The paper reviews systematically the main ancient medical books with the origin literature included on acupuncture prescription. It is found that the origin literature with acupuncture prescription in successive dynasties mainly focuses on Qin-Han and Jin-Yuan Dynasties. In Jin, Tang and Song Dynasties, as well as Ming and Qing Dynasties, the literature mainly records the experience of medical masters in the previous dynasties. By taking "headache" and "retention of urine" as examples, the origins on the literature of clinical acupuncture prescription are explored, the distribution rules and characteristics are summarized. Moreover, the evidences and evaluation method of quality grading were explored on the ancient books with the origin literature of acupuncture prescription involved.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Books ; China ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prescriptions

As a discipline, the independent knowledge system of acupuncture-moxibustion has been established in - Dynasties, while the education and management institutes have tended to be formalized since Northern and Southern Dynasties and continue to late imperial period. In the period of the Republic of China, acupuncture-moxibustion discipline began to be constructed intentionally, and the knowledge system, education institutes and institution have changed significantly with the characteristics of modern science. Now acupuncture has fully met the conditions of modern subjects. The study of the history of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline needs the perspective of internal and external history integration, focusing on the differences from academic history and educational history. In addition, four important topics in the current research of the history of acupuncture-moxibustion discipline are suggested: the relationship between acupuncture- moxibustion discipline and related disciplines, scientific value and technology philosophy, international recognition and branch disciplines.
Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Moxibustion ; history

History of Medicine ; History, Ancient

To sort out and summarize the evaluationmethods on the efficacy by acupuncture and moxibustion in ancient literature. The evaluation methods by ancient medical experts could be divided into two categories: one is according to the change of patient's conditions before and after treatment, including the subjective symptoms, the information getting from the four examination methods in TCM; the other is according to the characteristics of different interventions. For example, evaluating acupuncture by the "arrival of
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/history* ; Bloodletting ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion

"Sinking requires moxibustion", a sentence coming from : ), is one of the basic principles of moxibustion treatment. Sinking of vessel and sinking of are the two primary recognitions for the word "sinking" in ancient and modern. This paper organizes all related references comprehensively and illustrates the meaning of "sinking" in context with the expectancy of helping readers understand the classic original accurately.
Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Moxibustion

Except the complete literature of , Tianhui medical slips unearthed in Chengdu also include a part of literature document on meridian, which was seriously damaged. Both of them were found in the same box together with . The title of the document chapter was not found in the residual medical slips. By investigated the textual content, it was discovered that such medical slips were different from the Mawangdui silk books, i.e. and , of Zhangjiashan bamboo slips of Han Dynasty, as well as in Tianhui medical slips. But, the sentences in description are similar to the sentences of in (), therefore, this residual slips was named as () by the collator. In the paper, by the comparison of this residual slip chapter with the unearthed literature document on meridian as well as in , the origin and evolution of meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine in the Qin and Han dynasties were explained. By taking it as an example, the construction process of classical theory of traditional Chinese medicine was explored.
Acupuncture ; history ; Books ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians

Nanwuweizi( Schisandrae Sphenantherae Fructus) and Wuweizi( Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) have long-term history of use as common traditional Chinese medicines since the Eastern Han Dynasty( AD.25-220 year).However their information are always confused in ancient literature because they were both used as " Wuweizi". Nanwuweizi and Wuweizi are faced with problems such as confused distribution of producing areas,unclear source plants and efficacy characteristics,which limit modern resource development and application. Based on ancient literatures of materia medica,this study conducted a systematic review from several aspects,i.e. the name,distribution of producing areas,source plants,efficacy characteristics and processing of the two medicines in ancient time. This study clarified five main aspects,as following,ancient production areas and corresponding modern distribution areas; source plants used for medicinal purposes in ancient time; application period and application scope; efficacy characteristics in clinical application;processing method. This study provides a reference for evaluating the quality and for their clinical application and reasonable development of Nanwuweizi and Wuweizi.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Herbal Medicine/history* ; History, Ancient ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; Schisandra

Forsythiae Fructus( Lianqiao) is classed from near-mature fruit and hyper-mature fruit,which are named as Qingqiao and Laoqiao,respectively. This article was based on the different views of which was better,Qingqiao or Laoqiao. Acorrding to the naming,varieties,habitat,harvesting and processing,used parts,medicinal properties and clinical efficacy,the herbalogical study was carried out. The results showed that Lianqiao had been sourced from the areial part of Hypericum ascyron and H. erectum of Clusiaceae before Tang Dynasty. Beside the former,and the fruit of Forsythia suspensa of Oleaceae was newly used as Lianqiao during the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty. The later had been the only origin of Lianqiao since the Song Dynasty. With the change of the medicinal varieties,the habitats of Lianqiao has also changed. The varieties of Clusiaceae were mainly produced in the Yellow River Basin from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty. After the Song Dynasty,they were produced in the south of the Yangtze River. The variety of Oleaceae was mainly produced in Shanxi,Henan,Shandong,Shaanxi,and northern Sichuan from the Tang and Song Dynasties. Currently,Shanxi and Henan have the largest output. Traditionally,there were two commercial varieties including Qingqiao and Laoqiao of Lianqiao based on the harvesting time. In traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) theory,Lianqiao removes evil heat and relieves toxicity,removes swelling and resolves enlarged nodes. Accroding to the effects of Lianqiao,Qingqiao was considered to be better than Laoqiao in TCM clinic. The modern research on main medicinal constituents and pharmacodynamic effects also confirmed the above mentioned facts. This paper can provide literature support for the rationalities of Qingqiao's mainstream medication and assay standard of Lianqiao in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history* ; Forsythia/classification* ; Fruit ; History, 15th Century ; History, Ancient ; History, Medieval ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Trauma and the need of medical care exist since the beginning of human history. This research is aimed to identify and analyze trauma in antiquity. After a review of bibliography, the first reports of trauma (in Europe) were found in the Greek Epics of Homer. The analysis of these texts showed that injury could be caused to any part of the human body. The main cause of trauma was primarily participation in wars (178 cases), and then participation in sports (6 cases) and other activities (6 cases). This study identified a total of 190 injuries in both Homer epics. The more serious injuries, many of which proved fatal, were observed from participation in military activities.
Athletic Injuries ; history ; Greece ; Greece, Ancient ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Military Medicine ; Warfare ; Wounds and Injuries ; history

Chinese tongue diagnosis was initially developed to quickly and efficiently diagnose and prescribe medicine, while at the same time allowing the doctor to have minimal contact with the patient. At the time of its compiling, the spread of Yersinia pestis, often causing septicaemia and gangrene of the extremities, may have discouraged doctors to come in direct contact with their patients and take the pulse. However, in recent decades, modern developments in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as the spread of antibiotics in conjunction with the advancements of microbiology, have overshadowed the original purpose of this methodology. Nevertheless, the fast approaching post-antibiotic era and the development of artificial intelligence may hold new applications for tongue diagnosis. This article focuses on the historical development of what is the world's earliest tongue diagnosis monograph, and discusses the directions that such knowledge may be used in future clinical research.
China ; Diagnosis, Differential ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; history ; Plague ; diagnosis ; history ; microbiology ; therapy ; Tongue ; chemistry ; Yersinia pestis ; physiology