[Are there imported components for channels and collaterals?].
The medical papyri in ancient Egypt written before 1500 B. C, recorded the metu system which could not be explained by modern anatomic location and was difficultly expounded by biological functions. Most of diseases were treated by dredging the metu, regulating the metu, balancing the metu, removing noxious substances from the metu, restoring the normal functions of the metu. The ancient Egyptian held that the metu forms mutual connecting channel network to carry out flowing of energy and information, with the functions of linking up external and internal organs, which is similar to linking functions of meridians-zang- and fu- organs. In the works of Hippocrates, the father of ancient Greece medicine, 2nd century B. C, also described the linking channels "phleps" on human surface. And in other country with an ancient civilization, India, had a similar channel system. About 15th century B. C, Charaka Samitha of ancient India described human "nadis" channel system. The system carried "rasas" (life liquid) connected with the whole body from the navel. Therefore, it can be held that at the embryonic stage of medicine development, the linking tube similar to channel or vessel was described, but it is interested that met and Chinese "mai" (vessel) have similar pronunciation. And mai in China was created after met.
Zhu
Bing
B
Institute of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, China Academy of TCM, Beijing 100700, China. zhubing@mail.cintcm.ac.cn
D002681:China; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000266:history; D016740:Meridians; D009068:Movement; D014472:Umbilicus