Traditional Chinese medicine is a shining pearl in the treasury of ancient oriental culture. It is based on broad and profound theories and aided by a wide variety of medicines to create many astonishing medical miracles that have lasted forever in the history of mankind. The mystical and miraculous theories of traditional Chinese medicine once overwhelmed medical practitioners in a most awe-inspiring manner.
Fundamentally speaking, traditional Chinese medicine is the identical to the modern western medicine with the same ultimate goals in the study of human health and the subject of disease and prevention. Through the theories of the Chinese medicine using the four ‘hope, hear, ask, and cut’, methods of diagnosis, the progression, symptoms, and mechanism and recognition of the origin of the disease are thus concluded. Next, according to the progress of the disease, the strengths of the healthy and the pathogenic chi, the physique factor, the climate factor, and the location factor, the prescription, the selection, and the administration of the medicine as well as health care are proposed.
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the intrinsic unity and integrity of the human body including the mutual relationships between the internal organs, psychological and physiological activities, and people and the natural world. The holistic concept, the concept of constant movement, and differential diagnosis and treatment are stressed for the treatment of disease. In addition to the unique concept of health care, the importance of the preservation of spirit is emphasized to develop a distinctive medical system.
The Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital was officially founded on August 1, 1996. Since the opening of the clinic, the broad and profound traditional Chinese medicine was considered in combination with the technology of western medicine to educate students of the new generation and to reach the pinnacle of modern medicine for the benefit of all mankind. Therefore, after the vigorous preparation and endeavor by Chang Gung University, the Ministry of Education finally approved the admission of students to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1998.
Characteristic of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the teaching of both Chinese and western medicine which allows the student to acquire capabilities in both Chinese and western medicine. The courses offered include Basic Education, General Education, Basic Education of Chinese and Western Medicine, Clinical Education of Chinese and Western Medicine, Practice of Western Medicine in the 6th year, and Practice of Chinese Medicine in the 7th year. In order to develop the students’ life-long learning ability, problem oriented teaching is added to the courses in coordination with the General Education course focusing on the nurture of personalities with the aim of developing excellent doctors in Chinese and western combination medicine who have both ability and moral integrity.