The origins of traditional Chinese medicine: reject superstition, start with the right understanding

Traditional Chinese medicine originated from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon; it is the art of medicine!

Someone in the audience called out.

Everyone echoed this sentiment.

Taking advantage of this person's words, Su Ziyang continued, "So, how much do you all know about the Yellow Emperor?"

The man shouted again, "It's a deity!"

Su Ziyang chuckled. He hadn't expected this person to be so cooperative, as if he had invited a straight man to tell him everything he wanted to say!

"Today, let's begin with the first lesson!"

Su Ziyang wrote a row of large characters directly on the blackboard.

Begin with correct understanding and reject feudal superstition!

An uproar erupted from the audience!

Su Ziyang glanced at the crowd below the stage, remained silent for a moment, and then continued speaking.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a traditional medical system that originated in China and has been developed through thousands of years of clinical practice!

"Its core focus is on studying the physiological and pathological patterns of the human body, as well as the diagnosis and treatment methods for diseases."

"It takes clinical efficacy as the fundamental standard of evaluation, belongs to the category of empirical medicine and systems medicine, and has no essential connection with feudal superstition."

Seeing Su Ziyang's serious expression, some people in the audience started taking notes, while others, who were a bit lazier, started recording videos with their phones!

Ignoring everyone else, Su Ziyang said with a serious expression, "Before learning Traditional Chinese Medicine, we must clarify four common misconceptions! After listening to my lecture, please don't go out and talk about magic tricks!"

"First, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is not metaphysics. Yin and Yang, Five Elements are mental models used in TCM to classify and describe the laws governing the human body; they are not supernatural or mysterious substances or forces. Essentially, they are simple systems theory methods summarized by the ancients."

"Secondly, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is not unscientific. All of TCM's theories are derived from clinical observation and have been verified through extensive practice. Modern evidence-based medicine recognizes the value of empirical evidence, and the development of drugs such as artemisinin also proves the reference value of TCM theories."

"Third, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is not just for treating chronic diseases. In ancient times, TCM mainly dealt with acute illnesses such as epidemics, injuries, and external pathogenic diseases. Now, TCM also has clear efficacy in areas such as pain, fever, and acute gastroenteritis."

Fourth, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western medicine are not opposed. Both are medical systems that study human health, but they observe things from different perspectives. Western medicine focuses on local, microscopic pathological changes, while TCM focuses on the overall, macroscopic functional state. They can complement each other in clinical practice.

Everyone was so surprised that after he finished speaking, the room fell silent, and they all stared at Su Ziyang in disbelief.

Because this is different from what they usually say, what they know, and the people they usually see.

Most of these traditional Chinese medicine enthusiasts are passionate and hostile towards Western medicine.

I feel that Western medicine is a rip-off, and that people should treat the root cause.

As a result, having seen little of the world, they were blinded by their own delusions and unable to recognize reality.

Su Ziyang wanted to take this opportunity to teach these people a lesson!

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent.

Su Ziyang picked up the chalk again and wrote on the blackboard.

To learn Traditional Chinese Medicine, you need to maintain three basic mindsets:

First, respect tradition, but do not blindly follow it.

We should not deify the classics, nor blindly believe in the ancients; all conclusions must be verified in practice.

Secondly, it is crucial to strictly distinguish between medicine and superstition. Fortune telling, feng shui, and exorcism are not within the scope of traditional Chinese medicine and should not be confused with each other.

Third, maintain an open perspective and actively combine modern physiological and biological knowledge to understand traditional Chinese medicine theories, rather than being confined to traditional concepts and living in a self-circulating state.

After Su Ziyang finished speaking, he opened the PowerPoint presentation he had prepared.

Pointing to the four large characters "Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine" on the projector, he spoke slowly.

"The first step in learning Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is not to memorize formulas or prescriptions, but to establish a correct understanding of TCM, clarify the boundaries of your learning, and avoid going astray from the start. All subsequent theoretical learning should be judged based on the criteria of 'clinical effectiveness and logical consistency,' and any content that does not meet these criteria should be actively identified."