Traditional Chinese medicine in the modern world

英倫聚焦

Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Modern World 現代世界的傳統中醫 撰文及考題設計 British Council 英協教育中心 Jen Wen 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯） 圖 美聯社

1 As a resident of Taiwan, when you get sick, there

up in Europe and America. TCM also includes

is the option of going to a western doctor, or you

acupressure massage, herbal medicine, acupuncture,

could go down a more traditional route - visiting a

and cupping.

traditional Chinese medicine doctor, also known as

住在台灣，如果生病了你可以選擇看西醫，或者

TCM. With its beginnings in China, it has slowly

循一個較傳統的途徑：看傳統中醫。這是一門發

grown and evolved over a few thousand of years,

源於中國，幾千年來緩慢演進的醫術；而在歐洲

拔罐是一項傳統中醫治療技術。

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with many TCM universities and practices popping

全球中央雜誌 2017.07

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

和美國，鑽研傳統中醫的大學與醫療院所如雨後

了黃花的根莖後中毒，來不及服用解藥，腸子破裂

春筍般創立。所謂傳統中醫，更包含了指壓按摩、

而死。然而，神農將其過去仔細蒐集記錄各種草

草藥、針灸、以及拔罐等技術。

藥、作物以及其療效等記錄加以彙整，著成《神農

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本草經》，成為傳統中醫的經典。

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The basic tenet of TCM is that when the body is at its healthiest, all the organs are working har-

Other important elements and theories of Chinese

moniously through the circulation of “qi” and the

medicine include the five elements (earth, wood, fire,

“meridians” that connect them together. Qi is the

water and metal), and yin and yang. TCM focuses

vital energy flow or active principle that forms all

on functional entities which regulate breathing,

living things, and the meridian system is the path

digestion and circulation. Therefore, when the body

through which the qi flows.

becomes ill or diseased it is perceived as being

中醫學的基本原則就是：當身體處在最健康的

caused by a disharmony between these entities

狀態時，五臟六腑透過「氣」的循環與運行氣血的

and the external environment. A typical TCM

「經絡」和諧運作。「氣」是形塑所有生命的重要

diagnosis seeks to determine patterns of underlying

能量流動或要素；而「經絡」則是氣運行所依循的

disharmony by measuring the pulse, observing

途徑。

the eyes, skin and tongue, as well as studying the

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sleeping, eating, and bathroom habits of the patient.

The beginning of what is known as TCM began

One can say that it is a holistic and all-encompass-

with an individual named Shen Nong (which can be

ing approach, as TCM strives to examine the body

literally translated into “God Farmer”). He is also

and organs as a whole instead of alleviating only

considered a deity or mythical sage from prehistoric

one symptom of an illness.

China. He is said to have taught agriculture to

其他傳統中醫重要的元素與理論還包括了金

the people, as well as the use of herbal medicine.

木水火 土的陰 陽五行學 說與針灸等 等。傳統中

According to some myths, Shen Nong was out

醫著重調節呼吸、消化與循環等的生理功 能單

collecting plants and roots, when he ingested the

位，所以當身 體 生 病 了，是 因 為 單位 間 或 與外

root of a yellow flower and his intestines ruptured

在環 境的不和 諧所致。典型的中醫 診斷經由把

before he could administer the anecdote. Shen

脈、視診眼、皮膚、舌頭，並且探究睡眠、飲食、

Nong’s detailed collection of notes concerning

如廁 習 慣 等，來判斷不 和 諧 的背 後 原因。傳 統

herbs, plants and their effects are recorded in the

中醫可說是講究整體 性與包 羅萬象的論述，將

Materia Medica, one of the foundation books of

人體、症狀與各器官視為一體，而非僅針對單一

TCM.

症狀治療。

所謂傳統中醫的起源，可追溯於史前時代的「神

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農氏」。他被視為史前中國掌管農作的神明。相傳

Local Chinese medicine doctor, David Edsall,

他將農業知識與草藥醫術傳授給人民。在某些傳

who graduated from Southwest Acupunct ure

聞軼事中，神農在一次採集菜莖作物過程中，食用

College in Boulder Colorado, gives some practical

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英倫聚焦

一名中醫師正為病人針炙，以減輕病人下背部的疼痛。

advice to ensure a balanced mind and body through

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vegetables and grains.

the summer. This season is associated with the heart

大衛艾德蕭，一位畢業於科羅拉多州的西南針

and the fire element, as it is the most yang (active,

灸大學的當地傳統中醫師，針對夏季心靈與身體

masculine) time of the year. Common issues that

間平衡提供一些實用建議。夏季通常和心、火元

arise are insomnia, lack of passion or joy in life, and

素相關聯，亦是一年期間陽氣最重的季節。一般

not being in harmony with what is in the present.

和心、火相關聯的症狀包含了失眠、抑鬱，以及和

The key point is to remain calm and joyful; the body

周圍的不協調。關鍵在 於維持放鬆與愉快的心

should be active but relaxed. During this season,

情；人體應當時常處於放鬆但機動的狀態，在夏

sleeping late and waking up early is ideal. As for

季，晚睡早起是理想的。飲食上的建議則是，食用

your diet, eat food that is slightly bitter and cooling.

稍帶苦味與清涼的食物。生食與熱炒食物皆可食

Raw foods can be eaten, as well as stir-fries.

用。夏天是個適合食用甜的水果、蔬菜與各種穀

Summer is also a good season for sweet fruits,

類的季節。

全球中央雜誌 2017.07

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

Key Words traditional Chinese medicine 中醫學 – a medical practice that was developed in China and uses a variety of methods to help balance the body, organs and qi. acupressure 指壓 – an alternative therapy in which manual pressure is used to stimulate particular point of the body that are considered point of energy. acupuncture 針灸 – a technique used in Chinese medic ine, where a thin needle is used to stimulate specific energy points in the body. meridians 經絡 – a traditional Chinese medicine

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concept where the life energy or “qi” flows through this path. agriculture 農業 – also known as farming, which is the activity of growing crops and raising animals in order to sustain life. ingest 攝取 – to put into the body by eating it. holistic 整體的 – a belief that parts of something are interconnected and must be treated or referenced as a whole (rather than separate). a l l - e n c o m p a s s i n g 包 羅萬象 的 – c o v e r i n g everyone or everything, comprehensive. insomnia 失眠 – inability to sleep.

雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions

Do the following statements agree with the information given? Choose: TRUE

if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE

if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this 1. The Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor is the most commonly seen doctor in Taiwan.

2. TCM includes the practices of acupuncture, acupressure, cupping and herbal medicine.

3. Western medicine targets the symptoms more, rather than healing the patient in a more holistic approach.

4. In Chinese medicine, when one is sick, it is because the organs are not in harmony with the environment around them.

5. During summer, it is better to sleep early and rise late.

What would be the best heading for each paragraph?

Answers:1. Not given 2. True 3. Not given 4. True A – Paragraph 5 B – Paragraph 3 C – Paragraph 1 D – Paragraph 2 E – Paragraph 4

A. Cool Advice for the Hot Summer B. TCM’s Humble Beginnings C. What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

D. To Qi…or Not to Qi? E. How is TCM special?

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5. False