Great Masters of Chinese Medicine

Introduction

In the modern world’s hustle and bustle, rejuvenating your body with herbal medicine provides a natural avenue to regain health and equilibrium. This approach not only bolsters physical health but also fosters a synergistic bond between the mind and body.

In this article series, we aim to uncover methods to sustain health and joy throughout life. While illness is an occasional human experience, we can rehabilitate our bodies through the principles and methods of traditional Chinese medicine.

Origins of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Our journey begins with an exploration of the roots of traditional Chinese medicine and its seminal figures.

Master Huang Yuanyu

We will then turn our attention to a renowned contemporary master of Chinese medicine, Huang Yuanyu. His wisdom and methodologies are a treasure trove for preserving health.

Holistic Approaches

The series will cover a variety of lifestyle tactics for enhancing health and contentment. These tactics address concerns like high blood sugar, hypertension, joint discomfort, and bone pain. Our arsenal comprises herbal remedies, medicinal foods, deep breathing exercises, acupuncture and moxibustion, meditation, and stretching exercises.

These techniques are not only straightforward to learn and implement at home but also highly effective for our objectives.

Heritages in Chinese medicine

Introduction to Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine is often likened to a grand tree. Just as Shennong planted the seed, it gradually took root, sprouted, and grew stronger over time. The wisdom of herbal medicine has been passed down through generations. Along this journey, notable figures emerged, each contributing to the flourishing branches of this ancient tradition.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Bian Que made significant contributions. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing further enriched our understanding. Sun Simiao continued this legacy during the Tang Dynasty. Later, the Four Great Masters of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, along with Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, added their own leaves to the tree of Chinese medicine.

These masters, like branches and fruits, collectively shape the rich tapestry of Chinese healing practices.

01 Bian Que the pulse analyst

Bian Que (approximately 407 BCE–approximately 310 BCE), originally named Qin Yue Ren, was a renowned physician during the Warring States period in ancient China. He is often revered as the Divine Physician.

specifically in Renqiu City), Bian Que was a master of pulse diagnosis and a pioneer in traditional Chinese medicine. His expertise in pulse examination laid the foundation for subsequent generations of Chinese medical practitioners.

During his youth, Bian Que managed an aristocrat’s guesthouse, where he formed a close bond with the renowned physician Chang Sang Jun. Under Chang’s tutelage, Bian Que mastered the art of medicine, excelling in various fields. He embarked on a journey as a traveling physician, diagnosing patients across different states. His diagnostic skills were exceptional, allowing him to discern illnesses through visual observation and pulse analysis.

Bian Que’s reputation as a miraculous healer spread far and wide, earning him the title of Divine Physician. Interestingly, his name was borrowed from ancient mythology, where the legendary Yellow Emperor had a divine physician named Bian Que.

Bian Que’s contributions extended beyond medicine; he also advocated against superstitious practices in healing.

Tragically, Bian Que met his demise while serving King Wu of Qin. Envious of his medical prowess, the royal physician Li Xi orchestrated Bian Que’s assassination. Legend has it that Bian Que was ambushed on a remote road near Mount Li in Shaanxi Province. Despite his untimely end, Bian Que’s legacy endures, and he remains a revered figure in the annals of Chinese medicine.

02 Hua Tuo the surgeon

Hua Tuo (145–208 AD) was a renowned physician during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Born in Qiao County, Peiguo (now Bozhou, Anhui Province), he led a simple life, away from fame and fortune. Hua Tuo chose to be a traveling physician, serving ordinary people who held him in great reverence. His expertise spanned internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and acupuncture.

Hua Tuo’s most significant contribution was the use of anesthesia in surgery, applying a herbal anesthetic called Ma Fei San that he invented. His surgical prowess earned him the title of the Father of Chinese Surgery.

Hua Tuo emphasized physical exercise for health promotion, creating a set of exercises known as Wu Qin Xi (Frolics of Five Animals). He believed that exercise improved circulation, preventing diseases, much like a well-used door hinge never rusts.

Although most of his medical works, including Hua Tuo Fang (Hua Tuo’s Prescriptions) and Zhen Zhong Jiu Ci Jing (The Methods of Using Acupuncture and Moxibustion), have been lost, his legacy endures in the annals of Chinese medicine.

03 Zhang Zhongjing on febrile disease

Zhang Zhongjing (150~219), also known as Zhang Ji, was one of the most eminent Chinese physicians during the later years of the Eastern Han era. He lived in today’s Nanyang in Henan Province. During his time, with warlords fighting for their own territories, many people were infected with febrile disease. Zhang’s family was no exception.

He learned medicine by studying from his townsfellow Zhang Bozu, assimilating from previous medicinal literature, and collecting many prescriptions elsewhere, finally writing the medical masterpiece Shanghan Zabing Lun. Unfortunately, shortly after its publication, the book was lost during wartime.

Due to Zhang’s contribution to Traditional Chinese medicine, he is often regarded as the sage of Chinese medicine. His masterpiece was collected by later people and compiled into two books: Shanghan Lun (in full, Shanghan Zabing Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases) which discussed how to treat epidemic infectious diseases causing fevers prevalent during his era, and the other highly influential doctrine, Jingui Yaolue (Synoptic Essentials from the Golden Cabinet), a compendium of his clinical experiences.

Zhang established medication principles and summarized medicinal experience up until the Han Dynasty, making a significant contribution to the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

04 Sun Simiao the lifestyle advocate

Sun Simiao (581–682), born in Huayuan, Jingzhao (now Yaozhou District, Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province), was a renowned physician and pharmacologist during the Tang Dynasty. He is revered as the King of Medicine in China and even worldwide.

Sun Simiao demonstrated exceptional intelligence from a young age and gained recognition in the medical field. He dedicated himself to researching medical theories and made significant contributions to disease treatment. His work, Qian Jin Yao Fang, is one of the classical medical treasures in ancient China and has profoundly influenced medicine’s development in later generations.

Sun Simiao advocated the medical philosophy that “the superior doctor prevents sickness, the mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness, and the inferior doctor treats actual sickness.”

He emphasized prevention over treatment, believing that a healthy body stems from a balanced diet and lifestyle. He also integrated compassion and kindness into medical practice, treating patients with care and benevolence.

Notably, Sun Simiao also made significant achievements in pharmacology. His works, including Jin Kui Yao Lue, systematically summarized pharmaceutical knowledge and experience, laying a solid foundation for the development of pharmacology in later generations.

05 Qian Yi Pioneering Pediatrician of the Song Dynasty

Qian Yi (1032–1113), also known by his courtesy name Zhongyang, left an indelible mark on the field of pediatric medicine during the Song Dynasty. Born in Yuncheng (now Dongping, Shandong Province), he dedicated his expertise to treating children’s illnesses.

His surviving work, Xiao’er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue 小儿药证直诀, stands as a classic in pediatric medicine. This invaluable text systematically summarizes diagnostic and treatment methods specifically tailored for children, effectively establishing pediatrics as an independent field of study.

Qian Yi’s contributions, including formulations like Liu Wei Di Huang Wan 六味地黄丸, continue to shape clinical practice even today.

06 Li Shizhen the great pharmacologist

Li Shizhen (1518–1593), also known by his courtesy name Dongbi, left an indelible mark on traditional Chinese medicine during the Ming Dynasty. His monumental work, the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), stands as the most comprehensive medical book ever written. Revered as the Saint of Medicine in Chinese history, Li Shizhen meticulously documented over 1,890 herbs, 11,000 prescriptions, and 1,100 illustrations.

Born in Qizhou (now Qichun County, Hubei Province) into a family of physicians, Li defied his father’s wishes for an official career and instead pursued his passion for medicine. His extensive travels allowed him to collect information about herbal medicine, conduct experiments, and document their components and medical effects. In 1590, Li completed the Bencao Gangmu, a remarkable achievement that continues to shape medicine and botany worldwide.

07 Ye Tianshi on warm disease

Ye Tianshi (1666 or 1667–1745), also known as Ye Gui, with the courtesy name Tianshi, and the sobriquet Xiangyan, was a renowned physician during the Qing Dynasty. He hailed from Wu County in Jiangsu Province (now part of Suzhou) and had ancestral roots in Shexian, Anhui.

Born into a family of medical practitioners, Ye Tianshi extensively studied medical texts from a young age. His diligence and ability to draw from various schools of thought led him to study under seventeen different masters, earning him the reputation of having a wide range of influences.

Ye Tianshi’s most significant achievement lies in the development of Wenbing theory, where he established the differentiation system for weiqi (defensive qi), yingqi (nutrient qi), and zhenqi (vital energy) and blood.

His work Wen Re Lun (Treatise on Warm Diseases) reflects his academic insights. According to his theory, warm pathogenic factors enter the body through the mouth and nose. His treatment principles emphasized the sequence of treating defensive qi first, followed by vital energy, nutrient qi, and finally blood.

In terms of spleen and stomach theory, he proposed the concept of stomach yin and addressed its deficiencies, complementing the deficiencies in Li Gao’s theory.

Ye Tianshi was adept at identifying key symptoms and prescribing precise treatments. His expertise remains valuable for medical practitioners today.

Notably, the popular herbal remedy Jingdu Niancigan (Loquat Syrup with Fritillaria and Trichosanthes) is based on his original formulation using loquat leaves and honey. Although he did not write extensively due to his busy clinical practice, his students and disciples compiled his writings and case studies into works such as Wen Re Lun, Lingzheng Zhinan Yian, and Ye Shi Cun Zhen.

Before his passing, Ye Tianshi advised his descendants: “Medicine can be practiced, but only by those with innate intelligence and extensive knowledge. Otherwise, it may harm rather than heal.”

08 Huang Yuanyu on stomach health

Huang Yuanyu (1705–1758), also known as Yulu, with the courtesy name Yuanyu, and the sobriquet Yuzhouzi, was a renowned physician during the Qing Dynasty.

He is often revered as the King of Medicine and a representative figure of the Zunjing School.

As an imperial physician to Emperor Qianlong, he received special recognition from the emperor himself, who inscribed the phrase Miaowu Qihuang to commend his knowledge, and summarized his life’s work with the phrase Rendao Yaoji.

Huang Yuanyu inherited and developed the profound theories of traditional Chinese medicine, leaving a lasting impact on subsequent generations of medical practitioners.

His contributions extended beyond medicine, as he was well-versed in various fields, including Daoism and classical studies.

From an early age, Huang Yuanyu immersed himself in scholarly pursuits, studying classics and historical texts. Despite his initial aspirations for an official career, he eventually chose the path of medicine.

His journey began with a focus on the works of Zhang Zhongjing, particularly the Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases), and expanded to include other foundational texts like the Jinkui Yahan Yuelue, the Huangdi Neijing, and the Nanjing by Bian Que. He regarded Zhang Zhongjing and three other medical masters as the Four Sages of Medicine and dedicated his life to revising and preserving their teachings for future generations.

Huang Yuanyu’s medical achievements include the compilation of thirteen volumes of his own works, such as the Sisheng Xinyuan (Heart Source of the Four Sages) and the Zhou Yi Xuan Xiang (Exploration of the Book of Changes).

His clinical approach emphasized “nourishing the central qi, supporting yang, and suppressing yin”, which significantly influenced the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

In summary, Huang Yuanyu was not only an outstanding physician but also a cultural steward, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.

Looking Ahead

For more concepts and application of Chinese medicine and how it helps in reconditioning our health, stay tuned for the next episode.

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