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Materia Medica’s (books containing the properties and uses of plants) have been formed over the ages. Evidence of the use of CHM has been discovered in tombs unearth. Each time a new tomb is opened the history of CHM seems to extend back even further than previously thought. In 1973 a medical works was recovered from “Ma Wang Tomb Three” in Hunan province, and it changed the knowledge of what was thought to be the earliest Chinese medical period considerably. The burial date is precisely 168 B.C., and the material written on silk that appears to have been composed towards the end of the third century B.C.

This clearly shows the extent of CHM history. The “Inner Classic”, a text that was written by unknown authors was produced between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D. Therapeutic modalities discussed include herbs, acupuncture, diet and exercise. This text is still referred to today.

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