Characteristics of the concept of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine

In many people's impressions, Chinese medicine is used for internal treatment. However, many people believe that Chinese medicine is an ancient medical technique. As people become more and more accepting of Western medicine, they are neglecting Chinese medicine. In fact, this is just because people don’t understand Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine is quite useful. Here I will tell you some characteristics of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

First, "external treatment" is different from "external treatment method". "External treatment" is a broad concept, and its research scope includes both external treatment theory and external treatment clinical practice; it includes both external treatment-related drugs and related materials, instruments and tools. The concept of "external treatment" is relatively simple and only refers to the treatment method. On the other hand, "external treatment" can form an independent discipline, but "external treatment method" is only a component of this discipline.

Second, the "external" in external treatment is a relative concept rather than an absolute concept. It does not mean that all treatments from the outside are external treatments. Although simple injection of medication is a treatment from the outside, it is not external treatment. Although acupoint injection therapy is similar to it, it is an external treatment because of the different treatment mechanisms. The concept of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine is very broad, covering all treatment methods except oral administration and simple injection.

Third, the premise of external treatment with traditional Chinese medicine is that it must follow the basic principles of traditional Chinese medicine, or it can be used for scientific research or medical activities that follow the basic principles of traditional Chinese medicine. For example, if new materials, new technologies, and new methods such as sound, light, electricity, and magnetism are introduced into the field of external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, then these contents also fall within the scope of research on external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine.

Fourth, the theory of viscera and meridians is the theoretical basis of TCM external treatment. Without discussing viscera and meridians, TCM external treatment will be a "castle in the air" and will be difficult to gain a foothold.

Fifth, the concept of external treatment in traditional Chinese medicine is not fixed, but open. It can be continuously supplemented and revised with the advancement of science and technology and the development of the times, so as to maintain its vitality.

Sixth, TCM external treatment often involves dosage forms and the instruments used. Therefore, TCM external treatment has many intersections with modern medicine, pharmacology, biomedical engineering and other disciplines. The progress of these disciplines often brings breakthroughs to the development of TCM external treatment. This interdisciplinary intersection is an important source of new vitality for TCM external treatment. Referring to the concept of the definition of TCM diagnostic and treatment equipment in the "Opinions on the Development of TCM Diagnostic and Treatment Equipment" (the sixth draft) issued by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in April 2009, external treatment medical devices developed in accordance with the basic theories of TCM, or developed in accordance with the principles of modern science and technology but can be used for external treatment scientific research and medical treatment under the guidance of the basic theories of TCM, all fall within the scope of TCM external treatment research.

The above is about the efficacy and characteristics of external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine. In fact, sometimes people refuse it because they don’t understand it. This is why many people choose Western medicine, making it difficult to expand our traditional Chinese medicine. Also, Chinese medicine is relatively difficult to learn, so if you want to learn the essence of Chinese medicine, you must study it carefully, so that you can gain something.