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Alternate
Systems Of Healing
ANCIENT
MEDICINE : CHINESE AND GREEK
Chinese
According
to the ancient Chinese system of philosophy, the human body is governed
by Chi, which can loosely be translated as the 'Life Force'.
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The Chi is made up of the Yin and the Yang - the feminine and
masculine principles - that in perfect balance ensure health,
peace and well being.
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Any imbalance between the two causes disease.
- As
early as 2700 BC, the complicated system of Acupuncture had identified
pressure points in the human body that were considered crucial
for the healing process. By manipulating these pressure points,
ancient Chinese physicians could treat the most complicated of
diseases.
Greek
- Ancient
Greek medicine (circa 450 BC) is synonymous with the name of Hippocrates,
who is deemed to be the father of modern medicine.
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Hippocrates based his study and his practice of medicine on logic,
reasoning and scientific experimentation.
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For the first time in the ancient world medicine was separated
from religion, philosophy and superstition. He recorded all his
theories and observations in a series of books, which are now
held sacred by the practitioners of modern medicine all over the
world.
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From about 6th century BC, many important developments were made
in the fields of surgery, orthopaedics, opthalmology and obstetrics
in Greece. Greek surgeons using various types of knives, syringes
and forceps as surgical tools. Although there is a school of thought
that believes that transfer of similar knowledge from India through
the trade connections cannot be ruled out entirely.
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