The earliest references to traditional Chinese medicine can be found in the medical classic “Shennong Bencao Jing.” The Yellow Emperor’s classic of internal medicine, “Huangdi Neijing,” is a thorough portrayal of diagnostic and therapeutic methods, including acupuncture.

Chinese medicine differs considerably from science-based Western allopathic medicine. Renowned Taiwanese doctor Hu Naiwen explained the basic philosophies underlying Chinese medicine during an interview with The Epoch Times.

Hu Naiwen began his studies in Western allopathic medicine and completed more than 10 years of research in that discipline. Twenty years ago, he decided to devote his practice to Chinese medicine. He is one of a few physicians worldwide who successfully treated melanoma with Chinese medicine. Studying “Huangdi Neijing,” he discovered methods that had already been used for the treatment of SARS. He credits the success of his medical treatment with his intensive knowledge of Chinese medicine.

Epoch Times: What prompted you to switch to Chinese medicine?

Hu: During my research, I had read of the link between neurology and acupuncture. I wanted to deepen my understanding of acupuncture, and [while studying] I eventually stumbled upon documentation of curing many illnesses through acupuncture. My scientific hunger consumed me. I needed to learn more about acupuncture and decided to study it further. Through those studies, I became acquainted with the core of Chinese medicine, and I have been tremendously enthusiastic about it ever since.

Epoch Times: Why does one frequently get a cold following a change in season?

Hu: That is true. Many people do get a cold during those times. One can have survived a cold winter without getting any colds, but when spring arrives, one is suddenly ill. According to Chinese medicine, this is due to ignorance in acclimatizing to the new season. Spring is the time when all things begin to sprout, blossom, and bloom. Summer is the time for growth. Fall presents us with harvests, and winter is the time for rest.

Winter is the time of year to avoid hard work and stress as much as possible, protect oneself from the cold, and sleep as much as needed. By patterning one’s daily life according to the seasons, one protects the immune system, and can look forward to and enjoy healthy seasonal changes.

Epoch Times: What suggestions does Chinese medicine have … [for] treating skin irritations and allergies?

Hu: Nowadays, more and more people complain about skin irritations and allergies. Some can be attributed to foods, which the body is unable to tolerate. Such foods lead to itching, redness, crusting, or scaling. Even people who are normally allergy-free complain about increased itching in various places, and when scratched, these spots become red and inflamed.

Chinese medicine also views these symptoms as a failure to accord with the seasons. Such lack of seasonal adjustments is increasing because people devise ever more ways to artificially change their surroundings.

There is more to it: It begins with overheated housing and ends with air-conditioned rooms. The human organism cannot tolerate such sudden changes. Heating and air conditioning provide a certain amount of comfort. But overuse or misuse of these technologies can stress the body, and [in some] show up as skin irritations.

Epoch Times: Thank you for this interview.

Hu: You are welcome. I was glad to do it.

Dr. Benjamin Kong from Sweden and Dr. Xiu Zhou from Germany are the principal editors of the China Research Group.

Editor’s Note: Allopathic medicine is currently the most popular kind of Western medicine, the therapeutics of which is based principally on pharmaceutical drugs.

A Healing Art Thousands of Years Old