ancient chinese medical book discovered

[uki]

just caught this today...

The treasured book of "Acupoint Therapy by Hua Tuo" has been handed down in Hua's family. An ancient medical book on acupoint treatment was recently uncovered in China. The book, written 2,000 years ago by the miraculous healer Hua Tuo, has been passed down in the Hua family, according to Hua Tuo’s 62nd generation descendent Hua Quanbing.

Recorded in the book are acupuncture points therapies and other medical remedies for bone and joint injuries and diseases. The remedies are based on the traditional theories of yin-yang and five elements, reflecting the traditional Chinese concepts that emphasize the unification and harmony between mind and body.

Hua Quanbing, graduate of Yale University, said he received the family heirloom from his grandfather in 2001. However, he was not interested in Chinese medicine and did not touch it until 2008 when he searched for a prescription for a Japanese friend suffering from sciatica. Astonishing even to himself, the friend recovered in five days. The friend asked about the book, and offered a high price for it.

Realizing the potential value of the book for the first time, Hua refused the offer and started to study the book himself in February 2009. Visits to his grandfather’s hometown Zhejiang Province revealed that his grandfather had cured many people with the help of the book.

Hua said the book was written by Hua Tuo and a martial art expert name Zhou Longfei. Zhou, the village elders said, was a master of acupuncture and often helped Hua Tuo to anesthetize patients with acupuncture techniques before surgeries.

Each generation in the Hua family copied the book when they inherited it. His grandfather generation had the book handwritten by the best calligrapher at that time.

The book has a sister volume that is unfortunately missing, Hua said

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17982/

[chusauli]

Yes, the missing original text called Zhong Cang Jing...passed down when Hua Tou was awaiting execution.

Honestly, I take these with a grain of salt...

It would be great if it were true, but why did they need 5 days to "cure" the sciatica? 1 treatemt and you can see effects immediately. It also sound slike this descendant ios not an acupuncturist.

[GeneChing]

Actually, this article is nearly three years old, but an Epoch Times version is getting reposted on facebook like it's something new. It's like those obituaries that recirculate long after some celebrity has died. Don't people read what they post?

Nevertheless, this will sit well here.

12 MAY, 2014 - 22:20 APRIL HOLLOWAY
Ancient bamboo medical books uncovered in China belonged to legendary Bian Que

Last year, archaeologists unearthed 920 bamboo strips at a construction site in the south-western city of Chengdu in China, containing recipes for treating ailments that date back 2,000 years. The bamboo strips, which were once widely used as a writing material, were reportedly found along with other relics of the Western Han Dynasty, which came to power in 260 BC. Archaeologists speculated that the traditional Chinese remedies may have been written by the successors of Bian Que, reported to be China’s earliest known physician. Now further testing has confirmed that the texts were written by Bian Que himself, according to a news report in ecns.cn. Translation work has also revealed the remarkable contents of these ancient medical manuscripts.
Experts say the works are based mainly on studies of determining disease by taking the patient's pulse. Other practices mentioned include internal medicine, surgery, gynaecology, dermatology, ophthalmology as well as traumatology. In addition, 184 tiles are related to the medical treatment of horses, considered by the experts as one of the most important veterinarian works in ancient China.
The bamboo strips were found, along with many other precious relics, within four Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 24 AD) tombs located in the town of Tianhui. Among the finds were four models of looms, nine medical books, 50 inscribed wooden tablets, 240 lacquer wares, jewellery, and tomb figures. Out of the nine medical books, some have been verified to be the long lost medical treatises written by the physician Bian Que. In addition, archaeologists also uncovered a 14-centimeter long figurine with major acupoints marked out. It is believed to be a key to deciphering the origin of acupuncture treatment.


The figurine with acupoints marked out. Credit: ecns.cn

According to Chinese legend recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, Bian Que was gifted with remarkable abilities from a deity. The story states that he was given a packet of medicine which gave him the ability to see through the human body. He thereby became an excellent diagnostician with his x-ray like ability. It is said that he pioneered pulse-taking, used anaesthesia and even performed an organ transplant.
One legend stated that once, while visiting the state of Guo, Bian Que saw people mourning on the streets. Upon inquiring what their grievances were, he got the reply that the heir apparent of the lord had died, and the lord was in mourning. Sensing something afoot, he is said to have gone to the palace to inquire about the circumstances of the death. After hearing of how the prince "died", he concluded that the prince had not really died, but was rather in a coma-like state. Using his acupuncture, he was said to have brought the prince back to consciousness. Prescribing the prince with medicine, the prince healed within days.
Whether there is factual basis to the legends or not, Bian Que is known to have been a remarkable physician who was centuries ahead of his time. The discovery of his ancient remedies is an incredibly rare and important find.
By April Holloway