Contributor: Melissa Kowalski. Lesson ID: 12741
The field of medicine has come a long way over thousands of years -- or has it? Some cultures look to the earth for their medicines instead of the pharmacist. Which do you prefer: pain pills or pins?
What do you think the jars pictured above contain?
If so, pat yourself on the back! The Chinese culture has a long tradition of practicing medicine that stretches thousands of years into the past. Many Chinese practices, such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and tai chi, have also entered Western medical practices. Chinese medicine tends to rely on natural remedies for diseases using roots, herbs, plants, and animals. To learn more about the history of Chinese medical practices, read the following article. As you read, answer the following questions in the notebook or journal you have been keeping on the novel:
Read Understanding the Past: An Historical Timeline of Chinese Medicine, by Professor Wang Jin-Huai, courtesy of Integrative Body Works.
When you've finished responding to the questions in your notebook, read Chapters Twenty-One through Twenty-Five in The Good Earth. You will need to obtain a print copy of the book, which you can find in a local bookstore or library. As you read, take notes on Wang's problems with his eldest son and wife. Also, take note of the doctor's treatments in this section.
When you've finished reading and taking notes, move on to the Got It? section to explore the details of these chapters more closely.
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