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Emma Monte

Mrs. Rebecca Elmshauser

AP Literature

20 January 2022

Ancient, Accessible…Accredited?

If longevity of a practice evince soundness and if because something simply is

long-standing, its integrity is proved, a whole new (but not so new) world could open up.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), still being used in the present day, has been in practice

since as early as the Shang Dynasty from 1600 to 1100 B.C. based on the Daoist principle of yin

and yang. Millions of people have used TCM to treat, prevent, and ensure health and balance of

the body to the fullest for thousands of years, yet its medical and scientific credibility are still in

question. The Premodern Era was ruled by theistic beliefs until the Enlightenment movement

caused people to become skeptical of and resist “religious dogma”. Science was held as the

highest deity; information was not believed unless numerous trials were conducted to

demonstrate the concreteness of any given statement. This was the way of the world until the

birth of Postmodernism in the 1950s; truth was rejected entirely and individuals’ experiences ,

instead, were accepted as “reality”. As Chinese medicine goes, many argue that it is not in its

truest form unless coupled with the spiritual foundations - this boded well in the era of Theism,

yet when the shift to intellectual reasoning took the place of blind faith, it was discarded as

borderline witchcraft. In the current climate, one hosting a variety of worldviews, including

Postmodernism, TCM is being reevaluated to determine its reliability. While many opinions are

voiced within the world’s vast population, when it comes to Christianity and Chinese medicine,
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it becomes a topic in which people tread lightly or aim to completely avoid due to the stigmas

surrounding the ancient form of Asian medicine . Yet, if more time was taken to holistically

assess the Western medicine alternative, it becomes clear that traditional Chinese medicine

should be more widely implemented as it can be reconciled with both science and the Christian

faith.

Similarly to Western medicine, Chinese medicine has continued to evolve over its

lifetime of thousands of years. The birth of Chinese medicine was during the Shang Dynasty,

with the belief in three gods: Huang Di, Shen Nong, and Fu Xi. Huang, meaning “yellow” and

Di, meaning “god/deity'', are what gave the ruler the name “Yellow Emperor” who was

otherwise known as the giver of Chinese medicine to his people. Shen Nong was the god of

agriculture, and therefore provided the herbs needed for herbal medicine, and Fu Xi was the god

of hunting and fishing. Ancestral relations were prioritized at this time, and the importance of the

connection between the physical life and the realm beyond was stressed heavily. These values

were the foundation that created the common credence that sickness was a result of ancestral

curses due to lack of proper honor and respect.

During the Zhou Dynasty (1045 B.C. - 256 B.C.) there was a transition from worship of

Di (god) to worship of Tian (heaven). The emperors were believed to have the mandate of Tian,

a right to rule that could be taken away if they led poorly. While this dynasty was filled with

war, many philosophies that would be integral to history and modern living were born;

Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daosim. Daoism, specifically, created a pivotal work that shaped

medicine: Yin and Yang. Unity and harmony between people and nature was the goal, while

health problems were now seen as a demonic force as work instead of a curse from one's
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ancestors. Shamans were consulted for methods such as certain rituals, dances, and spells to

expel sickness (Lugos).

The next integral dynasties may not have lasted quite as long or been as consecutive, but

each provided a contribution to the ever-improving techniques and philosophical foundations of

Chinese medicine. Under the rulers of the Qin dynasty, Chinese letters were standardized and

unified in order that everyone could read and write in a common language, still allowing for

different dialects to be spoken as pronunciation would be the only thing to differ. With the new

development of consistent characters, medicine (such as herbal formulae) was able to be

transcribed as to pass it along and around. The Han Dynasty was one of China’s Golden Ages ,

and the first time Confucianism was adopted by the state (and remained the official religion until

the early 1900s). A book, Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal

Medicine), was a compilation of years of work, revisions, and commentaries to create a work

that is considered fundamental even now as physicians are trained in TCM. It comprehensively

defines disease and “health” (the holistic kind), focused on prevention, and introduced Qi

(Lugos).

Following the Han Dynasty, China experienced a collapse where there was division until

the rise of the Tang Dynasty when Sun Si Miao, one of the best Chinese doctors and the pioneer

of herbal research, travelled around naming and testing different herbs. The Song Dynasty then

introduced standardized examinations for medicine with acupuncture models used to test skills of

practitioners. The dummy presented many spots to have a needle inserted and if the correct point

was chosen, water would spout out of the opening. The final major dynasty, the Ming Dynasty,

was a time where different schools of medicine were created and the Compendium of Materia
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Medica, the most “complete and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of

traditional Chinese medicine” (UNESCO), spread throughout Asia (to different countries outside

of China). In the twentieth century, Western medicine took over due to technological

advancements however, Chinese medicine returned and rose in popularity during the communist

era as a result of its inexpensive nature, as well as new schools that were created and cohorts that

were sent out into the countryside of impoverished people (Lugos).

Hesitation surrounding Chinese medicine often stems from the feeling or belief that

because “scientific” names of the theories from Asia are absen, that they should remain

unauthorized. Chinese medicine is held in a light where it is seen as experimental, seeing as

people find it hard to be proven, yet, when the history of Chinese medicine is considered, it is

clear that it is far from speculative or preliminary at this point in time. Western medicine proves

a double-edged sword as it strives to be technologically advanced; it falls to inevitable

experimentation that cannot be proven until tested on subjects. For instance, in medieval Europe,

bloodletting, the practice of draining “dirty” or infected blood from a patient, was used to treat an

array of diseases and conditions, only to find out that the technique was not, in fact, the most

effective treatment. Western medicine has made leaps and bounds since then, yet seems to

continue to search for cures as cases of new and recurring ailments are on the rise. It may be

argued that this mindset of betterment is what has allowed the human race to achieve the health it

has currently. Nonetheless, when those who predominantly rely on Western medicine, which is

largely the American population, are compared to the citizens of Hong Kong, a country heavily

reliant on Eastern medicine, it becomes increasingly clear that the ancient ways are the most

beneficial practices and that is predominantly a result of the approach: holistic versus

symptomatic.
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A gaping difference between Eastern and Western medicine is the definition of “health”

and therefore the practice in which a person is treated accordingly. For most conventional

physicians, health is simply the absence of disease, but for holistic doctors it means much more -

it means balance. Alternative, holistic, and integrative medicine are more focused on the patient

as a whole person instead of hyper focusing on symptoms and infusing foriegn ingredients.

Chinese medicine operates with the trust in one's own body to heal itself - it is a common

misconception that food, herbs, acupuncture, cupping, or other chinese medicine techniques are

what heal, but in fact these are simply used to create the certain environment within that body

that is most conducive to healing. For instance, if someone is suffering from Candida, a yeast

infection, a conventional doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill the infection when instead it is a

sign that the body is too moist within and needs to be warm. Thus, a holistic doctor may look at

other factors such as mental and emotional health to find connections to physical health and help

to warm the body with things like ginger, cinnamon, or garlic (Dr. Axe ). Dr. Axe , a doctor of

chiropractic and natural medicine, was experiencing digestive problems and being thoroughly

trained in medicine (and practicing intensely) he ensured a diet that was filled with helpful foods

for digestion in order to help alleviate his digestive issues. He even looked further into things

like bone broth to heal the lining of his gut and found some solace in the results, but not to the

degree he was seeking. He then turned to an Isreali doctor practicing medicine derived from

ancient China and helped him discover that the root problem was, in fact, Dr. Axe’s liver . The

stress and product, frustration, were directly effecting his GI tract - in turn, by learning to control

and limit his destructive emotions, and adding some things to his diet, for his liver instead of his

intestines, he was able to create an environment where he body could rebalance itself.
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The approach to healing is one of the main reasons that Chinese medicine should be used

more widely - many majority world countries have general populations in which access to

modern medicine, even medications as simple as pain or high blood pressure, is extremely

difficult to find. In a study done by the Center for Global Development, it was found that in

countries that are low-income or middle-income are paying up to twenty to thirty times what

people in, for instance, the United States are paying (Silverman et al. 8). If treatment using local

herbs, local foods, and other Chinese methods were used, exploited peoples would have an

exponentially higher chance of getting better and maintaining that state. In places like rural

China, traditional medicine is preserved and practiced frequently as Western medicine is “ costly

and inaccessible. Herbal remedies, acupuncture and other methods are low-cost and meet the

needs of the people”(Ying). Healthcare and prices for treatments within hospitals and out-patient

sources are one of the most debated things within the United States as many people are unable to

pay bills or continually purchase drugs needed to regulate bodily function irregularities. If the

country with the highest GDP, and overall is one of the top ten richest countries in the world,

struggles to monetarily keep up with costs of healthcare, it can only be assumed what worse a

situation those outside of the top percent of income are experiencing. Though, the worldwide

financial problems that arise due to Western medicine only make it more clear that Chinese

medicine must be incorporated more regularly and that individually the decision should be made

to have a doctor of natural medicine as the primary care provider.

Many hesitations regarding Chinese medicine can be put to rest as it is by definition

“scientific”. According to the Oxford dictionary, science is “the intellectual and practical activity

encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural

world through observation and experiment” (Oxford University Press). Both modern and ancient
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medicine are tested through experimentation and both have been proved - why is it that Chinese

medicine is then discredited? It has been used on patients for longer than Western medicine,

proving through both “observation and experiment” that it creates pleasing results. Aspects of

Chinese medicine are started to be further explained in terms that most left-brained, analytical

people can accept. Qi, for example, is able to be associated with the adrenals, thyroid hormones,

and testosterone (Axe 16:00). Acupoints are becoming standardized with anatomical terms, such

as MS1, by the World Health Organization. Formulaic names are being given to traditional

herbal mixtures in order to help make them more accessible, usable, and comprehensive for

Western practitioners. The formula proposition consists of the “Herb(s) in Latin botanical name

+ Efficacy (or Target organs) + Preparation forms (pill, tablet, decoction, powder, etc.) + Number

of herbal materials (number of constituents in a particular formula)”. The first two, hyphenated

botanical names, are based on the toxicity level and therapeutic effectiveness, for example,

Cimicifugae-Moutan-GI-Analgesics-PD (5) is given the name because the “ Cimicifugae has the

largest dose and its drug property is of the high-leveled type without any significant toxicity” and

the Moutan radix has a high dose and middle-level drug properties. The “GI” stands for

Gastro-Intestinal Tract, which is the area of the body that the formula was specifically made for.

The “Analgesics” simply indicates this mixture is to relieve pain while the “PD” tells the form

that the mixture should be taken: by powder. Lastly, the “5” indicates that there are five herbs in

the mixture (Chang and Yi). Dr. Axe taught in his podcast that checking the tongue is a main way

of diagnosis for eastern medicine doctors: swelling in back indicates the problem lies within the

kidneys and adrenals; white coating on whole tongue is likely candida with problems in the

pancreas, stomach, and spleen; if the tip of the tongue is red it is indicative of heart and probably

sleep problems; if it is blue there is a circulation issue; and if there are bumps and ridges on the
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side of the tongue or a yellowish tint, it points to the liver being a source of problems.

Healthline.com, a website run by over 150 medical professionals, verifies the linking between

the white coating and candida problems.

When it comes to Christianity and Chinese medicine it seems there is little to no

intersectionality, yet when considered critically, there is commonality to be found in their intent.

Many Christians are hesitant to deeply dive into hard questions for fear of their faith being

shaken, yet this caution is unneeded as God who has created everything supplies an answer to all

questions within his word and continually makes his presence known within secular contexts as

well. Christianity repeatedly proves its soundness, perhaps to an even greater degree, when

challenged as it comes out as the victor everytime: examples include the theories surrounding the

creation of the world, the inquiry of evolution, the complexity of DNA, etc. Francis Schaeffer, an

American theologian and philosopher, explained that “the ancients were afraid that if they went

to the end of the earth they would fall off … But once we understand that Christianity is true …

we can pursue any question and can be sure that we will not fall off the end of the earth” (Ying).

With this as the understanding, it frees up the space to look into these two subjects hindrance and

reservation free.

It is essential to realize that the practice of traditional Chinese medicine is able to be

separated from the common worldview associated with it. Like many theories, including those

found in the foundations of modern Western medicine, while Chinese medicine did have a innate

spiritual philosophical start, it has not maintained religion as its basis. For instance, the yin and

yang describe a relationship that requires balance (of hot and cold, coolness and heat, stillness,

and movement), it can be applied to the body without applying it to the world. It is a theory that
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is neither rejected or accepted by the Bible similar to quantum mechanics (Ying), etc. Christian

acupuncturist, Brian Carter, noted that “since the 1950s the Chinese have boosted, moved and

anchored qi without spiritual overtones” (Carter). Due to the lack of attachment to a religion,

there is a wide array of beliefs that Chinese practitioners hold to - including Christianity. A

professor at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Z'ev Rosenberg, is a traditionalist,

orthodox Jew, said that he feels that “professional Chinese medicine doesn't present any

problems” (Carter). In fact, he states that “the lifestyle of Chinese medicine enriches” his Jewish

practices and that his spiritual outlook equally enhances the former. As an orthodox Jew,

Professor Rosenberg lives his life according to the Old Testament, an integral part of the Bible,

and his conservatism runs parallel to that of Christians. He sees the ancient practice of medicine

as a gift and something to be used to its full potential as it is a gift from God. Furthermore, as

TCM does not conflict with Christian beliefs, it can and should be used as a means of reaching

out to people of different cultures instead of presenting another obstacle to the gospel.

Medicine is inherently a gift that God has given mankind as a tool to try to mend the sin

that haunts the human race since the fall. Levitical law provides strict protocols for the sick in

order to restore them and the apostle Luke of the New Testament was known to have been a

doctor. This being said, “worldly” efforts of medicine have been used by Christians over

centuries in order to minister and imitate the heart and character of Jesus Christ. The first

hospital for people other than royalty, gladiators, and those of high positions, was started by a

Christian monk who practiced the surrounding communities’ way of practice , Greek or

Hippocratic medicine (Ying). Dr. Lai Pak Wah, the Vice Principal of the Bible Graduate School

of Theology, explains that “TCM is a secular practice and the underlying philosophy is merely a

different way of understanding the world”, similar to the Hippocratic secular practice of
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medicine. Simply because something is associated with a worldly idea does not mean God did

not create it not that it is innately bad: ex. Tie Guanyin, or Iron Goddess of Mercy, has a

“Buddhist-sounding name [that] does not, in any way, change its properties or nutritional value

as green tea” (Ying). By familiarizing Christian practitioners, particularly, with TCM it creates a

space for better cultural understanding that can lead to more meaningful and intentional

ministering. Reverend Moses Pi, a certified Doctor of Chinese Medicine, worked with Bethel

Community Services to run a clinic offering services for exceedingly low prices as a means of

evangelizing those that may feel threatened or shunned by Western Christians.

Chinese medicine should be more frequently implemented in patients’ care plans because

it is scientific and does not go against the Chrsitiain doctrine as there are many practicing doctors

that follow Christ and encourage this form of medicine. If it undeniably helps restore health to

God’s people, then it should not be discarded or ignored.

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Works Cited

Carter, Brian. “Is Chinese Medicine a Religion?” Acupuncture Today - The Leading Provider

of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine News and Research Information in the

World - TCM - Find an Acupuncturist, Acupuncture Today, 1 Aug. 2003,

https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=28253.

Fergusson, Andrew. “Acupuncture - a Christian Assessment.” Christian Medical Fellowship -

Cmf.org.uk, Christian Medical Fellowship,

https://www.cmf.org.uk/resources/publications/content/?context=article&id=759.

Huat, Tan Cheng. “Christians and TCM.” Breaking Christian News: World, Business, and

More | The Gospel Herald, The Gospel Herald, 24 May 2011,

https://www.gospelherald.com/article/opinion/47211/christians-and-tcm.htm.

Lagos, Tess, director. YouTube, YouTube, 8 July 2020,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAJoItPn5g.

Silverman, Rachel, et al. “Tackling the Triple Transition in Global Health Procurement.”

Center For Global Development, 17 June 2019,

www.cgdev.org/better-health-procurement.

UNESCO. “Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》 Compendium of Materia Medica).”Ben Cao

Gang Mu (《本草纲目》 Compendium of Materia Medica) | Silk Roads Programme

,

en.unesco.org/silkroad/silk-road-themes/documentary-heritage/ben-cao-gang-mu-bencaog

angmu-compendium-materia-medica.
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Wah, Lai Pak. “Should Christians Use TCM?” Salt&Light, 7 July 2021,

https://saltandlight.sg/faith/should-christians-use-tcm/.

Wang, Yongyan. “The Scientific Nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Post-Modern

Era.” Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences, vol. 6, no. 3, 13 Sept. 2019, pp.

195–200., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcms.2019.09.003.

Yi, Yeong-Deug, and Il-Moo Chang. “An Overview of Traditional Chinese Herbal Formulae

and a Proposal of a New Code System for Expressing the Formula Titles.”

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, Oxford University

Press, 1 Sept. 2004, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC516452/.

Ying, Tan Huey. “Demystifying Chinese Medicine.” Salt&Light, 24 Aug. 2018,

https://saltandlight.sg/faith/demystifying-chinese-medicine/.