What is it about?
Most studies of early medicine have depended on the criteria of modern medical knowledge, bu this is too narrow. More pertinent are the body's ability to heal itself and the biological consequences of knowledge, symbol and meaning ("the meaning response"). Examples suggest that in order to use biomedical knowledge productively in this connection, it is essential first to understand the sources on their own terms.
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Why is it important?
This is the first study that explains how to think adequately about the efficacy of Chinese medical therapy before modern times; .It is also pertinent to other kinds of curing and to other cultures (including that of biomedicine).
Perspectives
This essay was incorporated in a general study of health care (including such topics as religious and other ritual curing) in China before modern times.
Nathan Sivin
University of Pennsylvania
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Question of Efficacy, Asian Medicine, October 2015, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15734218-12341349.
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