Dr. Shin Min-shik

The following is the first in a series of articles on alternative/ oriental medicine, written by Dr. Sin Min-sik.

The ancient oriental doctor perceived human beings as a microcosmos of the universe that surrounded them. They imagined themselves as a part of one unbroken wholeness, called Tao, a singular relational continuum within and without.

Oriental medical thinking grew up with the relationship of the human being and nature in body-mind-spirit. And so the system of examination, diagnosis and treatment for Oriental medicine is based on these natural processes. The concept of human health then follows laws inherent in the flow of the life 'Energy (Chi)' inherent in nature.

The existence of humanity and, in fact, all of nature is dependent upon this Chi (Qi). It is only by Chi that the planets move, the wind blows, the elements exist. It is only by Chi that human beings live and breathe. When Chi is flowing all of life's processes are in operation in a rhythmic and harmonious way. The Chi energy is the vital force in all of life, and the Tao is the path and method to sustain this pure Chi energy.

In watching the universe, the ancient Chinese saw that this energy could be spoken of in a dualistic way, a kind of brother ? sister team which is called Yin and Yang. In reality these two are one but one of the forces may be more or less apparent at a certain time. For instance, when night is upon us we do not at that moment experience the day, and yet the day emerges from the night. We tend to think of either one or the other of the opposites existing, rather than of both being preset with one aspect manifesting more than the other at a given moment. Yin Yang is not a dialectic of opposites clashing, it is the unity of two aspects of Chi energy whose continual movement revolves in a constant interplay of balance and harmony.

Like Yin and Yang, the five elements are further descriptions of the Chi energy as it goes through its cyclical transformations. Everything in life is made up of a mixture of these elements being ? wood, fire, earth, metal, water.

All phenomenon of the universe contain the energies of Yin and Yang through which the reason of ailments and the use of natural food and herbal medicine can be explained.

Updated: 03/18/1999