Essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Contents
The Concept and Theory Behind Chinese Medicine
	Yin and Yang
		Application in Chinese medicine
	Five Elements
		The constructive and inhibitive relationships among the Five Zang, or vital organs.
		The Five Zang support and inhibit one another
		Categorisation of Objects and Phenomena According to the Five Elements
	The Premise of Chinese Medicine
		The human body as a unified system
		The close relationship between man and environment
	Eight Principal Syndromes
	The Viscera (the Internal Organs — Five Zang and Six Fu)
	Qi (Vital Energy), Blood and Bodily Fluids
		Qi
		Blood and Bodily Fluids
	Main and Collateral Channels, Acupuncture Points
		A Summary of the Channels and Collaterals
		Main and collateral channels and acupoints
	Endogenous and Exogenous Factors
		Endogenous Factors
		Exogenous Factors
		Neither Endogenous Nor Exogenous
	How to Prevent Diseases
		Cultivating positive energy
		Combating evil qi
Methods of Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine
	The Four Diagnoses
	Diagnosis Through Observation
		Observing the patient\'s energy level
		Observing the patient\'s complexion
		Observing the tongue
		Observing the Five Sense Organs and hair
		Observing A Child\'s Index Finger
	Auscultation and Olfaction Diagnosis
		Listening to the patient\'s voice
		Listening to the patient\'s breathing
		Inspection through smell
	Diagnosis Through Interrogation
	Diagnosis Through Pulse Taking and Palpation
		An overview of various types of pulse
	Diagnosis Through Palpation
	Diagnosis Through the Analysis of Excreta
Methods of Treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine
	Method One — Chinese Medicines
		Discovery of Chinese medicinal herbs
		Types of Chinese medicines
		Medicinal herbs
		Collection and preparation of medicinal herbs
		Animal medicines
		Minerals
		Properties and functions of Chinese medicine
		Making up a prescription
		The principles behind a presciption
		The Eight Principal Therapeutic Methods
		Methods of delivery in traditional Chinese medicine
		How to decoct medicine
		Things to note when taking Chinese medicine
	Method Two — Acupuncture and Moxibustion
		The origins of acupuncture
		How acupuncture is carried out
		Ear-acupuncture therapy
		Moxibustion
	Method Three — Massotherapy
		Foot reflexology
	Method Four — Diet Therapy
		Dieticians
		The relationship between diet and diseases
		The Five Flavours of food
		The Four Properties of food
		Four types of tonic
		Food taboos
	Method Five — Psychotherapy
		Overcoming or countering one emotion with another
		Types of dispositions in traditional Chinese medicine
		Diagnosis of illnesses through dream analysis
		Traditional music therapy
	Method Six — Qigong
		The effects of practising qigong
	Special Treatments
		Cupping
		Scraping
		Bloodletting
		Umbilical cord therapy
		Nasal-insertion therapy
		Medicinal pillows
Famous Physicians
	Medical Ethics
	Bian Que
	Hua Tuo
	Zhang Zhongjing
	Sun Simiao
	Zhu Danxi
	Li Shizhen
	Ancient Female Physicians
		Chun Yuyan
		Bao Gu
		Zeng Yi
Modernization of Chinese Medicine
	Diagnosis goes hi-tech
	Computerized medical history
	Chinese medicine in concentrate form
	Modern methods of decoction
	East meets West
	Chinese medicine goes global
	The Trademark of Chinese Medicine - The Yin-Yang Fish
Appendix
Chinese Medicine Resources