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| Shen Nong Shi tasted and tried each plant, each herb, and each vegetable to know their tastes and to know which sensation was perceived when he ate them. He became the first scientist, by noting his results, on the research of Cao Yao (medicinal plants). Shen Nong Shi was the first to utilize the Cao-Yao to treat different diseases of the body. |
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| After the era of Shen Nong Shi, a book was written concerning the accumulated information on plants around 200 years before the Christian era. It is called the "Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing". In this book, there are 365 medical plants which were utilized at that time. These medicinal products, the "Yao", are distinguished in quality: superior, average, or inferior. Some can be utilized only when necessary because they contain some poison. They are the inferior Yao. Of course, after the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, |
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| many other books have been written concerning plants. For example, a man called Tao Hong Jing added a few hundred other Yao. The number went up to 730. That is around 400 years after Christ's birth. Another book was written to explain methods to prepare the Yao such as frying and grilling. Some Yao not only contain poison, but their nature is very strong. Methods were created to moderate their potency. For the Yao that were weak, methods also were developed to strengthen them. |
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| The dynasty of the emperor Tang Gai Zong, between 618-907, ordained 22 doctors to correct the books on medicinal plants. Another 114 new Yao were added to a total of 844. A book was published entitled "Tang Ben Cao". It contains accumulated experiences from many centuries. |
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| This is the basic history of Chinese medicine. Continue to Part Two - Yin, Yang and the Five Elements. |
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