Archeological finds of the late Shang Dynasty (c.
1000 B.
C.
) include both acupuncture needles and divination bones on which were inscribed discussions of medical problems.
By the Han Dynasty (206 B.
C.
-220 A.
D.
), the basics of Chinese medical theory and practice were firmly in place.
Prominent among them were the concepts of yin and yang, the five phases, channel theory, various needling methods, a pharmacopoeia and a relatively sophisticated approach to therapy.
The concept of yin and yang is the basic root of all concepts within Chinese medicine.
Yin and yang are emblems of the fundamental duality in the universe, a duality which is ultimately unified.
The Chinese see that every manifestation, every function, and every aspect of our world has a dual nature.
There is day and night, up and down, low and high, male and female, etc.
Without one, the other can not exist.
This is literally "two sides of the same coin".
The character for yin translates as "shady side of the hill.
" The character for yang translates as "sunny side of the hill".
So, there are two different aspects of the same hill.
The Chinese assign qualities to yin and yang respectively and projected them to all levels of the cosmos through a system of correspondences.
Some are listed below: Yin Yang Earth Heaven Female Male Night Day Moon Sun Inward movement Outward movement Yin and yang are complimentary and not contradictory.
Nor is one regarded as "good" and the other as "bad".
The goal is to seek harmony between them.
This is the basis of Chinese medical theory.
Distinguishing between the yin and yang qualities of a person's constitution or character of one's illness is the major step in making a diagnosis.
Health is maintained as long as yin and yang are relatively balanced.
Once too far imbalanced, illness develops.
The role of the acupuncturist is to restore the balance and, thus, health.
In social and natural relationships the Chinese traditionally prize harmony above all.
Disease is viewed as disorder in the body and treatment is directed toward harmonization.
This can mean harmonizing the relationship between organs, acupuncture meridians or regions of the body.
This perspective allows Chinese medicine to address many chronic, debilitating conditions.
A very common example of this is the disharmony between the Liver and Spleen, which is often typified by a stressed, worn out person.
Whatever the particulars involved, the therapy is always to restore harmony, homeostasis and balance to the body system.