A new exploration of apricots and health issues in ancient Chinese medical history literatures: Ecological explanation of Xinglin culture
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    Abstract:

    Apricot is a traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, apricot and health problems in ancient Chinese medical history are discussed from the perspectives of apricot and its growing environment, the discovery and application of its medicinal value, the origin and development of Xinglin culture, and the reflection of apricot culture. This paper analyzes the Xinglin culture from the angle of historical ecology. Apricot has a long history of cultivation in China, characterized by wide distribution, advanced cultivation techniques, and diverse types and varieties. The discovery and application of apricots were extensively recorded by ancient Chinese medical literature. Over time, the understanding of apricots regarding their origin, four properties and five flavors, toxicity, medicinal parts and their indications, and processing methods has continuously evolved. The medicinal use of apricots has a long history and continues to this day. As early as the pre-Qin period, apricots were used in emergency treatments for various diseases, primarily respiratory ailments, and later for external diseases as well. Even in the ancient classic prescription of traditional Chinese medicine published in China today, apricots still have a high participation. Apricots have developed into a cultural symbol known as Xinglin culture, with a long history of inheritance and evolution. The allusion to Xinglin in The Tales of Immortals by Ge Hong, a medical scientist of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, has made Xinglin a synonym for traditional Chinese medicine, contributing significantly to Xinglin culture. Its core is the praise of the doctor’s superb medical skills and noble medical ethics. Throughout history, the connotation of Xinglin culture keeps pace with the times and is constantly enriched. The spirit of Great Medical Sincerity advocated by Sun Simiao has further enriched Xinglin culture, and the spirit of artemisinin is its embodiment in the new era. Apricots and their associated culture demonstrate the ecological and cultural wisdom of harmonious coexistence among people, and between humans and society, rooted in the harmony between humans and nature. This culture encapsulates the essence of the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese medicine and highlights the virtues of the Chinese nation. Xinglin culture is a unique and harmonious ecological culture with traditional Chinese medicine as the core and rich connotation.

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石雪芹.中国古代医史文献中杏与健康问题新探——杏林文化的生态学解释[J].重庆大学学报社会科学版,2024,30(5):170~182

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  • Online: November 12,2024
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