L2: Eastern Systems of Healing

Question 1

What are the similarities between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine?

Answer 1

• rejection of venisection - Pharmacoagents used in Chinese medicine have been adopted into Western medicine: rhubarb (diarrhea), iron (anemia), Cannabis sativa (sedation), chaulmoogra oil (leprosy), Ephedra vulgaris (asthma), Rauwolfia (HTN), ginseng

Question 2

What is Yin and Yang?

Answer 2

• Yin: dark element, femine, passive, down-ward seeking, night, water and earth - Yang: bright element, masculine, active, up-ward seeking, day, fire and wind - These are complementary opposites that are kept in balance for health

Question 3

What parts of Ayurvedic medicine are similar to Greco-roman medicine?

Answer 3

• Regimen: diet, lifestyle important - Humors: similar to idea of doshas, imbalance leads to illness - Hippocratic Corpus: similar to Charaka samhita

Question 4

Describe acupuncture and moxa/moxibustion.

Answer 4

• Acupuncture makes use of placing thin needles at within meridians and acupuncture points for the purpose of purging emerging and restoring yin / yang harmony - Moxibustion warms regions and acupuncture points with Moxa (plant) which is burned on acupuncture needles or directly on the skin. This is said to stimulate the circulation of the life force known as “chi.”

Question 5

What are the similarities between Ayurvedic medicine and Western medicine?

Answer 5

• surgery - branches of medicine - diet/lifestyle important

Question 6

What are the ancient texts that traditional Chinese medicine relies on?

Answer 6

• Nei Ching and Mo Ching

Question 7

How is traditional Chinese medicine similar / dissimilar to Greco-Roman medicine?

Answer 7

• Empedoclean elements are seen in Yin/Yang - Chinese rejected venisection - Actual body parts made up Greco-Roman anatomy, while anatomy in Chinese medicine was based on non-body parts, but perceived function of structure - Chinese medicine knew about pulse like Greek Herophilus (first person to study it)

Question 8

What does Ayurveda mean?

Answer 8

• knowledge of long life

Question 9

What diseases were early Ayurvedic practioners aware of?

Answer 9

• They were aware of up to 1200 diseases including “fevers”, TB, smallpox, etc.

Question 10

Was anatomical dissection allowed in the study of early Ayurvedic medicine?

Answer 10

• Hinduism prohits cutting dead, internal anatomy knowledge was scant. To overcome this, Susruta recommended sinking body in river for 7 days and separating structures with feather

Question 11

What is a dosha? What are the three in Ayurvedic medicine?

Answer 11

• A dosha is a principle. In Ayurvedic medicine, the three are: movement, transformation, lubrication/stability. They are similar to Greek “humors.” Illness is a result of loss of balance among the three doshas

Question 12

What are the basic tenets/history of Ayurvedic medicine?

Answer 12

• Ayurveda means knowledge of long life. - It is based on 4 important texts: Agnivesh tantra, Susruta samhita, Charaka samhita and the Asthanga sangraha. - Arose in India in remote antiquity (unknown when exactly) - Body functions as a result of three dosha (aka principles): movement, transformation and lubrication / stability. Dosha are sometimes called “humors” similar to Greek - Illness results from a loss of balance among three dosha - Have practioners in two classes: surgeons and physicians - 4 qualities of ayurvedic physicians: theoretical knowledge, clarity of reasoning, wide clinical experience and personal skill - 8 branches of medicine including surgery

Question 13

What are the basic tenets/history of traditional Chinese medicine?

Answer 13

• Unity of nature, yin-yang dualism and balance, theory of 5 phases, theory of systematic correspondences - Based on Nei Ching (aka bible of traditional Chinese healing) written by Emperor and his physician and Mo Ching (another text) - Anatomy based on interplay between non-body parts - Emphasis on sphygmology (study of pulse): understood blood circulation, heart importance - Rejected venisection - Disease is imabalance of yin and yang - Treatment restores harmony and includes: curing spirit, dietary management, acupuncture, pharmacotherapy and treatment of bowel/viscera/blood and breath

Question 14

Who is Charaka and what is the Charaka samhita?

Answer 14

• Charaka is a wandering religious student from ~ 300 BCE who was the first to describe digestion, metabolism, immunity. He theorized the three doshas. - Together with other authors, he authored a compilation (aka samhita) that includes: therapeutic medicine, treatment by drugs, modification of diet/lifestyes, describes more than 600 drugs, contains wise quotes and doshas.