The Origin Of Medicine From The Perspective Of Medical Anthropology

The theory and method of medical anthropology are mainly used in this study to analyze the origin of Chinese and Western Medicine under the different cultural backgrounds.The objective perspective of people’s respective concepts and corresponding responses of diseases and health deepens their understanding of the disease,health and treatment practices.Besides,it is also beneficial for the better understanding of the comprehensive medical system.The first part of the study is mainly on the medical concepts of the chinese and western scholars under the influence of divinity.In the early times,both chinese and western scholars think much the same on the cognition of divinity,witchcraft and witch doctors,however,there are some differences in the process of its development,Taoism,Buddhism and unique necromantic medicine appears in China,while the Christianity emerges in the western world.Different religious ideas in China and western countries have an important influence on people’s concept of life and death and the etiology of their diseases.The second part of the study analyzes the medical concept formed under different natural philosophy theories in China and the west.Because of the different understandings of the world,there is not completely identical medical philosophy.Differences are mainly on the understanding of the nature of all things,the relationship between man and things,and the relationship between human and soul.Different philosophies lead to a different understanding of the etiology of the disease and the corresponding treatment.The third part of the study points out that there are abundant medical concepts in different scientific theories and ancient folk customs in China and the west.In our daily life,the physical and chemical technology and medicine are mutual promoted to a certain extent;at the same time,many medical health behaviors are hidden the habits,marriageand funeral customs and the other social customs.The behaviors under the guidance of social customs can promote human health,but it also may lead to diseases.The fourth part of the study introduces the trend of the development of the Chinese and Western medicine under the influence of various cultural backgrounds.The trend of medical development in China and the west is different under the different backgrounds of politics,economy,culture,society and religion.The conclusion is that the law is similar at the beginning and different in the latter in the development of the chinese and western medical origin.Medical behavior emerges,Chinese and western is roughly the same,the concept of ghosts and gods are the main pathogenic reasons for medical activities.Medical system gradually forms after the generation of characters,human forms different medical concepts to guide the practices under the influence of social and cultural factors,such as different religions,philosophy,science theory and the folk customs.