herbal Medicine

The classic work of traditional oriental medicine is none other than the "Shennong’s herbal classics" (神農本草經), which is the earliest surviving specialized text on oriental medicine. It is attributed to Shennong, believed to have been written around the Qin and Han dynasties. The book records 365 types of medicinal substances, classified into three grades: superior, intermediate, and inferior. According to some sources, Shennong was one of the Three Sovereigns during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period, an era that is described as a mysterious and magical time.

Shennong's marvels include the ability to taste hundreds of herbs, knowledge of their medicinal properties, and the purported establishment of agriculture involving the five grains.

Discussing the act of tasting herbs and understanding their properties, from a modern perspective, it may seem that people of that time were primitive, relying on trial and error, even risking poisoning. To believe in such tales and to write about them implies a connection to a truly primitive era. Taking the example of a common herb like jujube, its medicinal properties are described as sweet and warm, affecting the spleen and stomach meridians. While sweetness is easily understandable, the concept of warmth is not as perceptible. Moreover, in primitive societies, how could they discern the effects on the spleen meridian? Even in contemporary times, if you give someone an unfamiliar jujube, they might recognize its sweetness but not be able to determine its effects on the body.

Moving on to the historical development process, it is generally expected to follow an upward trend, evolving from simple to complex. However, traditional oriental medicine to defy this pattern. The "Yellow Emperor’s classic of medicine" (黃帝內經) sets goals that modern medicine still struggles to achieve. It delves into universal laws, natural laws, seasonal regulations, and the rhythmic patterns of the human body. For example, in the "Shanghan Lun" (傷寒論), Zhang Zhongjing mentions a seven-day cycle in the progression of colds and fevers, stating that if a person recovers without treatment after seven days, it is because the disease has naturally run its course.

Many dismiss these ideas as lacking scientific basis and attribute them to superstition. However, Professor Halberg in the United States dedicated his life to researching the rhythmic patterns of the human body and objects. He discovered hormonal fluctuations in urine, aligning with a 24-hour cycle and a seven-day rhythm. Interestingly, the ancient Oriental medical texts, such as the "Shanghan Lun" and the " Yellow Emperor’s classic of medicine," had already outlined the daily, monthly, and even longer rhythms in human physiology and pathology. Professor Tu Youyou won a Nobel Prize for extracting an anti-malarial drug from the ancient text "Zhouhou Beiji Fang," but in my view, every punctuation mark in ancient Oriental medical literature is of Nobel Prize caliber.

3.Ancient herbal medicine formula

The amazing thing is as numerous as the stars in the sky, not to mention ancient formula studies in traditional Oriental medicine. Zhang Zhongjing's "Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases," one of the four classic texts of Oriental medicine, is often discussed in the context of ancient formula studies. Some sources suggest that the origins of formulas for treating cold damage can be traced back to Yi Yin's "Classic of Tang Ye." This predates the Han dynasty origins mentioned in the "Treatise on Cold Damage." However, this knowledge is currently lost. The fascinating aspect is that in the "Treatise on Cold Damage," each formula has remained unchanged for thousands of years, especially the proportions of the medicinal ingredients—a classic for millennia with no need for alteration. Additionally, the use of minimal ingredients is akin to a golden recipe. Experts in traditional Oriental medicine often limit themselves to no more than eight ingredients for a formula and no more than six acupuncture needles. Understanding Oriental medicine also involves recognizing the secrets lying in the proportions and quantities of herbal ingredients and the depth in acupuncture techniques.

After the Han dynasty, with constant warfare, changing dynasties, and the displacement of people, the development and dissemination of Oriental medicine faced significant restrictions and challenges. Unlike the modern era with convenient storage and communication through computers and the internet, ancient times lacked such facilities. Therefore, while medical writings from the Han dynasty onwards feature skilled practitioners, some reaching the level of medical luminaries like the four great masters of the Jin and Yuan dynasties, none surpassed their predecessors. Each medical work aimed at comprehending the "Huangdi Neijing" (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon). Those who understood it became renowned physicians, but the formulas left for future generations lacked the magical qualities found in the "Treatise on Cold Damage." They often involved numerous ingredients, and the proportions were not as exquisite as the golden ratios. It's analogous to a martial arts master who defeats opponents with a single stroke without visible movement, leaving no bloodshed, unlike later generations where skilled individuals may gang up on a single opponent. While this metaphor is exaggerated, it vividly illustrates the point.

Someone may question the exaggeration, wondering if it is truly magical. There was a pharmacological research group in Japan that conducted oral experiments on animals with the Baihu Jia Renshen Tang formula for diabetes. The animal model for diabetes was induced in mice by injecting streptozotocin, inhibiting insulin secretion and causing an increase in blood sugar levels. (Composition of Baihu Jia Renshen Tang: Zhimu, Shigao, Zhigancao, Jingmi, Renshen)

Initially, they administered the formula according to the original proportions and found a remarkably good blood sugar-lowering effect. However, considering that Jingmi (polished rice) and Gancao (licorice) are both sweet, can a diabetic patient consume them normally?

They then tested each of the five ingredients separately and found that only Zhimu and Renshen individually had some blood sugar-lowering effects, while the others had no effect.

Following the logical approach, they decided to combine the two effective ingredients and experimented with different proportions. Surprisingly, combining Zhimu and Renshen did not yield significant results, and increasing the amount of Renshen even decreased the effectiveness. However, both Zhimu and Renshen separately showed improved blood sugar-lowering effects when combined with Shigao.

In the end, they combined Zhimu and Renshen, and when Shigao was added, they observed a gradual increase in the blood sugar-lowering effect. However, after reaching a certain ratio, the effect plateaued. Interestingly, further adding Gancao and Jingmi in the same proportions led to a further improvement in effectiveness. The seemingly unrelated five ingredients worked together with different combinations and synergies. The research team was amazed to discover how ancient practitioners found and optimized such perfect formula compositions. Reading up to this point, many might find it exhausting. Indeed, reverse-engineering experiments without knowing the formula proved fruitless, and it's a testament to the advanced knowledge of ancient people, far surpassing the technology of the modern era.

Some might believe that our technology has reached high levels, and we can extract all effective herbal components individually. Indeed, as early as 3400 BCE, the Sumerians were said to have used "opium," calling it the "joy plant." It appears as a natural development of primitive humans – eat something, feel joy, never mind the medicinal properties. Later, Arabian merchants introduced "opium" to Asia and discovered its anesthetic effects but noticed it was addictive and caused constipation. To eliminate the addictive element and keep the positive aspects, the German "Angel's Elixir" in 1827 developed morphine, claiming it had no side effects. However, morphine turned out to be 50 times more addictive than opium. Then someone thought, if we can't get rid of the addictive component, why not extract the anesthetic pain-relieving component separately? In 1897, German Bayer researchers successfully synthesized heroin using a new chemical method, promoting it as a cure-all without the addictive qualities of morphine and even treating the addiction caused by morphine. The result was a more potent demon; heroin turned out to be 100 times more addictive than morphine. This cycle continued endlessly. In medicine, technology hasn't truly solved problems; at least in pharmaceuticals, it hasn't made patients' lives better.

Coptis has a bitter and cold nature, belonging to the heart, liver, stomach, and large intestine meridians. Its functions include clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, and detoxification. It is highly effective in cases of food poisoning and upset stomachs. For those who frequently travel, carrying some coptis can be beneficial. If exposed to unclean food or experiencing digestive issues due to a change in environment, taking coptis can lead to a quick recovery. Therefore, coptis is also excellent for treating malaria. However, the slow growth cycle of coptis takes six years, making it insufficient during widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases. Scientists then step in, thinking that it's the modern era, and they can directly find the corresponding components of coptis, develop alternative herbal extracts, and discover berberine to replace coptis. The result was that it worked in the first year but not in the second, and the malaria parasite developed resistance. Yet, coptis remained effective.

Speaking of Nobel Prize-winning artemisinin, it's somewhat delightful when it's related to traditional Oriental medicine. However, in essence, it's still about extracting the same things. It seems like it doesn't count as innovation unless it involves some technological means. It's merely extracting artemisinin from sweet wormwood, studying the molecular structure, artificially synthesizing artemisinin, and discovering that it's effective clinically. However, after a few years, the resistance of the malaria parasite developed, proving that insects, bacteria, and viruses aren't fools. Their intelligence and lifespan have evolved for billions of years, far surpassing humanity. Always thinking of using low latitude means to exterminate them is naive. However, ancient formulas remain effective. Let's look at Ge Hong's "Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang." This is how the original text goes: "Take Qinghao, immerse it in cold water, grind it, and extract the juice. Take it all at once." This simple method, which the whole country spent years researching, ultimately proved that Ge Hong's fifteen words were the most effective, no need for modification.

t's like when you're hungry, and someone from thousands of years ago told you that rice is edible. Then, after countless years of research, people extracted the effective components of rice, synthesized rice compounds using high technology, and found that it can indeed be eaten. But after a few days of eating, they discovered that treating hunger with synthetic rice compounds wasn't so effective; there were also some side effects, like feeling hungry even after eating. And yet, this synthetic rice compound won the highest Nobel Prize globally because its existence solved the world's hunger problem.

The immortal Ge Hong was an extraordinary individual, excelling in both medicine and Daoism. However, his work " Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang " was written to address everyday issues for the common people, serving as a comprehensive encyclopedia for medical emergency assistance. The medications mentioned are commonly used in daily life, with numerous records on treating ailments such as malaria. Among them, garlic stands out with various methods for treating malaria. It's as simple as using sliced garlic from your kitchen to address a long-standing global health issue.

In comparison, the question arises: whose medical skills are more advanced? Of course, I'm not attempting to entirely dismiss modern medicine and technology. Without modern scientific methods, we wouldn't be able to acquire and preserve a vast amount of knowledge or access numerous books and data. Rather, my point is that we have inherited valuable wisdom from our ancestors, and we must protect and promote these precious legacies.

I've always emphasized the immense value of the "Huangdi Neijing" (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine). In fact, in the "Han Shu · Yi Wen Zhi · Fang Ji Lue," it is documented that there were medical classics, including:

- "The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine" with eighteen volumes of inner content and thirty-seven volumes of outer content.

- "Bian Que Neijing" with nine volumes of inner content and twelve volumes of outer content.

- "Bai Shi Neijing" with thirty-eight volumes of inner content, thirty-six volumes of outer content, and twenty-five volumes of side content.

All Neijing classics are equivalent to internal medicine, while outer classics pertain to medical surgery and surgical techniques. It is said that the "Bai Shi" series represents the pinnacle of the three medical classics. Its content includes the human circulatory system, meridian theories, and more.

Unfortunately, apart from the "The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine," the rest have been lost. We should use modern scientific methods to protect and unearth more of these valuable legacies from ancient science. Additionally, the cultivation of traditional Oriental medicine herbs can benefit from scientific techniques for better mass production and more effective utilization of the medicinal properties of herbal medicine. We can explore the field of meridians in traditional Oriental medicine with higher methods, thus carrying forward the wisdom of our ancestors and elevating medicine to new heights.