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Science should be the means for the Chinese people and patients to understand the truth of diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) education should be valued, with public TCM colleges established, so that the Chinese people and the world may understand the theoretical principles of TCM and Chinese Materia Medica. We must not allow patients who wish to consult TCM practitioners or take Chinese herbs to harbor doubts, listen to hearsay, and gamble their lives and money in a directionless manner, resulting in financial loss and physical harm. The lack of prominence in TCM and Chinese Materia Medica theories is indeed a great tragedy for human health. The failure of TCM education to be promoted normally has resulted in a mixed bag of talents and scoundrels in the TCM community. For the health of the citizens, for the welfare of patients, and for the continuation of the nation, those in power in the medical field and their accomplices must stop persecuting TCM and Chinese Materia Medica practitioners with every possible means, just as the Red Guards destroyed Chinese culture. We in the TCM field must, with the heart of a loyal minister and an illegitimate son, endure humiliation and bear heavy responsibilities to inherit Chinese culture, protect the health of the Chinese people, and fulfill the responsibilities of TCM, so as to prevent the scientific knowledge accumulated over thousands of years by our ancestors and sages from being destroyed in vain.

There is a sigh in folk circles: "Western medicine kills without guilt; TCM saves without merit." The progress of medical science should be the cure of diseases and the restoration of physical health, rather than merely surviving surgery. Is organ transplantation the progress of science and the success of medical treatment? It is certainly not displaying machinery worth millions or the skills of doctors as science. Look at the health check-ups that drive diseases and deceive patients: scientific progress has led human health into a dark age of medicine. Whenever outsiders invent or create a disease name, the medical industry vigorously promotes it, plunging humanity worldwide into panic, bankruptcy, and broken families.

Have you noticed that whenever active prevention measures are taken for certain diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and cancer caused by Hepatitis B... the ranking of these diseases in the top ten causes of death rises rapidly. I predict that if the promotion of AIDS continues unchecked, AIDS will replace cancer and rise to the top of the top ten causes of death within ten years. Let us wait and see! Medical practice at that time will surely urge you to face death calmly and bravely come forward for examinations, guaranteeing that you can enter but cannot leave. If the promotion of AIDS is successful, consider this: is homosexuality something that only exists today?

It is only because blood pressure monitors were invented, only because blood sugar and urine sugar tests were invented... only because... only because Hepatitis B testing was invented. May I ask how many people know what Hepatitis B is? Western medicine has neither drugs nor methods to treat Hepatitis B, yet it sends personnel to factories, schools, military units, and government agencies to draw blood for testing. What is their intention? To prevent Hepatitis B? Where are the drugs? Where are the methods? Without testing, one could live to a hundred without knowing they have Hepatitis B. This is evident to all. So-called Hepatitis B patients are forced to eat separately from others, causing turmoil in the whole family, and soon liver cirrhosis and liver cancer rank at the top of the top ten causes of death.

The recent decline of TCM is actually due to the Chinese people's blind worship of Western technology, combined with the indifference of government health and educational administrations towards TCM and Chinese Materia Medica, leading to public ignorance and misunderstanding of TCM and Chinese Materia Medica theories. The Chinese invented gunpowder, yet the world regards winning the Nobel Prize as the highest honor; astronauts have landed on the moon, while we are still playing firecrackers. Science and technology are advancing by leaps and bounds, but in terms of medical science progress, it seems people die from science rather than from diseases. To break through the darkness of medicine and lead patients toward a bright future, we must instill correct medical concepts in humanity, specifically making humanity understand the theoretical principles of TCM and Chinese Materia Medica, thereby lighting the lamp in the darkness of medicine.

The Medical Sage Zhang Zhongjing stated in the preface to *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases): "Scholars living in the present world do not pay attention to medicine or carefully study prescriptions and techniques. They do not use them to treat the illnesses of rulers and parents, save the poor and lowly from distress, preserve their own bodies and lives, or nourish their existence. Instead, they compete for glory and power, fawn over the wealthy and powerful, diligently pursue only fame and profit, adorn the superficial, and neglect the fundamental. They desire to beautify the exterior while exhausting the interior. If the skin does not exist, where will the hair attach?" Drugs, including surgery, can cure diseases but also harm people, even taking their lives—such as today's cancer. The famous physician Ye Tianshi, on his deathbed, warned his son: "Medicine can be practiced, but it should not be taken lightly. One must possess natural aptitude and read tens of thousands of books before saving the world. Otherwise, few avoid killing people. Thus, medicinal substances are like blades and knives. After my death, descendants must never speak lightly of medicine." Wu Tang Jutong wrote in the preface to *Wenbing Tiaobian* (Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases): "In the year Guichou, a plague raged in the capital. Those who died at the hands of laypeople were countless. People did not die from diseases but from doctors. Having a doctor is worse than having none. If one does not master medicine, it is better not to study it at all."

Swiss scholar Hans Ruesel investigated statistics from Israel, Colombia, the UK, and California, USA, showing that wherever doctors went on strike, mortality rates dropped to 50% or even 35% of normal levels. This cites an article titled "Doctors Don't See Patients, Patients Won't Die" from the China Times, February 28, Year 73 (1984), Page 8, Column 1. Observing the past helps predict the future. Humans eat five grains and live in today's environment, inevitably getting sick. Every disease has methods for treatment and recovery, but doctors' individual capabilities are limited. Currently, the public is confused by the misleading direction of pseudo-science, causing them to spend their lives dealing with illness, even going bankrupt and breaking up their families. Thus, medicine itself has become cancerous. Who can save it?

Part II: How Does TCM Cure Diseases?

I. TCM Concepts

(1) The Relationship Between the Human Body and Heaven and Earth

To treat diseases using TCM, one must first understand the basic concepts of Chinese medicine: the three elements of life—sunlight, air, and clear water. We Chinese people habitually call them Water/Clear Water, Fire/Sunlight, and Wind/Air. Life depends on these three elements. The changes produced by these three elements on the living body, Earth, correspond to changes in the human body. Humans are a small heaven and earth; symptoms of maladaptation are the main causes of illness.

In heaven, there are Sun, Moon, and Stars; on earth, there is Water, Fire, and Wind; in humans, there is Essence (Jing), Qi (Vital Energy), and Spirit (Shen). These three aspects of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are interconnected and transformable.

Sun, Fire, Spirit—The radiant energy emitted by the sun causes changes in the Earth's magnetic field, which is the main reason for hot summers and cold winters. Human blood contains iron and changes in response to variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Heat causes expansion and cold causes contraction. Iron in the blood,受热 (receiving heat energy), evaporates moisture and expels it as sweat; receiving cold causes contraction and no sweating. In the human body, this corresponds to the function of the Heart. "Shen" (Spirit) implies expansion. In terms of seasons, this corresponds to Summer. Recently, climate has changed drastically due to large-scale mining of mineral resources, altering the Earth's magnetic field. Variations in the Earth's magnetic field affect human Heart Blood. When the magnetic field is stable, the human mind is also stable.

Moon, Water, Essence—the Moon orbits the Earth, and its phases affect the tides. The human body is approximately 70% water, which is also affected by the Moon's orbital changes. In the human body, this corresponds to the function of the Kidney. The Kidney stores Essence, and in terms of seasons, this corresponds to Winter.

Stars, Wind, Qi—*Suwen* Chapter 26, "Eight Righteousnesses and Divine Enlightenment": The Emperor asked: "When are the Eight Righteousnesses of the Stars?" Qibo replied: "The stars regulate the movements of the Sun and Moon." Bogao said: "There are twelve months in a year and twelve double-hours (Shichen) in a day. Zi-Wu form the longitude, Mao-You form the latitude. The entire sky consists of Twenty-Eight Mansions. One side has seven stars, corresponding to seven days of the week. Four times seven equals twenty-eight stars. Fang and Mao form the latitude, Xu and Zhang form the longitude. Therefore, Fang to Bi is Yang, and Mao to Xin is Yin. The Sun and Moon traverse the sky, moving along southern and northern landmasses. In heaven, these are the four continents; on earth, they cause climate changes in the northern and southern hemispheres. With phases of new/full moon and waxing/waning, the stars record the movements of the Sun and Moon. Similarly, human Ying (Defensive) and Wei (Nutritive) Qi respond to Yin-Yang and Deficiency-Excess. Climate changes are mediated by the Twenty-Eight Mansions adjusting the Sun-Fire and Moon-Water, affecting Earth's climate. Before and after typhoons, we can feel the body adapting to changes in atmospheric pressure. In the human body, this corresponds to the function of the Liver.

Note: The Twenty-Eight Mansions are: Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji, Dou, Niu, Nü, Xu, Wei, Shi, Bi, Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, Shen, Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, Zhen.

From birth, humans are influenced by the Qi of Sun, Moon, and Stars—Water, Fire, and Wind. Thus, the human body grows and develops due to Water, Fire, and Wind, and ages and dies due to them.

Human life from birth to death is the activity of Qi. If breathing stops for three minutes, one dies. Qi is the master of life activities; without Qi, there is no life. Thus, the activity of living beings is the function of Qi.

A person's life is the activity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Spirit is the manifestation of Qi, and Qi is transformed from Essence. When men ejaculate, they feel weak because, temporarily lacking Essence to transform into Qi, they suddenly lose physical strength. Young people recover Essence and Qi quickly, while elderly people recover slowly.

As the saying goes: "The elderly fear New Year; patients fear festivals." "Festival" refers to solar terms (Qi Jie), such as Lichun (Start of Spring), Yushui (Rain Water), Lidong (Start of Winter), Dongzhi (Winter Solstice), and the 1st and 15th of each lunar month—such as Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival... Solar terms represent the adjustment and transformation of Heaven and Earth regarding Qi.

The Qi, Blood, and physical strength of the elderly and critically ill patients are weak. Due to the alternating effects of Sun-Fire and Moon-Water, Extreme Yang generates Yin, and Extreme Yin generates Yang. During the transition of solar terms, it is difficult for Qi and Blood to harmonize normally. We often see critically ill patients and the elderly feeling exhausted and painful during solar term transitions. After the solar term passes, they either return to normal, worsen, or even die. Solar terms are like the passing of the baton in the body's meridians. Critically ill patients die when the meridian baton-passing fails.

Essence, Qi, and Spirit adjust bodily changes in humans according to diet, climate, environment, emotions, and time.

The adjustments and changes of Essence, Qi, and Spirit throughout a person's life—from birth, growth, development, strength, weakness, to death—are divided into the functions of Yin and Yang Qi:
Yang: Yang pushes all things to arise, representing growth, development, strength, and the twelve hours (six Shichen) of the morning. Yang is divided into three stages: Shaoyang (Lesser Yang), Yangming (Bright Yang), and Taiyang (Greater Yang).
Yin: Yin brings all things to a halt, representing the tendency toward weakness, aging, or the termination of growth and development. The twelve hours (six Shichen) of the afternoon are Yin. Yin is divided into three stages: Shaoyin (Lesser Yin), Taiyin (Greater Yin), and Jueyin (Terminal Yin).

Shaoyang: The initial emergence of Qi. Although tender and weak, it is a Yang with vitality, a newly born, tender Yang. In terms of Shichen, it corresponds to Zi and Hai. From birth to age ten, Shaoyang Meridian Qi governs. In the human body, it corresponds to the Gallbladder and Sanjiao (Triple Burner) Meridian Qi.

Yangming: Strong, energetic Yang. In terms of Shichen, it corresponds to Mao and Chen. From age eleven to twenty, Yangming Meridian Qi governs. In the human body, it corresponds to the Large Intestine and Stomach Meridian Qi.

Taiyang: When the abilities of Essence, Qi, and Spirit are strong, and activity reaches its peak, it is Taiyang. In terms of Shichen, it corresponds to Wei and Shen. From age twenty-one to thirty, Taiyang Meridian Qi governs. In the human body, it corresponds to the Small Intestine and Bladder Meridian Qi.

Shaoyin: When Yang Qi reaches its peak and begins to converge, marking the initial sign of decline, it is Shaoyin. In terms of Shichen, it corresponds to Wu and You. From age thirty-one to forty, Shaoyin Meridian Qi governs. In the human body, it corresponds to the Heart and Kidney Meridian Qi.

Taiyin: When Yang Qi has declined, growth slows, and growth/development stops, it is Taiyin. In terms of Shichen, it corresponds to Yin and Si. From age forty-one to fifty, Taiyin Meridian Qi governs. In the human body, it corresponds to the Lung and Spleen Meridian Qi.

Jueyin: The ability for growth and development is severed, like the sun sinking into the earth, sunlight disappearing, awaiting the rebirth of Shaoyang tomorrow. Thus, the Liver has the Qimen acupoint, where meridian Qi flow ends, marking the beginning of expectation. In terms of Shichen, it corresponds to Chou and Xu. From age fifty-one to sixty, Jueyin Meridian Qi governs. In the human body, it corresponds to the Liver and Pericardium Meridian Qi.

The growth and ascent of Essence, Qi, and Spirit are Yang; their decline and descent are Yin. There is Yin within Yang, Yang within Yin, Yang within Yang, and Yin within Yin.

Zang organs are Yin, Fu organs are Yang. The upper body is Yang, the lower body is Yin. The Yang meridians of the upper body are called Hand Shaoyang, Hand Yangming, Hand Taiyang. The Yang meridians of the lower body are called Foot Shaoyang, Foot Yangming, Foot Taiyang.

The Yin meridians of the upper body are called Hand Shaoyin, Hand Taiyin, Hand Jueyin. The Yin meridians of the lower body are called Foot Shaoyin, Foot Taiyin, Foot Jueyin.

Yin and Yang Qi change and act in different meridians in the human body depending on the Shichen. Modern people call this the biological clock, which is the change produced by the movement, rising, falling, and circulation of Yin and Yang Qi in human meridians according to the Shichen.

Many severely ill patients experience fluctuating conditions because meridian circulation interacts with heavenly and earthly electromagnetic waves—Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches generating and overcoming each other—manifesting as disease symptoms, especially prominent during solar term transitions.

The Yin-Yang functions of Essence, Qi, and Spirit in the human body undergo cyclical changes based on each Shichen (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai), each day, each solar term, each month, each season, each year, every ten years, and every sixty years. These recurring changes are called Zhouyi (Book of Changes), and the cyclic changes of the Twelve Meridians are called Yijing (Classic of Changes). See *Origin of Chinese Medicine - Yijing*.

(2) Why Can Acupuncture Treat Diseases?

If the frequency is correctly matched to the antenna on the roof, the TV downstairs can receive a clear signal. Radios have antennas; if the frequency is matched correctly, they can also receive clearly. The entire universe is filled with electromagnetic waves, although we cannot see or hear them with our naked eyes. These waves are the energy-Qi produced by the Sun, Moon, and Stars—called Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches by Chinese people, and Qi by TCM. They act on the human body everywhere and at all times.

The Twelve Meridians are the network system in the human body that operates the energy of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Illness occurs when the Twelve Meridians are out of balance with the energy-Qi of Sun-Fire, Moon-Water, and Star-Wind. Illness is equivalent to the meridians receiving inappropriate electromagnetic wave frequencies. Acupuncture connects specific acupoints to adjust the body's electromagnetic wave frequency. "Deqi" (Arrival of Qi) is the signal that the frequency is connected; "Bu Deqi" (Failure to Obtain Qi) means the circuit cannot connect. Just as matching the TV antenna frequency allows viewing, mismatched frequencies fail to achieve the purpose. Thus, needle insertion acts as the connection line of the antenna, achieving the goal of treating diseases.

Gold needles and silver needles transmit electromagnetic waves best and are less likely to break, so traditional acupuncture mostly uses gold and silver needles.

The function of Moxibustion is to use heat energy to warm, adjust, and raise the frequency of a specific acupoint, similar to an electrical transformer enhancing the Yang-electric wave of a specific acupoint, achieving therapeutic goals and restoring health.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion are two different things and two different treatments, but nowadays the public generally calls them "acupuncture" and confuses their different functions.

Chinese medicine includes acupuncture, but acupuncture cannot encompass all of Chinese medicine. Many people who learn acupuncture mistakenly believe they can cure all diseases, which is a huge error.

(3) Can Qigong and Zen Meditation Treat Diseases?

Look at infants sleeping; their tongues press against the palate. Why? To guide the ascending and descending of Qi.

Qigong and Zen meditation are also branches of TCM treatment, referred to as Daoyin (Guiding and Pulling) techniques by Yao Yuanquan.

Our thoughts are a type of electromagnetic wave. This wave directs our bodies to produce actions. Zen meditation and Qi circulation guide the operation of Qi in our bodies to eliminate circulatory obstacles and restore health.

The six types of electromagnetic energy/Qi in our bodies are commonly called the Six Spirits (Liu Shen) by Chinese people. We often hear the insult "Six Spirits without a Master," meaning the loss of function of these six electromagnetic waves or the inability to control one's own will.

The Six Spirits refer to the Six Yin and Six Yang Twelve Meridians, representing the energy manifested by the interactive current of each Yin-Yang meridian. Qigong and Zen meditation operate energy through one's own will. When Qi flows smoothly, one does not get sick. Those with deep skill can also export Qi energy outside the body to help others recover.

In Daoism, the Six Spirits are called Ling (Spiritual), Xing (Nature), Shen (Spirit), Yi (Intent), Hun (Ethereal Soul), Po (Corporeal Soul), representing the activity of our body's energy.

Qigong is like the magnetic attraction of an electromagnet. Practitioners use the magnetic field of Heart Blood to induce magnetic effects. Since patients' blood also contains iron, it can conduct magnetism, thus curing diseases similarly.

Body Qigong can produce six types of electrical energy, each producing a light—Red, Blue, White, Purple, Black, Yellow. The most skilled practitioners can gather these six lights into a Golden Light, like the halo above a Buddha statue. This Golden Light emits colorful rays, dazzling and beautiful, like the aura around a Buddha's head. This is the light manifested by the coordinated operation of the Ten Heavenly Stems (Central Nervous System) and Twelve Earthly Branches (Peripheral Nervous System).

(4) What is Kidney Deficiency and Ruined Kidneys?

In TCM, the function of the Kidney is not just filtering urine and waste; it is also the organ that exerts function, displays physical strength, and drives mental activity. Elderly people with weak Kidneys suffer from slow brain reactions, which Western medicine calls Alzheimer's disease, but TCM considers the consequence of Kidney Deficiency and Ruined Kidneys.

What does folk say about Kidney Deficiency and Ruined Kidneys?

Kidney Deficiency and Ruined Kidneys refer to the loss of bodily nutrients.

Men losing semen feel weak because the essence of the body is depleted, leaving no Essence to transform into Qi to generate strength. Male nocturnal emission/ejaculation is similar to female leukorrhea (Dai Xia).

What is female leukorrhea?

Stewed chicken produces chicken broth; the broth is the nutritional essence of the chicken.