Similar to Western medicine, TCM also holds that the body has its own disease defense ability due to the existence of healthy energy (zheng qi). When the immune system functions normally, health can be maintained otherwise disharmony will occur and give rise to illness. Under normal circumstances, the body depends on the immune system to fight against various infections and to clear up harmful materials in order to keep a clean internal environment. ![]() Since then, it has abundant experience in various related aspects, with studies concentrating on wenbing, shanghan, liqi (pestilential evils) and measures of variolation (inoculation against smallpox) in the 16th century which was very progressive for the time. The dialogue clearly shows that TCM regards “healthy energy” as the general defense mechanism against infectious diseases. In chapter 72 of the Suwen (The Book of Plain Questions), when the Yellow Emperor asked about the seasonal epidemic diseases, his chief advisor Qi Bo answered that in order to defend against those diseases, one should always keep his healthy energy abundant, and the evils will not invade. However, TCM already knew about the theory and practice of immunology and infectious diseases from earlier dynasties. ![]() Although the terminology came later than Western medicine, their concrete context was different. “Plague” had been a common term used by ancient Chinese to refer to infectious diseases that affected a large population. In the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the documentary records for the Chinese word “immune” was first seen in the 18th century in the book Mian Yi Lei Fang (Formulas for the Immunity from Plague).
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