Traditional Uygur Medicine Prospers in China
From Natural Healthline by Peter Barry Chowka |
The medicine is Uygur, and it originated in West China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). It is still practiced in the region today. Uygur medicine is one of the four major Chinese medicine systems, along with Chinese, Tibetan, and Mongolian traditional medicines.
According to the Xinhua story, the actions of the central government in Beijing "will ensure that traditional Uygur medicine continues to enjoy the vigorous growth in Xinjiang's Uygur Autonomous Region that it has witnessed in the past few years."
Recently, the government of Xinjiang, increasingly aware of the fact that it is the only region in China where Uygur medicine is practiced, according to the Xinhua story decided to take active measures to encourage it. With the help of the local government and health departments, 25 hospitals were built with 1,200 beds and more than 1,600 medical staff, all applying the unique form of Uygur medicine. Three pilot factories for traditional Uygur medicine production have been built in the Hotan area and Kashi city. Training schools and research institutes have also been set up to develop and spread Uygur medicine.
Uygur developed into a complete medical system with local and ethnic characteristics in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). According to the theory behind it, nature is composed of water, fire, earth, and air. Birth, aging, illness, and death of people are closely related to the four elements of the nature and to the temperament, fluid, spirit, and various forces in their bodies.
Academic circles of Uygur medicine offer training, including courses in orthopedics, dermatology, and the preparation of medicines, and clinical training centers have been established to disseminate the professional knowledge of the Uygur medicine. The academics have published more than 20 books and magazines, among them the "Encyclopaedia of the Traditional Uygur Medicine" and the "Diagnostics of the Traditional Uygur Medicine" which were awarded first and second prizes recently for Chinese Ethnical Publications.
At present, Uygur medicines, produced with modern equipment, have increased to more than 200 types, and 17 Uygur medicines have passed the state appraisal of new medicines and can be put into mass production.
Acupuncture.com |