在遠古時代，中華民族的祖先發(fā)現(xiàn)了一些動植物可以解除病痛，積累了一些用藥知識。隨著人類的進化，開始有目的地尋找防治疾病的藥物和方法，所謂“神農嘗百草”、“藥食同源”，就是當時的真實寫照。夏代（約前2070-前1600）酒和商代（前1600-前1046）湯液的發(fā)明，為提高用藥效果提供了幫助。進入西周時期（前1046-前771），開始有了食醫(yī)、疾醫(yī)、瘍醫(yī)、獸醫(yī)的分工。春秋戰(zhàn)國（前770-前221）時期，扁鵲總結前人經驗，提出“望、聞、問、切”四診合參的方法，奠定了中醫(yī)臨床診斷和治療的基礎。秦漢時期（前221-公元220）的中醫(yī)典籍《黃帝內經》，系統(tǒng)論述了人的生理、病理、疾病以及“治未病”和疾病治療的原則及方法，確立了中醫(yī)學的思維模式，標志著從單純的臨床經驗積累發(fā)展到了系統(tǒng)理論總結階段，形成了中醫(yī)藥理論體系框架。東漢時期，張仲景的《傷寒雜病論》，提出了外感熱?。òㄎ烈叩葌魅静。┑脑\治原則和方法，論述了內傷雜病的病因、病證、診法、治療、預防等辨證規(guī)律和原則，確立了辨證論治的理論和方法體系。同時期的《神農本草經》，概括論述了君臣佐使、七情合和、四氣五味等藥物配伍和藥性理論，對于合理處方、安全用藥、提高療效具有十分重要的指導作用，為中藥學理論體系的形成與發(fā)展奠定了基礎。東漢末年，華佗創(chuàng)制了麻醉劑“麻沸散”，開創(chuàng)了麻醉藥用于外科手術的先河。西晉時期（265-317），皇甫謐的《針灸甲乙經》，系統(tǒng)論述了有關臟腑、經絡等理論，初步形成了經絡、針灸理論。唐代（618-907），孫思邈提出的“大醫(yī)精誠”，體現(xiàn)了中醫(yī)對醫(yī)道精微、心懷至誠、言行誠謹的追求，是中華民族高尚的道德情操和卓越的文明智慧在中醫(yī)藥中的集中體現(xiàn)，是中醫(yī)藥文化的核心價值理念。明代（1368-1644），李時珍的《本草綱目》，在世界上首次對藥用植物進行了科學分類，創(chuàng)新發(fā)展了中藥學的理論和實踐，是一部藥物學和博物學巨著。清代（1644-1911），葉天士的《溫熱論》，提出了溫病和時疫的防治原則及方法，形成了中醫(yī)藥防治瘟疫（傳染?。┑睦碚摵蛯嵺`體系。清代中期以來，特別是民國時期，隨著西方醫(yī)學的傳入，一些學者開始探索中西醫(yī)藥學匯通、融合。

　　2.中醫(yī)藥特點

In remote antiquity, the ancestors of the Chinese nation chanced to find that some creatures and plants could serve as remedies for certain ailments and pains, and came to gradually master their application. As time went by, people began to actively seek out such remedies and methods for preventing and treating diseases. Sayings like "Shennong (Celestial Farmer) tasting a hundred herbs" and "food and medicine coming from the same source" are characteristic of those years.

The discovery of alcohol in the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BC) and the invention of herbal decoction in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) rendered medicines more effective.

In the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), doctors began to be classified into four categories - dietician, physician, doctor of decoctions and veterinarian.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period (770-221 BC), Bian Que drew on the experience of his predecessors and put forward the four diagnostic methods - inspection, auscultation & olfaction, inquiry, and palpation, laying the foundation for TCM diagnosis and treatment.

The Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) compiled during the Qin and Han times (221 BC-AD 220) offered systematic discourses on human physiology, on pathology, on the symptoms of illness, on preventative treatment, and on the principles and methods of treatment. This book defined the framework of TCM, thus serving as a landmark in TCM's development and symbolizing the transformation from the accumulation of clinical experience to the systematic summation of theories. A theoretical framework for TCM had been in place.

The Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Illnesses) collated by Zhang Zhongjing in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) advanced the principles and methods to treat febrile diseases due to exogenous factors (including pestilences). It expounds on the rules and principles of differentiating the patterns of miscellaneous illnesses caused by internal ailments, including their prevention, pathology, symptoms, therapies, and treatment. It establishes the theory and methodology for syndrome pattern diagnosis and treatment differentiation. The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica) - another masterpiece of medical literature appeared during this period - outlines the theory of the compatibility of medicinal ingredients. For example, it holds that a prescription should include at the same time the jun (or sovereign), chen (or minister), zuo (or assistant) and shi (or messenger) ingredient drugs, and should give expression to the harmony of the seven emotions as well as the properties of drugs known as "four natures" and "five flavors." All this provides guidance to the production of TCM prescriptions, safe application of TCM drugs and enhancement of the therapeutic effects, thus laying the foundation for the formation and development of TCM pharmaceutical theory. In the late years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Hua Tuo (c. 140-208) was recorded to be the first person to use anesthetic (mafeisan) during surgery.

The Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing (AB Canon of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) by Huangfu Mi during the Western Jin time (265-316) expounded on the concepts of zangfu (internal organs) and jingluo (meridians and collaterals). This was the point when theory of jingluo and acupuncture & moxibustion began to take shape.

Sun Simiao, a great doctor of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), proposed that mastership of medicine lies in proficient medical skills and lofty medical ethics, which eventually became the embodiment of a moral value of the Chinese nation, a core value that has been conscientiously upheld by the TCM circles.

A herbology and nature masterpiece, the Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica) compiled by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was the first book in the world that scientifically categorized medicinal herbs. It was a pioneering work that advanced TCM pharmaceutical theory.

The Wen Re Lun (A Treatise on Epidemic Febrile Diseases) by Ye Tianshi during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) developed the principles and methods for prevention and treatment of pestilential febrile diseases. It represents the theory and results of the practice of TCM in preventing and treating such diseases.

Following the spread of Western medicine in China from the mid-Qing Dynasty, especially during the period of the Republic of China (1912-1949), some TCM experts began to explore ways to absorb the essence of Western medicine for a combination of TCM with Western medicine. 

2. Characteristics of TCM