中医药，对很多人来说熟悉又陌生的。日常生活中常常用到的生姜、小茴香、花椒、桂皮、紫苏、薄荷等都是中药，中医诊所体验的针灸、推拿、拔罐等治疗方法都是中医疗法，图书馆和互联网还有海量的中医药学文献资料……然而，中医治疗疾病的机理究竟是什么？中医和现代医学的区别在哪里？中医是科学还是哲学？这些问题又是大家陌生的。 作者运用多年教学、科研、临床实践，对中医药学的历史渊源、基本概念、理论精髓、关键技术等做深入浅出地介绍，用通俗易懂的语言、图文并茂的形式、趣味盎然的故事带领读者走进神秘神奇的中医药世界。Traditional Chinese medicine is both familiar and unfamiliar to many people. Ginger, cumin, Pericarpium Zanthoxyli, cinnamon, Perilla, peppermint, etc., often used in daily life, are all traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture, massage, cupping and other treatment methods experienced by traditional Chinese medicine clinics are all traditional Chinese medicine therapy, and the corresponding TCM literature can be found in libraries and on the Internet.However, what is the mechanism of TCM treatment of disease? What is the difference between traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine? Is Chinese medicine science or philosophy? These are worth exploring.Using many years of teaching, scientific research and clinical practice, the author introduces the historical origin, basic concepts, theoretical essence and key technologies of Chinese medicine in a profound and simple way, and leads readers into the mysterious and magical world of Chinese medicine with easy to understand language, illustrated forms and interesting stories.

中医是什么用什么来诊断病症主张如何养生什么样的才算中药针灸有多神奇推拿按摩有何功效这些问题都藏在中医药的千百年传承中

PrefaceThe concept of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might seem both familiar and strange to some. Our familiarity lies in our frequent use of TCM ingredients in daily life, such as ginger, curry, fennel, bunge prickly ash, cassia and other dressings in cooking, and perilla frutescens crispa and mint used to make side dishes. If we visit a community TCM clinic, we can experience TCM therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and cupping. There is a plethora of literature on TCM for our viewing in libraries and on the internet. What makes TCM feel somewhat strange is our lack of familiarity with its distinctive theoretical system and theories. We need some basic knowledge of traditional Chinese culture and its principles to become more comfortable with it. You may have many questions, like what is the theory of the TCM treatment? What is the difference between TCM and Western medicine? Is TCM a recognized and respected discipline? Many of us lack knowledge of this discipline. We may possess fundamental misconceptions concerning it.There are three major traditional medicines: TCM, the Indian Medicine and Arabic Medicine. Prior to the emergence of the modern medicine, people around the world relied entirely on traditional medicines to cure illness and prolong lives. Ancient civilizations such as Egyptian, Indian, Mayan and Babylonian, all included complete traditional medical systems. With the emergence of modern medicine, many traditional medicines have fallen from mainstream use or even disappeared. A notable exception is traditional Chinese medicine. Undergoing vicissitudes in history, it has stayed strong till now.Since its inception, TCM has been a bulwark against diseases and plagues maintaining the health of the Chinese people. An important part of the Chinese culture, TCM influences modern medical practices in Asia, and the healthcare standard for people across the world, thanks to the overseas Chinese who had brought TCM to other lands.In addition to being a holistic theoretical system, TCM boasts measurable therapeutic effects as it integrates traditional natural practice with proven results. The studies of TCM contain profound philosophical wisdom of health regimen in both theories and practice of the Chinese nation accumulated over thousands of years. It is the gem of the ancient Chinese science and key to the treasure house of the Chinese civilization.More than a thousand years ago, when smallpox raged across China, Ge Hong (283-363), the famous doctor in the Jin Dynasty (265-420), offered the therapy of fighting poison with poison. The methods he invented for preventing and curing smallpox were recorded in The Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies. This book enlightened the modern Chinese Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, who successfully extracted Artemisinin out of the herbal medicineartemisia apiaceae. During the outbreaks of SARS in 2003 and the novel coronavirus in the spring of 2020, the TCM doctors, applied TCM to save many lives suffering severe COVID symptoms. TCM is responsible for helping control of the spread of the viruses.TCM has spread to over 200 countries and regions with a dozen of TCM centers established in these countries. More and more foreigners prefer TCM treatment. TCM belongs to China and to the world as well.To better promote TCM culture, this author researched and summarized studies detailing the progress of teaching, science and clinical practices of both Chinese and Western medicines over the years. The author introduced in simplified terms TCMs historical origin, basic concepts, theoretical essence, and key techniques. Moreover, the document introduced readers to a mysterious and magical TCM world in easy to understand language, with case studies and images.It is my hope that the book can be published overseas to help more learn about the efficacy and benefits of TCM. We wish everyone may enjoy the insights and experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

李健，医学博士，教授，博士生导师，北京中医药大学中医学院组织胚胎学教研室主任，曾主编《远离肝炎与肝硬化》《器官纤维化的基础与临床》，发表学术专著及论文60余篇。薛晓鸥，医学博士，教授，博士生导师。北京中医药大学东直门医院妇科主任医师，北京中医药大学中西医结合妇科学科带头人，曾主编《中西医结合妇科内分泌学》《中西医结合妇科肿瘤学》。Li Jian, M.D., professor, doctoral supervisor, director of the Teaching and Research Department of Tissue Embryology, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. He edited the articles Away From Hepatitis and Cirrhosis and The Basis and Clinical of Organ Fibrosis, and published more than 60 academic monographs and papers.Xue Xiaoou, M.D., Professor, doctoral supervisor, chief gynecologist of Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, head of the department of Integrative Gynecology of Chinese and Western Medicine in Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. She is the editor-in-chief of Gynecologic Endocrinology of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine andGynecologic Oncology of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine.

Preface.......................................................................................01Chapter I Ancient Oriental WisdomSection 1 TCM in Anti-virus Battles............................................................002Section 2 The TCM Wisdom in Artemisinin................................................006Section 3 Leukemia Cured With TCM Poison...........................................009Section 4 Achieving Fame Overseas.........................................................012Chapter II Brief History of TCMSection 1 The Origin of TCM Hidden in Myths...........................................024Section 2 The Establishment and Improvement of the TCM Theoretical System in the Qin and Han Dynasties...................................................033Section 3 Respected Doctors in the Sui and Tang Dynasties........................047Section 4 TCM in the Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties..................................055Section 5 The Dividing Line Between TCM and Western Medicine in the Ming and Qing Dynasties..................................................................068Section 6 Modern Chinese Medicine.........................................................081Chapter III TCM View on Biological PhenomenaSection 1 What Is TCM?...........................................................................094Section 2 Unique Perspective of the Structure of the Human Body in TCM...102Section 3 The Basic Substance of the Human Body in Traditional Chinese Medicine.................................................................................110Section 4 Why Do People Get Sick?..........................................................115Section 5 How TCM Diagnoses Disease....................................................122Chapter IV TCM, A Precious Gift from China to All of HumanitySection 1 What can be Counted as Chinese Materia Medica?....................136Section 2 The Naming of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica....................144Section 3 Prescription Quality Depends on the Ratio of Drugs....................151Section 4 Decoction and Patent Medicines................................................155Chapter V Acupuncture and MoxibustionSection 1 The Origin of Acupuncture and Moxibustion...............................168Section 2 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapies....................................172Section 3 Tuina Massage.........................................................................176Chapter VI Health Preservation of TCMSection 1 Conform to Nature and Balance Yin and Yang...........................184Section 2 Diet and Daily Life....................................................................188Section 3 Somatic and Spiritual Cultivation: Combining Activity and Inertia...191Section 4 Positive Qi Stored Inside to Expel Diseases..................................194Appendix A Brief Chinese Chronology......................................................196