The importance of the Classics in the Transmission of Chinese Medicine to the West

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of the classical texts (Neijing and Nanjing) in the transmission of Chinese medicine – in particular acupuncture – to the West. This is presented in the following sections: A short historical overview of acupuncture practice in the UK; Philosophy of health and nourishing life (Yang sheng养生); The body as a complex system; Mind-body connections and the future of medicine and the problem of qi (气).

Keywords

• chinese medicine
• classical texts
• philosophy of medicine
• uk