What is the history of Qiang medicine?

Qiang medicine began in ancient times. Legend has it that "Shennong has tasted all kinds of herbs, and friedensreich hundertwasser is bitter and sweet, which makes people know that all kinds of herbs will encounter seventy poisons", indicating that the Qiang, Jiang and Shennong who entered the Central Plains knew some medicinal plants long ago and used them to treat diseases. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Ran and Xiang Qiang, who lived in the upper reaches of Minjiang River, accumulated rich pharmacological knowledge. A spirited sheep can cure poison. There are also deer taking medicine and deer muntjac with fetus. The feces in their intestines can also treat toxic diseases. "Some people say that this is a" special multi-drug ". In fact, Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and other places where the Qiang people live together have rich medicinal resources since ancient times. Besides personal use, it is also exported to China and the court. In the middle of the Tang Dynasty, they presented precious medicinal materials such as musk, antelope horn, rhubarb and angelica.

After the founding of Xixia, the Qiang people made great progress. Xixia people paid attention to absorbing medical knowledge in Song and Jin Dynasties and developing their own medicine. The state has set up a "medical staff hospital". According to the relevant data in Xixia Dictionary and Xin 'an Yi Zhuan of the Later Han Dynasty in the middle of12nd century, the Qiang people in Xixia have accumulated rich experience, system and knowledge in medical theory, pathology, pharmacology, common diseases and treatment methods. Xixia medicine has been quite specific.

For example, Xixia medicine believes that man is composed of earth, water, fire and wind. Without these four harmonies, the so-called "four disharmonies" will lead to diseases. Pathological knowledge focuses on blood vessels, and it is believed that health and disease are caused by unobstructed blood vessels. Its prescription is also very distinctive. For example, Wen Hai explained "scab medicine": "pine, cypress, grass, dung and dung ointment are all scab medicine". As mentioned above, the use of feces as medicine was originally a medical tradition in A Qiang. It can be inferred that Xixia medicine should be developed on the basis of Qiang traditional medicine. In addition, Xixia medicine also knows some knowledge about infectious diseases. It said in Wen Hai Miscellanies: "Blinking disease" refers to people moving to other rooms, which means isolating and treating infectious diseases.

This traditional therapy has continued in the Qiang area until modern times. Before the establishment of China, the Qiang people's treatment of leprosy and other infectious diseases was: first, they were moved to a lonely place outside the village for isolation treatment. If they die, they will be cremated to eliminate their source of virus infection. This is very reasonable and scientific.

With the development of Xixia medicine, the collection, production and communication of medicinal materials are increasingly active. Musk, antelope horn, Bupleurum, Cistanche deserticola, safflower, rhubarb, Lycium barbarum and other medicinal materials were all commodities in the Xia and Song Dynasties. Rhubarb and Lycium barbarum, in particular, have a long reputation and are still famous products.

Since modern times, Qiang medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine have coexisted in Qiang areas. Qiang doctors are most active in rural areas and mountain villages. According to relevant investigation data, Qiang doctors have close relationship with Chinese medicine, and they have a lot in common. However, Qiang doctors have their own characteristics in collection, processing methods and medication habits. Qiang doctors attach great importance to the seasonality of drug harvest. If Cordyceps sinensis is harvested in summer, it is believed that the primary curative effect of Cordyceps sinensis is the best. Fritillaria will be excavated during the Dragon Boat Festival, and Notopterygium Rhizoma, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Rhizoma Cibotii, Radix Astragali and Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae will be excavated in beginning of autumn. Medically, it can be used externally, orally, decocted in water or soaked in wine. The frequency of single drug use is higher. More than 100 drugs are frequently used. Attached are Qiang medical records and prescriptions compiled by Qiang medical expert Chen Baosheng for reference.