What I want to talk about is the difference in philosophy between Chinese and Western medicine. I'll share two little stories about the miraculous physician Hua Tuo to express the essence of Chinese medicine.
Once, Hua Tuo came to a small county town where two minor officials were suffering from headaches and fevers. They went together to see him for treatment. After observing, listening, questioning, and feeling their pulse, Hua Tuo prescribed a purgative for one and a diaphoretic for the other.
The two were very puzzled. Why was the medication different for the same symptoms? Hua Tuo explained that the first had a spleen and stomach problem, while the other suffered from wind-cold, hence the different treatments. Half convinced, they decided to trust the miraculous physician and followed the prescriptions. Once they returned home and took a few doses, they both recovered.
