| The development of human civilization has been accompanied by the struggle against epidemics.To this day,epidemics are still one of the diseases threatening human health,and the prevalence of epidemics poses a test to the national emergency prevention and control system for epidemics.In ancient China,epidemics were more frequent than in modern times.In the practice of combating epidemics,people of various dynasties have produced rich knowledge and theories on epidemic prevention and control.Collecting,collating,and studying historical data on epidemic prevention and control in ancient China still has reference significance for the construction of today’s epidemic prevention and control system.Existing research on epidemic prevention and control in ancient times mainly focuses on the following four aspects:climatic and geographical factors related to the onset of epidemics,and the prediction of epidemics through the five movements and six gases;Prescriptions and medicines for preventing epidemics in ancient times;Behavioral measures to deal with epidemics in different historical periods and places;The evolution of ancient Chinese medicine epidemic theory,and the prescription and medication rules of different schools of epidemic treatment.The author believes that there is still room for futher research in the following areas:Firstly,through studying the response of various dynasties to epidemic diseases in various stages,the overall landscape of ancient epidemic prevention and control is comprehensively displayed;Secondly,regarding the prediction before the epidemic,other prediction theories and methods besides the five movements and six qi need to be explored;Thirdly,in terms of epidemic prevention,there is still room for further research on the ancient people’s epidemic prevention thoughts and ideas on the formulation of epidemic prevention prescriptions;Fourth,comprehensively comb the anti epidemic measures of various dynasties,and through comparative analysis,discuss the commonalities and characteristics of the anti epidemic measures of previous dynasties,as well as the influencing factors behind them;Fifth,the physicians who have participated in the treatment of epidemic diseases in past dynasties,as well as the traditional Chinese medicine principles and formulas that have been applied in practice,can be deeply explored.Therefore,the theme of this study is:it is known that modern epidemic prevention and control systems include pre epidemic prevention,prediction of epidemic development trends,emergency response measures,medical treatment,and rehabilitation after the outbreak of the epidemic.Looking back at the ancient epidemic prevention and control system from the perspective of the modern epidemic prevention and control system,it was found that the prediction,prevention,emergency response,and aftercare aspects of the prevention and control system were practiced to varying degrees in ancient times.Therefore,this study will start from the three dimensions of pre epidemic,mid epidemic,and post epidemic,study the theory and application of pre epidemic prediction in previous dynasties,explore ancient epidemic prevention prescriptions and methods,comb out the response measures in various dynasties,post epidemic rehabilitation measures,and analyze their characteristics,discuss the influencing factors that form this anti epidemic appearance,and explore the actual application of traditional Chinese medicine epidemic theory and prescription in the epidemic.The research object of this article is the content related to epidemic prevention and control in historical records,the epidemic prevention methods and prescriptions contained in ancient medical books,as well as the theories and prescriptions established by doctors in the practice of epidemic treatment.The main materials of the study include:Zhou Li,Li Ji,Twenty Five Histories,some local chronicles of the Ming and Qing dynasties,imperial records,and other historical records of the epidemic data;Special books on typhoid,febrile,and epidemic diseases that discuss the theory of differentiation and treatment of epidemic diseases,such as Shang Han Lun,Shang Han Zong Bing Lun,Shang Han Fa Wei Lun,Shang Han Jiu Shi Lun,Wen Yi Lun,Yi Zhen Yi De,Sui Xi Ju Chong Ding Huo Luan Lun,Diao Jiao Sha Fang Lun,etc;Comprehensive medical books containing the principles,methods,and medicines for the prevention and treatment of epidemics,such as the Huangdi Neijing·,Shennong Materia Medica Classic,Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang,Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang,Wai Tai Mi Yao,Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang,Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang,Dong Yuan Shi Xiao Fang,Ru Men Shi Qin,Pu Ji Fang,Wan Bing Hui Chun,Yi Xue Shi Zai Yi.Ten.The text is divided into four sections:The first part is pre epidemic prediction.In long-term observation,the ancients found that there were certain rules to follow in the climate,meteorology,and astrology when epidemics occurred.Therefore,by observing the corresponding climatic characteristics,astrology,and astrology,they predicted possible epidemics.This chapter mainly focuses on the epidemic literature in the Twenty-five Histories,"Yi Wei",and "Su Wen",to explore the theoretical methods used by ancient people to predict epidemics before epidemics.The second part is pre epidemic prevention.Taking the prescriptions of various dynasties as the research object,this paper explores the prescriptions and methods of ancient epidemic prevention,and discusses the guiding ideology behind them.The third part is the response measures of officials and people during and after the epidemic.Emergency response during the epidemic is an important link in epidemic prevention and control,and the rehabilitation after the epidemic is the continuation of the response measures during the epidemic.This chapter uses the epidemic literature in the "Book of Rites","Book of Rites","Twenty Five Histories",some local chronicles of the Ming and Qing dynasties,and imperial records as research materials to investigate the measures taken by officials and people in various dynasties during and after the epidemic from the Qin and Han dynasties to the Qing Dynasty,and compares and analyzes the similarities and characteristics of the response measures taken by various dynasties,To explore the influencing factors behind the formation of this epidemic prevention and control face.The fourth part is the application of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient epidemics.In ancient times,traditional Chinese medicine was applied to the practice of treating epidemics.This article discusses the practical application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of epidemic diseases by combining the historical facts of the treatment of epidemic diseases by physicians with the applied medical theories.Study the historical facts and theories of epidemic treatment of Zhang Zhongjing,Xu Shuwei,Li Dongyuan,Zhang Zihe,Wu Youke,Gong Tingxian,Yu Lin,Chen Xiuyuan,Wang Mengying,and Xu Zimo,as well as the official guidance of the Song Dynasty on the use of prescription drugs,and the application of Shengsanzi prescription in the treatment of epidemic diseases.Based on the study of the above four sections,the following conclusions can be drawn in general:First,the ancients took measures to predict and prevent epidemics before they occurred.The formation of theoretical methods for epidemic disease prediction is based on long-term observation of natural climate,astrology,and celestial phenomena.The ancients attributed epidemics to disasters,which have the same nature as natural disasters such as floods and droughts.Epidemic prediction theory is a component of disaster prediction theory.The ancients discovered a close relationship between climate anomalies and outbreaks of epidemics.They summarized the theory of predicting epidemics through the 24 solar terms and gas phase loss,and inferred abnormal changes in climate by observing phenology when it is not or when it is not.Abnormal climate change produces an untimely climate,which leads to the epidemic.The 24 solar terms indicate the climate law of a year,and there is also a climate periodic law in the first ten to sixty years.The ancients introduced the theory of "Five Movements and Six Qi" into epidemic disease prediction,using the five movements and six Qi to represent the climatic characteristics of each year of the first year of the century,forming a pattern of luck that values the annual Great Movement,the Qi of the Heavenly Kingdom,the Qi of the Spring,and the Qi of the Six Qi Guests,which are mainly used to predict the abnormal climatic phenomena that may occur in different trunk and branch years,and then to predict the time period during which epidemics are prone to occur.In addition,the ancients further developed the theory of luck,comparing theoretical climate laws with actual climate conditions,explaining the phenomenon of inconsistency between theoretical and actual climate by not shifting to the right and not retreating,and proposing that within three years after the fall of the two giants of heaven and earth,there would be multiple epidemics.The ancients interpreted astrology and celestial phenomena with the idea of the unity of heaven and man,forming a theory of astrology that observing celestial phenomena predicted good or bad luck for all things on earth.Disasters including epidemics are one of the important contents of astrology.The ancients believed that when the gains and losses of personnel,especially the inappropriate decisions of monarchs,were met with abnormal astrological signs,and disaster was brought down as a natural punishment.Therefore,the appearance of abnormal astrology can help predict epidemics.Secondly,in ancient times,regarding the prevention of pre epidemic diseases,the emphasis was placed on two aspects:strengthening the health and eliminating pathogenic factors.Based on the healthy qi of the human body,it was believed that"the healthy qi is stored within,and the pathogenic factors cannot be interfered with."By regulating the spirit,the healthy qi of the five internal organs and six internal organs was strengthened to resist the invasion of epidemic pathogenic factors.The second is to use drugs to ward off epidemics.Through oral administration of prescription drugs and external use of drugs,published and pathogenic drugs are used to remove pathogens that invade the surface and interior of the body.With the aid of the smell of drugs,toxins in the environment are dispersed,thereby achieving the goal of preventing infectious diseases.Third,in the mid and post epidemic stages,the national government and various levels of civil society will take multiple measures to deal with the epidemic,dividing the existing anti epidemic measures in previous dynasties by medical and non medical measures.The medical measures taken by governments at all levels include sending medical officials to diagnose and treat epidemics,providing and distributing anti epidemic drugs,setting up clinics to treat infected patients,and promoting the implementation of human pox vaccination in the Qing Dynasty;Folk doctors have actively participated in the treatment of epidemics,and have accumulated rich experience in clinical practice,forming and continuously developing and improving the theory of traditional Chinese medicine epidemics.Some non medical measures were common in past dynasties,such as tax relief during and after the epidemic,distribution of relief money and grain,reduction of human resources,burial of dead bodies due to the epidemic,and methods of offering sacrifices such as exorcism,sacrifices to gods of mountains and rivers,and fasting and worshipping Buddha;In the Han Dynasty,when the theory of causing epidemics by personnel and government decrees was prevalent,as well as in the Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties,and Sui and Tang Dynasties,monarchs responded to the epidemic by issuing edicts to punish themselves,accompanied by implementing policies that benefited the country and the people.The importance attached to medical and non medical measures is closely related to the subjective will of the monarch.The non medical measures taken to deal with epidemics in previous dynasties are not significantly different from those taken to deal with other disasters such as floods and droughts,and the government pays less attention to epidemics than floods and droughts;In dynasties where kings valued medicine,such as the Song Dynasty,medical measures were relatively complete.Fourth,in ancient times,traditional Chinese medicine was the main means of treating epidemic diseases,and there are many historical records and medical books in which traditional Chinese medicine participated in the differentiation and treatment of epidemic diseases.In the Han Dynasty,Zhang Zhongjing wrote "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" in his practice of treating the pandemic during the Jian’an period,using three parts,six diseases,and differentiation of syndromes as the guiding principles for the differentiation and treatment of exogenous diseases,including epidemics;Since the Tang and Song dynasties,the theory of differentiation and treatment of typhoid fever,febrile diseases,and epidemic diseases has been formed.Doctors have proposed the theory of syndrome differentiation of the six meridians,which is guided by the theory of syndrome differentiation of the six meridians in the diagnosis and treatment of epidemic diseases.The doctor Xu Shuwei has developed the prescription for the treatment of epidemic diseases with wind and warm syndromes.During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties,a hundred schools of medicine contended,and physicians Li Dongyuan and Zhang Zihe experienced epidemics themselves.Li Dongyuan successively distinguished and treated bighead plague from upper energizer fever and toxin,and internal injury to the spleen and stomach was used to distinguish and treat epidemics during the famine period;Zhang Zihe elucidates the syndrome and treatment of malaria from the perspective of the pathogenic factors of heat and heat affecting the membrane.In the Ming Dynasty,Wu Youke proposed the theory of"Pandemic Qi" and the introduction of pathogenic factors from the mouth and nose,which was unprecedented in innovation.He believed that the initial stage of an epidemic disease was to traverse the membranous origin,and after the membranous origin had collapsed,it could spread to the exterior and interior,creating a therapeutic formula for the membranous origin of pathogenic factors such as "Yuanyin" and"Sanxiaoyin".In the Qing Dynasty,various epidemic diseases were prevalent.Yu Lin cured the epidemic rash with the method of clearing away heat.Doctors such as Chen Xiuyuan,Wang Mengying,and Xu Zimo personally participated in the treatment of cholera.Their theories of differentiation and treatment had their own merits.Chen Xiuyuan,Xu Zimo advocated warming to dissipate cold pathogenic factors,and Wang Mengying advocated clearing away heat and promoting diuresis,all of which were conclusions drawn from practical observations.Fifth,since the pre-Qin period,the thought of nature and man had influenced the formation of the concept of epidemic disease,and corresponding prevention and control measures were taken against this background.In ancient times,there were three kinds of epidemic view,which were caused by ghosts and spirits,abnormal weather and personnel decrees.Sixth,various measures in the modern epidemic prevention and control system have been practiced to varying degrees in ancient times,and the embryonic form of the epidemic prevention and control system can be seen.However,in ancient times,the epidemic prevention and control measures were mostly scattered,lacking official mandatory measures,and the response measures to the epidemic were influenced by the subjective will of the monarch,failing to form a unified and complete prevention and control system.The innovation of this study is reflected in the following aspects:First,the innovation of research perspective:Starting from the perspective of the modern epidemic prevention and control system,standing in the three perspectives of pre epidemic,during epidemic,and post epidemic,it studies the practice of various links in ancient times,including pre epidemic prediction,epidemic prevention,response to epidemic,medical treatment,and post epidemic rehabilitation,as well as the resulting ideas and theories.Secondly,to improve previous studies:to investigate the measures taken by officials and people to deal with epidemics from the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Qing Dynasty,and to compare and analyze their commonalities and characteristics.Third,there is innovation in research thinking:combining the historical facts of medical treatment of epidemic diseases and the principles and methods of treating epidemic diseases,to explore the practical application of traditional Chinese medicine in ancient epidemic disasters. |
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