The Beginnings of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Beginnings of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Mixing Together Natural Remedies

Alternative medicine and holistic healing are based on concepts and
philosophies of an ancient science. At the root of many holistic practices
are the philosophies and ideals that come from Chinese medicine. From
the beginnings of this practice has been a growth in natural methods to
help promote healing and balance.



The beginnings of Chinese medicine as a practice come from the year 800
BC. Even though this practice began before this, it was only recorded
beginning in this year through a book known as the “Huang Di Nei Jeng”
or “The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine.” The methods that
were used in this book were based around the herbal remedies that were
most significant in helping with holistic healing.

The idea of this particular book was based off of the Yellow Emperor, one
of the greatest rulers in Chinese history. He is thought to have lived in
4700 BC, and is often attributed as a mythical character with a status of
royalty that provided inspiration to those living in the orient. It is through
this mythical character that this book of medicine is still portrayed under,
with the attribution to the Yellow Emperor’s knowledge that was passed
down holistically.

The beginning of this book included 12 prescriptions through herbs that
were used with a combination of twenty-eight different ingredients. By
the year 220 BC, the book had become so popular that medical services
were established based around the remedies from the Yellow Emperor.
The adjustments that were made from this book included detailed
classifications of the herbs, how they worked, their strength and what
their properties were for healing different ailments.
Overtime, new publications and philosophies were added onto this book in
order to provide practitioners with new methods and substances to the
basis of the Yellow Emperor’s remedy book. These additions provided new
insights and books, all the way into the 1700s with the contribution of the
Theory of Herbal Medicine.

The ancient practices of Chinese medicine through herbal remedies are a
true philosophy that shows how time withstands the ideas of holistic
treatments. Through the growth of herbal practices, several in the East
have found ways to provide insight and balances between different herbs
for better practices to gain energy and balance in one’s life.