Miao medicine

Author: Lu Kemin, Wang Furong (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The Miao ethnic group is a historically long-standing and populous minority. Due to various historical reasons, they have undergone a prolonged migration process of over 1,700 years, moving from the lower reaches of the Yellow River to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Historically, the Miao people did not establish their own government, and no medical system records documented in their own ethnic literature have been discovered. However, they possess a unique theoretical system: in medical theory, there are two main principles and five meridians; in disease theory, there are 36 major syndromes, 72 minor illnesses, 108 small symptoms, and 49 transformations; in pathological theory, there are the theories of Qi, blood, and water; and in pharmacology, there is the distinction between cold and hot medicines. Miao medicine has developed into a self-contained system. The book is divided into three parts: General Introduction, Miao Medical Syndromes, and Miao Medicinal Plants. It covers Miao medicine, with the Miao Medical Syndromes section including 206 major syndromes and 408 minor conditions, and the Miao Medicinal Plants section listing 330 commonly used varieties. Over 2,400 commonly used terms and vocabulary related to Miao medicine and medicinal plants have been compiled and standardized. In addition to the color illustrations of Miao medicinal plants, the book contains over 1 million words in total, making it a practical and comprehensive guide to Miao medicine.