Shen-nong

Back in 1973, in Mawangdui, China, three tombs from the Han dynasty were discovered. The first belonged to an aristocrat named Lady Dai, an unfortunate co-incidence of name that has probably caused much confusion amongst American tourists looking for that other one, and the second and third contained the others of the Dai family. Also discovered were many great treasures of Chinese society and science, including the earliest known example of a written pharmacology. I can't help but wonder if it was as difficult to read as whatever language that doctors use on prescriptions these days. Anyway, it illustrated the great age of Chinese traditional medicine, which like much Chinese science and culture can be traced back to roots beginning between four and five thousand years ago. We've all heard about, and in some cases experienced, acupuncture, one of the best-known disciplines in Chinese health care and the one most commonly practiced in the west. But aside from a vague idea that it calls for sticking needles into people, a lot of westerners don't know much more and are, of course, often counseled by their medical practitioners to avoid believing in "alternative" treatments. We may have an even vaguer idea about Chinese herbal remedies, but unless we're in or near to an established Chinese community, that's the extent of our knowledge. So this is an interesting site covering the history and practice of TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and it's one of a trio of sites which promote the practice, as well as the products involved and the practice of care (see: http://www.icm.com.hk/). It's well presented and packed with information, including both the western and Chinese descriptions and definitions of a wide range of illnesses, and traditional cures, ingredients, foods and tonics. Whilst you may not care for some of the dietary recommendations - I couldn't see myself settling down to a bowl of sea horses and animal testicles - and you may be concerned that despite assurances, endangered species are still sought for medical purposes by the Chinese themselves, you should come away from this site much better informed about this very different form of health care. Chinese medicine is directed largely at preventing illness, hence much more attention is paid to sensible, healthy lifestyles and diet than here in the west, where we seem to focus a lot less on health education and more on fixing up already-sick people. So there will always be contention between the two systems, but there are also many potentials for them to become complementary. If a bowl of boiled animal testicles might cure me where my local doctor couldn't, would that be too much to swallow?