Are the longevity and vitality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due
to its holistic approach? Indeed, Chinese medicine is not simply about
treating illness, but rather about taking care of the whole person --
body, mind, and spirit. According to an analysis of TCM's origins and
development by Lin Shi from Beijing Normal University and Chenguang
Zhang from Southwest Minzu University in China, traditional Chinese
medicine is profoundly influenced by Chinese philosophy and religion. To
date, modern science has been unable to explain the mechanisms behind
TCM's effects.
The study is published online in Springer's journal Pastoral Psychology, in a special issue² dedicated to the psychology of religion in China.
The essence of TCM lies in its foundation in spirituality, religion,
and philosophy, making it quite different from Western medicine and
leading it to be viewed by some as magical and mysterious. Chinese
medicine is an ancient discipline with a long developmental history and
is very much influenced by religion and spirituality. Shi and Zhang's
paper examines in detail six aspects of traditional Chinese medicine:
its history; its fundamental beliefs; spirituality in traditional
Chinese healing rituals; spirituality in the traditional Chinese
pharmacy; spirituality in health maintenance theories; and spirituality
of master doctors of traditional Chinese medicine.
This analysis shows, among other things, that the underlying premise
of Chinese medicine is that the mind and body of a person are
inseparable. To be in good health, a person must have good spirit and
pay attention to cultivating their spirit. Chinese doctors see "people"
not "diseases" and equate "curing diseases" with "curing people."
According to the authors: "Good health and longevity are what we
pursue. More and more people are concerned about ways to prevent disease
and strengthen their bodies, which is the emphasis of traditional
Chinese medicine. It pays attention to physical pains, and at the same
time is also concerned with spiritual suffering. Therefore, TCM can
teach people to be indifferent towards having or not having, to exist
with few desires and feel at ease, to keep the body healthy and the mind
quiet, and to achieve harmony between the body and the mind and then to
achieve harmony with the world and nature."
The special October/December 2012 issue of Pastoral Psychology,
guest-edited by Al Dueck from Fuller Theological Seminary, School of
Psychology, Pasadena, CA, and Buxin Han from the Institute of
Psychology, Beijing, brings together psychologists from China and the
United States for an exploration of the psychology of religion. It
discusses a wide range of topics on the psychology of religion in China
including historical perspectives; religious traditions; religion,
healing, and health; and spirituality and human development. This
extensive special issue is a testament to the recent emergence and
growth of psychology of religion as an academic field in China and to
the growing dialogue between Chinese and Western academics and
researchers in this field.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Springer Science+Business Media.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Lin Shi, Chenguang Zhang. Spirituality in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Pastoral Psychology, 2012; 61 (5-6): 959 DOI: 10.1007/s11089-012-0480-x
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