Scott WeaverGHS 205 0611/29/2013Medicine in ChinaChinese medicine has a tradition that dates back thousands of years, but it has changed dramatically in recent years. The influences of Western medicine, communist ideology, and other government policies have been the force behind this evolution. Since the 1950s, Chinese medicine has been standardized and transformed into a primarily state-run program that integrates both traditional Chinese medicine and the more scientific and modern style of Western medicine. During this transition, traditional Chinese medicine struggled to find its place in the new communist society. Today, several medical techniques have been blended together and allow the Chinese to receive world-class healthcare while retaining their culture and tradition. Medicine in China has been practiced for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found traces of Chinese medicine dating back to the 16th century BC during the Shang Dynasty. “In Shang-era ruins, scholars found seed particles still widely used in Chinese medicine and tools made of stone similar to surgical instruments. They also found the first medical records on oracle bones” (Medical Journal). Traditional Chinese medicine combines multiple methods including herbal remedies, acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and mind-body therapy. Chinese medicine was strongly connected to the spiritual world. Chinese medicine is based "on the ancient Chinese perception of human beings as microcosms of the larger, surrounding universe, interconnected with nature and subject to its forces" (NCAAM). Concepts from Taoism, Confucianism, and other Chinese schools of thought have found their way into the philosophy and theory of medicine. "Qi, for example, meaning air or breath, ca...... middle of paper... to practice Western medicine. When interviewed, many doctors came to discover that "if If someone died in your care and you relied only on Chinese medicine, no authority would defend you from accusations of negligence. If you only used Western medicine, no one would dare blame you." In China, patients are offered many treatment options and it is ultimately up to them to decide which treatment they prefer. This dynamic of multiple healthcare practices is not found in the rest of the world Overall, Chinese medicine has changed rapidly over the past sixty years. The influences of Western medicine and communist ideology have created a plural health system that does not exist in the rest of the world. Medicine in China has become more modern and scientific , while maintaining the culture, traditions and philosophies of the Chinese people.