The relationship between man and nature from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine: a holistic view of harmonious symbiosis

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that man and nature are an inseparable whole, emphasizing the core idea of "correspondence between nature and man". The main content is divided into three levels:The influence of natural laws on the human body(For example, the changes in the four seasons correspond to the internal organs),Human body’s adaptability to nature(For example, Qi and blood change with circadian rhythm),Natural laws of disease prevention and treatment(For example, "Nourishing Yang in spring and summer, nourishing Yin in autumn and winter"). Among them, the Five Movements and Six Qi theory and the twenty-four solar terms for health preservation are key practical theories.

Traditional Chinese medicine regards the human body as a "microcosm" that is closely linked to the natural "macrocosm". "Huangdi Neijing" states that "man and heaven and earth are interrelated" and believes that the movement of the sun, moon and climate changes will affect the human body through the meridian system. For example, the rise of liver qi in spring corresponds to the branching of trees, and the strong heart fire in summer is analogous to the blazing sunshine. This kind of thinking of using images and analogies runs through the diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine. Zhang Jingyue, a doctor in the Ming Dynasty, pointed out clearly: "Those who are good at maintaining health must understand the way of heaven."

This connection is embodied in disease prevention. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "maintaining health at the right time". For example, "Suwen·Four Qi Regulates the Spirit" records that in March in spring, you should "lie down at night and get up early", and in March in winter, you should "go to bed early and get up late". Modern research has confirmed that human melatonin secretion does change with the length of sunlight. The "Mountain Forest Therapy" recorded by Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty in "A Thousand Gold Prescriptions" is a typical case of using the natural environment to regulate emotions, which coincides with the contemporary concept of forest bathing.

At the treatment level, traditional Chinese medicine pays attention to "authentic medicinal materials" and believes that the growth environment directly affects the efficacy of the medicine. For example, ginseng in Changbai Mountain is nourished by ice and snow, and Poria cocos in Yunnan is nourished by the plateau. Acupuncture will choose the time according to the Meridian flow, and comply with the natural movement of meridian qi. In the Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Danxi proposed the theory of "Yang is always in excess and Yin is often insufficient", which was an early warning of the imbalance between man and nature caused by industrial development.

The traditional Chinese medicine view of human nature has practical significance to this day. Research on modern time medicine and environmental medicine continues to verify its scientific nature. From the perspective of "preventing disease", maintaining a synchronized schedule with nature, making rational use of regional products, and paying attention to the impact of the ecological environment on health are the inspirations of ancient wisdom for contemporary life. This overall and coordinated survival wisdom may become an important key to solving the diseases of modern civilization.

Quote source:
1. "Huangdi Neijing" (medical classics from the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty)
2. Sun Simiao's "A Thousand Gold Prescriptions" (medical work of the Tang Dynasty)
3. Zhu Danxi's "Ge Zhi Yu Lun" (medical book of the Yuan Dynasty)
4. Reference for modern application cases: Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences' "TCM Health" textbook (2020 edition)