23647661 the african roots of traditional chinese medicine

7/30/2019 23647661 the African Roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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BLACKHERBALS.COM

MICROCOSMIC SCIENCE

THE AFRICAN ROOTS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

TARIQ SAWANDI, M.H.

Before discussing the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, I thinkit would be interesting to the readers and students of African holistic medicineto know of the African influence of ancient Chinese healing theory.

The African role in early Asian civilization has been submerged anddistorted for centuries. Asia's African roots are well summarized in "AfricanPresence in Early Asia" by Ivan Van Sertima/Runoko Rashidi, and "African Presencein Early China" by James Brunson. The original oriental people were Black andmany of them still are Black - in southern China and Asia. The earliest occupants

of Asia were "small black (pygmies)" who came to the region as early as 50,000years ago. In "The Children of the Sun", George Parker writes "....it appearsthat the entire continent of Asia was originally the home of many black races andthat theses races were the pioneers in establishing the wonderful civilizationsthat have flourished throughout this vast continent." Reports of major kingdomsruled by Blacks are frequent in Chinese documents. Chinese historians describedthe Fou Nanese people of China as "small and black". The Ainus, Japan's oldestknown inhabitants have traditions which tell of a race of dark dwarfs whichinhabited Japan before they did. Historians Cheikh Anta Diop and AlbertChurchward saw the Ainus as originating in Egypt! There is archaeological supportfor this. In addition, ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia records the "Anu" (Ainu).The Anu are the same people who occupied Egypt for thousands of years. These samepeople are recorded to have made large migrations to the Asian continent taking

with them thousands of years of African-Egyptian knowledge and influence.

This explains the existence of man-made pyramids in China and Japan!China's pyramids are located near Siang Fu city in the Shensi province. TheChinese do not know how they got there, but it is believed that Africans of theNile Valley were the builders. (J. Perry: The Growth of Civilization, p. 106,107).

African Development of Ancient Chinese Medicine

Ancient Chinese medicine dates back to the Shang Dynasty founded by theAfrican-Mongolian King T'ang, or Ta. (1500-1000 B.C.). The Shang (or Chiang) andChou dynasties were credited with bringing together the elements of Chinese

medical theory. The Shang were given the name of Nakhi (Na-Black, Khi-man). Underthis Black dynasty, the Chinese established the basic forms of a gracefulcalligraphy that has lasted to the present day. The first Chinese emperor, thelegendary Fu-Hsi (2953-2838 B.C.) was a woolly haired Black man. He is said tohave originated the I Ching, or The Book of Change, which is the oldest mostrevered system of prophecy. It is known to have influenced the most distinguishedphilosophers of Chinese medicine and thought.

Many of the great concepts of Chinese medical science which was compiledduring the Shang period were later developed during the Han Dynasty (168 B.C. to 8A.D.). During this period, medicine reflected the philosophical ideas associated


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in the earlier Chou and Shang period. The Han began to fuse Shang medicalconcepts with outlooks from the philosophical ideas of Confucius (551-479 B.C.).Toward that end, they generated a scheme which explained all phenomena in relationto the whole. Under this system, all natural phenomena including the human bodyand the organs were organized within the system of "Yin" and Yang" and the "fiveelements", or what is also called the "five phases" theory.

Han Dynasty physicians created great classic works, such as the Pen-ts'ao

and the Nei Ching, or Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine (3rd CenturyB.C.), drawing its inspiration from more ancient sources rooted in Afro-centricthought. (See Diagram 1.)

DIAGRAM 1.

The Nei Ching, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, amedical book reportedly written in the second century, B.C. before the birth ofHippocrates, the co-called father of Western medicine. According to Chineselegend, the Nei Ching was created through a dialogue between the legendary rulerHuang-Ti and his court physician, Chi Po. From the Nei Ching, thousands of books

have been written about Chinese medicine.

Given these considerations, Chinese medicine echoes the logic of theAncient Egyptians, which viewed the universe as process-oriented in which thereare no boundaries between rest and motion, time and space, mind and matter,sickness and health. The Chinese looked at reality as a unified field, aninterwoven pattern of inseparable links in a circular chain called the Tao. Fromthe Tao flowed all things and events in nature: seasons, color, sound, organs,tissue, emotion, climate, matter and energy. (See Diagram 2.)

DIAGRAM 2

According to the Tao Te Ching, out of the One came the duality of Yin and Yang,and the immaterial breath (Chi), from which all physical matter and energy wascreated. This idea by Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu was borrowed from the earlierancient Egyptian concept of "Nu" (formless water)", the duality of Shu and Tefnut,

and the Nahab Kau (Tree of Life).

Yin/Yang Theory and the Concept of Chi

Chinese medicine places primary emphasis on the balance of "Chi" (Qi, or


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Ki), or Life energy constantly flowing throughout the body. There are 12 majormeridians, or pathways for chi, and each is associated with a major vital organ orvital function. These meridians form an invisible network that carries chi toevery tissue in the body. In health, it is properly balanced, but if it becomesunbalanced, the result is disease. It is the job of the Chinese doctor to restorethe balance using diet, acupuncture, and herbal formulas.

The Life energy comes in two, but complementary parts: Yin and Yang. TheYin nature includes the earth, moon, night, fall and winter, cold, wetness, thefeet, the female sex, tissue growth and a passive temperament. The Yangcounterparts are the heavens, the sun, day, spring and summer, heat, dryness,light, the head, the male sex, tissue breakdown, and an aggressive temperament.All individuals have both male and female polarities which consist of thecombinations of Yin and Yang, requiring the Chinese doctor to tailor treatments tothe individual's needs. (See Diagram 3.)

DIAGRAM 3.

The Chinese Five-element system was heavily influenced by the ancient Egyptian'sfour-element conception. Each element relates to one season, one color and twoorgan systems, and they interact in subtle, and complicated ways through theenergy of chi.

An important part of the Chinese doctor's evaluation is the overallrelationship between the Yin and Yang balance in the patient's body. This is"Chi". Furthermore, we must bear in mind that Yin and Yang are complementary andnot contradictory. There is no such thing as "good" and the other "bad". Rather,one seeks to find a harmony between the two energies. The ancient Egyptians firstput forward this idea, explained in terms of "Shu" and "Tefnut", the dualcomplementary energy that flows in the universe. It was later adopted by thefounders of Chinese medicine to distinguish between the Yin and Yang qualities ofa person's character, or the constitution of one's illness.

The application of Yin and Yang is an important step in the process ofmaking a traditional diagnosis and treatment.

Treating Conditions Through Chinese Medicine

Based on the assessment of Yin and Yang energy imbalance, the Chinese herbalistlooks for patterns of distress in the patient's pulse, as well as tongue, face,


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and physical characteristics. The pulse system is highly developed in Chinesemedicine, and consist of six positions on each wrist, and various pulse beats canbe determined by the trained practitioner. According to Traditional Chinesemedical text, the pulse corresponds to different organ networks, areas of thebody, meridians or energy channels, and physiological processes like breathing,digestion and elimination. These are thought to function in phase with Yin andYang principles and also the energies represented by the five elements: Earth,Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire. Some general diagnostic correspondence are:

YINYANG

InteriorExteriorFrontBack

Lower sectionUpper sectionBonesSkinInner organsOuter organsBloodChi (Life energy)Chronic

AcuteDeficiencyExcess

In general, the basic treatment principles are to tonify or stimulate in acase of deficient Yin or Yang energy, and to sedate or disperse when the energypattern is one of excess. Herbal formulas are then tailored to fit theindividual's need, or designed to fit the overall condition of the patient.

Special herbal formulas have been traditionally used for thousands ofyears by Chinese herbalists for such ailments as fever, colds and flu, headaches,

infections, menstrual problems, ulcers, high blood pressure, cancer, infertility,and diabetes to name a few.

For example, "Gan Mao Ling", a two thousand year old formula, has beentraditionally used for symptoms such as runny nose and scratchy throat. By takingsix tablets of this formula every three hours, one can stop a cold in its tractsbefore it can take root. Chinese remedies are very effective and versatile. Youcan purchase Chinese herb formulas in many forms such as pills, tablets, extracts,or bulk to overcome numerous conditions and diseases.

Today more than ever, Western doctors are bearing witness to the effectiveness


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of Traditional Chinese Medicine and are just beginning to realize that the Chinesemasters understood profound aspects of the human mind and body without the aid oftechnology or sophisticated medical devices. China is heir to the secret healingarts which has been passed down by ancient Khemit. I feel that it is time thatthe Afrocentric roots of Chinese medicine be made public which has been ignoredfor too long. This and future articles seek to correct this oversight.

References

1. The Destruction of Black Civilizations, Chancellor Williams.

2. The Missing Pages of History, Indus Khamit Kush

3. The Five Lost Books of Africa, Dr. Khallid Al-Mansour.

4. The Children of the Sun, George Parker.

5. African Presence in Early Asia, Ivan Van Sertima/Runoko Rashidi

6. The Way of Herbs, Michael Tierra

7. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, Dan Bensky and RandallBarolet.

8. African Medicine: A guide to Yoruba divination and Herbal Medicine:, Tariq M.Sawandi

(in press).

9. Chinese-Planetary Herbal Diagnosis, Michael and Lesley Tierra.

Copyright by Tariq Sawandi, M.H. May 2002. All rights reserved.

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See The Orisha Self-Assessment Diagnostic Charts, T. Sawandi 2001.

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