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Chinese therapy
began over 2,000 years ago, in the era of the Warring Empires. It was
a time when China was divided into many clashing fiefdoms and kingdoms.
With the endless disputes between these regions, it is no wonder that
a search for solutions to end the strife was carried out. The area of
medicine and cures were an important aspect of this search for solutions.
Two schools
of thought - Confucianism and Taoism - expressed mutual views on harmony
and how it was to be achieved. Harmony was interpreted as the interaction
of opposite forces, such as the adjustment of human behavior to ecological
and social conditions. If harmony was interfered, the disorder would then
result in social or physical illness. At a time when little was known
on subjects of human anatomy and physiology, the theories of harmony provided
points of reference towards the rising of the medical field in ancient
China.
 Traditional
Chinese medicine is often criticized as primitive and futile. Most foreigners
relate acupuncture to the Chinese style of treatment, which is partly
the case, but not necessarily accurate. Traditional Chinese medicine entails
more than just acupuncture. The knowledge of remedies is an important
factor. Chinese doctors treat patients with numerous types of massages
and chiropractic, as well as breathing and movement therapies. Taijiquan
(shadow-boxing) and qigong (breathing therapy) are examples of the latter.
In the streets
of Hong Kong, rows of herbal shops and Chinese pharmacies sell herbs and
produce that make equally effective remedies for certain illnesses and
diseases. For example, giou qize, a small and oval-shaped fruit, carmine
red with a rather bitter taste is used to relieve congestion of the liver
and for getting rid of anger.
In traditional
Chinese pharmacies, there are undue amounts of animals, insects, and vegetables.
Birds eggs, snakes wound up in spiral shapes, dried monkeys, toads, tortoises,
centipedes, grasshoppers, dried fish, octopus, stag antlers, rhinoceros
horns, and testicles and penises of various unfortunate and often endangered
animals can be found in these pharmacies. Besides that, thousands of herbs,
blossoms, roots, berries, mushrooms, and fruits are also available. All
traditional Chinese medicine shops are well-stocked with ginseng roots,
dried or immersed in alcohol and often shaped like a human figure.
Acupuncture,
a common form of cure for physical ailments, is based on sticking needles
into the renzhong point, which is between the top lip and nose. These
clinics are typically similar to the normal Chinese pharmacies. In fact,
sometimes the two combine to provide both services.
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