Mongolian Medicine
01 · Historical Records
Zanabazar Dorji was a famous Mongolian pharmacologist of the 19th century. He was the son of Balachaoge, the ninth junwang (commandery prince) of Naiman Banner of the former Zhaowuda League in Inner Mongolia, and was granted the title of taiji (a Mongolian noble title). He was born in 1792. In his youth he took the lay Buddhist precepts; later he entered the Buddhist order and diligently practiced the Dharma, becoming renowned throughout the world. He passed away (entered parinirvana) in 1855.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Mongolian medicine is the scientific crystallization accumulated and handed down by the Mongolian people over generations. With its unique theoretical system and distinctive clinical efficacy, it has made its due contribution to the reproduction and prosperity of the Chinese nation. Within the scope of general internal medicine, Mongolian medicine has distinctive therapeutic methods, with very good results, for chronic disorders of the digestive, hepatobiliary, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems, for cerebrovascular accidents, and for such diseases as rheumatism and blood disorders. It also has distinctive efficacy for respiratory infections and digestive disorders in pediatrics, and for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, and postpartum conditions in gynecology. Mongolian bone-setting has always been regarded as a unique specialty, and its therapeutic effects on various bone injuries, chronic bone diseases, and joint diseases have long been highly regarded. In particular, the therapy of 'treating shock with shock' (for example, re-shocking an organ such as the brain in concussion by means of a shock applied in the opposite direction) achieves a rate of cure so high as to be awe-inspiring. Zanabazar Dorji warm needling is an important component of Mongolian medicine. The Zanabazar Dorji warm-needling therapy is a traditional Mongolian medical therapy in which specially made silver needles are applied at fixed points or other points of the human body to give acupuncture stimulation combined with warm moxibustion, so as to achieve the prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment of disease. This therapy has achieved highly satisfactory results in treating rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar disc herniation, acute and chronic lumbar sprains, lumbar hyperosteogeny, cervical spondylosis, and periarthritis of the shoulder.
Silver needling with warming
Special silver needles are inserted at fixed points and warmed, stimulating the body to prevent illness, to recover and to treat.
Zambal Dargi
A nineteenth-century Mongolian pharmacologist, son of the ninth Naiman-banner prince Bala Chokge and titled taiji, born in 1792 and died in 1855.
Disorders of sinew and bone
It has proved highly effective for rheumatic arthritis, disc protrusion, acute and chronic lumbar sprain, cervical and shoulder conditions.
Fire needling
The fire needle works chiefly by heat, striking at cold congealed in the tissues.
Treating concussion by concussion
Shaking in the opposite direction to a concussion—a Mongolian technique whose results in head injury are remarkable.
Where Mongolian medicine is practised
Mongolian medicine is practised across Inner Mongolia, the north-east provinces, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu and Beijing.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Mongolian medicine is distributed mainly in the Inner Mongolia region, the three provinces of Northeast China, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu, Beijing, and other areas.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Mongolian Medicine · Mongolian Medicine · Mongolian Medicine · Mongolian Medicine · Mongolian Medicine.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
At present, the overall decline of Chinese medicine has also affected the transmission of the Zanabazar Dorji warm-needling therapy, and its protection is extremely urgent. Zanabazar Dorji warm needling pairs silver needles with warm moxibustion, adopting a division of labor between needle and fire: the needle fixes the location, and the fire delivers the warmth; therefore the practitioner must first know where the disease lies in the channels and collaterals before determining the depth of insertion and the duration of needle retention. Within the overall framework of Mongolian medicine, it belongs to the category of external treatment, running in parallel with bone-setting and moxibustion. At present, the overall decline of Chinese medicine has also affected the transmission of the Zanabazar Dorji warm-needling therapy, and its protection is extremely urgent.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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