Classical Chinese medicine

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Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) is notably different than Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). CCM represents the medicine and its evolution through thousands of years.

During the early 1900's the evolution of CCM had developed the notion of germ theory: either oral or food born pathogens. Concurrently, the west also was developing the same notion with the invention of the microscope; which provided proof of germs (bacteria) existing on food or in body fluids (mucus from a sneeze for example).

In the 1930's the west came to China along with the microscope; proving both theories valid. However, the government at that time elected to abandon and outlaw the practice of CCM, under the guise that China didn't want to be left behind the scientific progress. For 30 years, CCM was forbidden in China. Several people living outside major cities did not have access to modern western hospitals, would be prosecuted by the government. In the 1960's Mao finally decided that the government could not continue to outlaw the use of CCM. Therefore, he commissioned the top 10 doctors (M.D.'s) to take a survey of CCM and create a standardized format for its application. This standardized form is now known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is what is taught in medical schools and practiced in China, most of Asia and Northern America. Unfortunately, with the standardization of TCM, the use of classic theories and evolution of new theories using CCM has come to a great halt, with no new development of theories. The only known exception to this is the development of CCM in Vietnam. The Classics of Chinese Medicine were used as a pragmatic guide in Hanoi during the 50´s where Dr. Van Nghi and collegues re wrote from the Classics, and their results, the Trung E Hok. This new classics was not edited according to political theory but developed by the experience brought about in treatment of disease. Students of Dr. Van Nghi continue to use Classical Chinese Medicine in their practice. Dr. Van Nghi was made the President of the First World Congress of Chinese Medicine in Bejing in 1988 in recognition of his work to save the ancient knowledge and not allow it to become lost in modern interpretation.

Recently however, there has been a resurgence in the interest in learning and practicing CCM. To learn CCM typically you must be part of a family lineage of medicine. This family lineage protects its knowledge and practice to ensure the prosperity of future generations. If for example, you knew the secret to cure all headaches, sharing that information with another, would threaten the future success of your lineage. In addition, much of the classical written material is written in a manner which is elusive, to dissuade and confuse novices from using or applying the theories incorrectly (for example, texts written without punctuation). Recently, there has been a resurgence in interest in CCM in China, Europe and United States, as a specialty.