Comments on Nomenclature in Traditional Chinese Medicine
by Kexin
Bao, L.Ac.
2712 San Gabriel Boulevard
Rosemead, CA 91770 U.S.A.
Tel.: (626) 288-1199
Fax: (626) 288-4199
Correctly naming a discipline can directly portray the object of study, clearly pointing out its essence, and presaging its future development. Carefully naming an independent discipline may provide the breakthrough necessary to establish its independence. Given the importance of nomenclature, the terminology being applied to the various branches of traditional Chinese medicine (T.C.M.) is disconcerting. Current usage of such terms as "Chinese medicine", "oriental medicine", "herb", "herbology" or "herbal medicine" and "acupuncture" in my view are improper. These terms are discussed in the present article for the purpose of defining their meaning more precisely.
1. Regarding "Chinese Medicine"
The traditional medicine of
T.C.M. is called "zhong yi xue" (phonetic transcription of Chinese
character, the same below) in Chinese. The Chinese characters "zhong yi
xue" and "zhong hua yi xue" both translate literally into the
English words "Chinese medicine". However, to refer to T.C.M. as
"Chinese medicine" has two shortcomings. First, "Chinese
medicine" fails to convey the rich "tradition" associated with
T.C.M.; and second, this translation leads to confusion by not distinguishing
between T.C.M. and modern Chinese medicine. Examples of the confusion
associated with the global term "Chinese medicine" include the following.
Currently, some books and journals published in English include "Chinese
medicine" in their titles; however, are concerned only with T.C.M. On the
other hand, another journal titled "Chinese Medical Journal" is
concerned only with modern Chinese medicine. Although the above titles
"Chinese medicine" suggest that they contain similar material, the
material in fact is quite different. In addition, some institutions with the
name "Chinese medicine" in fact are concerned only with T.C.M., not
modern Chinese medicine. Finally, an organization named "Chinese Medical
Association" is a society involved only with modern medicine in
Medicine in the broadest sense should include both modern medicine and
traditional medicine. However, the term, "medicine" typically refers
only to modern medicine. The word "traditional" is often used to
distinguish traditional medicine from (modern) medicine. For these reasons,
"zhong yi xue" should be translated into English according to its
precise definition, "traditional Chinese medicine". This translation
conveys both the traditional and the Chinese aspects of the discipline, and
distinguishes it from modern Chinese medicine.
2. Regarding "Oriental Medicine"
Another vague, ambiguous term is
"oriental medicine". "Oriental medicine" in English
publications is usually synonymous with traditional medicine of
The term "oriental medicine" probably originated to distinguish it
from western "occidental medicine". "Occidental medicine"
is usually associated with modern medicine since it originated in the West.
Although the "oriental" or "occidental" qualifier may be
convenient in dialogue to emphasize the origin of particular aspects of
medicine, such use is detrimental because of its ambiguity.
The use of the "oriental" qualifier has at least two shortcomings: it
fails to express its original meaning of traditional medicine in
The use of the "occidental" qualifier bears the same kind of
shortcomings. It does not convey the difference between occidental traditional
medicine and (modern) medicine. If medicine were referred to as
"occidental medicine" as currently is done with "oriental
medicine", differentiation of modern and classical Western medicine such
as Hippocratic medicine in 6-4 centuries B.C. or American Indian folk medicine
would be compromised. Though the classical medicine in the west has gradually
withered away, it existed in history and needs to be distinguished just as
traditional Chinese medicine needs to be distinguished from modern Chinese
medicine.
Difference in the nature of medicine in the west and the east has been
dissolving for a long time. Currently only differences in tradition and degree
of development distinguish the two.With time, the disparity in development
between western and eastern medicine will become smaller and smaller, leaving
only tradition as a distinction.
Since the essence of "oriental medicine" is traditional Chinese
medicine, its true colors of T.C.M. should be restored.
To name disciplines of medicine by using the "oriental" or the "occidental"
qualifier can not directly portray the object of study, clearly point out its
essence, presage its future prospects of growth. Neither differentiates
traditional medicine and modern medicine in either the West or the East.
If the word "oriental" is necessary to precede traditional medicine
in the east, it can only be named traditional oriental medicine to
differentiate (modern) medicine in the East. This reason is the same as that
the naming of T.C.M. is differentiated with (modern) medicine in
3. Regarding "Herb", "Herbology" or "Herbal Medicine"
Traditional Chinese materia
medica (T.C.M.M.) is a branch of T.C.M., which studies the theory and
application of medication based on theories of T.C.M.
Traditional Chinese materia medica differs extensively from herbal medicine.
The relationship between the two is somewhat akin to the difference between
folk medicine and natural product pharmacy in the
In T.C.M.M. medicines are derived mainly from plants, but animals and minerals
provide additional sources. The materials are prepared and refined using well
established procedures. The English phrase herbal medicine generally refers to
folk medicine, and in most cases the crude herb or crude extract is used.
Animal products and minerals are generally not included in definitions of
herbal medicine.
For the above reasons, to translate Chinese word "zhong
yiao"--T.C.M.M. into herb, herbology or herbal medicine is improper on
either the basis of the definition of T.C.M.M. or the English meaning of the
word herb.
4. Regarding "Acupuncture"
The Science of acupuncture and
moxibustion is a branch of T.C.M. which prevents and treats diseases by
puncturing specific points on the body with needles, or the burning or warming
of the points by applying heat via ignited moxa wool or roll. These procedures
are important external therapies of T.C.M.
The term acupuncture is derived from the Latin words acus, which means surgical
needle, and punctura, which means to puncture. Moxibustion can be defined as
the burning, warming, fumigating, or placing hot compressions on certain points
for the treatment or prevention of diseases. The two therapies are commonly
applied in combination, and are also typically used as compound word
acupuncture-moxibustion (acu-moxibustion--Chinese sound "zhen jiu",
which literally means "needling-moxibustion").
In the literal sense, acupuncture refers to a method of needling (i.e. Chinese
words "zhen ci") or a therapy of needling (i.e., Chinese words
"zhen ci liao fa"); however, science of acupuncture and moxibustion
is also a discipline (i.e., Chinese words "zhen jiu xue"), a branch
of T.C.M. When using the term "acupuncture" we should make clear
whether we are referring to its meaning as a method, a therapy or a scientific
discipline. Use of the term "acupuncture" without distinguishing
among these three meanings leads to a confusion that could be eliminated by
restricting and refining the use of the term. In this light, I am proposing
that when using "acupuncture" to refer to the discipline, we should
use the term "acupunctology" (i.e., "acupuncture" plus
"-ology"). This term should become the standard through international
scientific meetings. It is assumed that acupunctology in the broad ense could
cover moxibustion and such similar therapies in the same field.
In summary, the present paper suggests that the current use of "Chinese medicine", "oriental medicine", "herb", "herbology" or "herbal medicine" and "acupuncture" as terms representing disciplines of T.C.M and its branches is either improper or indistinct. Without more attention to concisely defining these terms, many individuals consider that T.C.M.M. is a folk herbology, and acupuncture as only a therapeutic method. Under such conditions T.C.M. is demoted to folk medicine; the science of T.C.M.M. to herbology or herbal medicine; the doctor of T.C.M. to herbalist; the science, acupunctology to the therapy acupuncture; and the acupunctologist to the acupuncturist. The present paper is a call to recognize T.C.M.M. and acupuncture as scientific branches of T.C.M. with appropriate translations to reflect their scientific nature and separate them from folk therapies.
Acknowledgement The author wish to thank Dr. Lawrence D. Middaugh for his helpful comments on the original manuscript and Ms. Marilyn Ruotolo for typing the manuscript.
