Early Christian medical tradition owed much to Hippocratic medicine, even though it was based on Greek philosophy. Early Christians saw the physical aspect of Hippocratic medicine as relevant and useful.
The early Christians such as Basil the Great established one of the earliest hospitals. Together with Augustine, they both acknowledged that medicine benefits the body while instruction benefits the soul, and the underlying source of the physician’s healing power comes from Jesus Christ. Both presented medicine as symbolic of Christian benevolence.
For years, I have been skeptical of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its underlying spiritual Tao belief. Yet there are enough testimonies that TCM is effective in treatment. A notable example is the treatment of eczema. There is presently no cure at the moment but only relief management of this ailment at the hospital. But there are so many documented testimonies of people being cured of it going through TCM treatment. The TCM practice in using herbs and physical therapy like acupuncture might have certain scientific basis that might had been lost in centuries past. Perhaps during the reign of Shi Huang Ti, the first emperor of China, such medical knowledge were lost when he ordered the burning of all books.
Properly understood, the secular aspect of TCM is not incompatible with our Christian faith just like Hippocratic medicine. Since I believe all healing is divine healing so TCM can be part of God’s healing too. (In my gospel tract written for the Chinese, I mentioned that Dao De Jing, the Taoist Scripture, contained much amazing knowledge of our Christian faith. http://www.jcmanifesto.org/gospel-tract-for-the-chinese-final-print-in-english-version/)
Presently there is much official opposition to missionary effort in China but at the same time, enterprises are encouraged to help the poor masses to cope with rising cost of living. I believe TCM can be such a bridge to bringing much needed help and subsequently the gospel to the poor masses in China.
