 Chinese historians attribute the beginning of Chinese herbal medicine to the legendary emperor Shen Nong who reigned over 5,000 years ago. Shen Nong is credited with bringing agriculture to his people. Shen Nong became intrigued by the healing properties of the plants that he cultivated and began studying and testing various herbal remedies.
Since there was no written history in these ancient times, all of Shen Nong's observations were passed down by word of mouth. It was probably another 2,000 years before the findings of Shen Nong and those that followed in his footsteps were actually written down.
Shen Nong is also credited for developing the theory of "opposing natural forces" which would later play an important part in Taoist philosophy.
Almost 3,000 years later, Confucius was the first to really apply Shen Nong's theory of opposing forces. Confucius declared that it was man's responsibility to live a moral and just life, that by following a code of ethics and behavior, man could influence the opposing poles of good and evil that maintain the order of the universe. Gradually, the theory was expanded to describing everything in the universe as opposite poles "Yin and Yang" hot and cold, black and white, passive and aggressive and so on.
Lao Tzu translated Confucius' views of universal order into his own philosophy. Lao Ziu believed that man shouldn't interfere with fate, that the
universe should be allowed to follow its destined the path (Tao). Lao Tzu's theories became hugely popular, gaining many followers, and gathering
momentum until the religion called now known as Taoism was born. Despite Lao Tzu's basic theory of noninterference and allowing the natural order of events to take place, Taoists composed guidelines or a path (Tao), which when followed, eventually led to the "Great Tao" or the Absolute External.
Taoism became more than a religion, it became a blueprint of life. Taoists believed that man was a universe unto himself. Not only did a disciple of Taoism learn a moral code to follow to reach universal harmony but he also learned what foods to eat and what herbs to take to reach an internal harmony. Following the principles of Yin and Yang, hot and cold, Taoists began categorizing foods by their properties. They recommended "cold" foods such as fruit, vegetables, crab and fish to reduce "heat" in the body and "hot" foods such as fatty meats, eggs, spicy and fried foods to increase "heat" and vitality in the body. They soaked medicinal plants and herbs in alcohol, creating Yin and Yang, hot and cold, balancing tonics. These early
tonics are the roots from which evolved the pills, creams and potions that comprise the pharmacopoeia of traditional Chinese herbal medicine today.
Eventually, early Chinese herbalists expanded the Yin and Yang, hot and cold, concept to create a system of "Eight Entities." These Entities are composed of four pairs of "opposing forces" Yin and Yang, Cold and Hot, Deficiency and Excess and External and Internal.
In the The Eight Entities and The Organ Meridian System sections, you will find an explanation of the four pairs of Entities and the 12 Organ Meridian System that are the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chinese physicians also use another diagnostic system based on the Five Elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. For a fascinating look at how the theory of the Five Organ system has evolved from texts dating as early as 110 BC visit The Five Organ Networks of Chinese Medicine on ITM Online.
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References:
Reid, Daniel J., Chinese Herbal Medicine (Boston, Massachusetts; Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1993)
Teeguarden, Ron, Chinese Tonic Herbs (Japan Publications, Inc., 1992)
Kaptchuk, Ted, J., The Web Has No Weaver - Understanding Chinese Medicine (Chicago, Illinois; Congdon & Weed, Inc., 1983)
Beinfeld, Harriet and Korngold, Efrem, Between Heaven and Earth, A Guide to Chinese Medicine (New York, New York; Ballantine Books, 1991)
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