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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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