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Chinese
:
Chinese physicians believed that diseases result from imbalances
in two life forces, Yin and Yang, that flow through the body. Drugs
and other treatments were intended to restore this balance. Hundreds
of ancient herbal medicines, including iron for anemia, mercury
for syphilis, arsenic for skin diseases, and opium, are still used
in traditional Chinese medicine. Other Chinese medicines and techniques,
including acupuncture, are now commonly used in Western medicine.
Most Chinese medicine was based on a famous textbook, the Nei Ching,
written by Emperor Huang Ti between 479 and 300 bc. Chinese physicians
specialized in treating wounds, fractured bones, allergies, and
other diseases. They diagnosed patients by asking questions about
symptoms, diet, and previous illnesses, and by checking the patient's
pulse.
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