Miao Fu

About 7000 years ago

"Miao Fu"

According to《Shi Ji》 (Records of the Grand Historian), Miao Fu was an "ancient (approximately more than 7000 years ago) physician." He was regarded as a doctor, and his diagnostic and treatment methods were extraordinary and supernatural. He used straw grass (a perennial herbaceous plant) to weave mats for patients and himself to sit and lie on. He also made straw dogs. When patients sought his help, he would pick up a straw dog, face north, and chant some words, but each treatment only involved ten words. As a result, whether patients arrived with assistance or were carried, they immediately recovered completely.

According to the 《Shuo Yuan》， Miao Fu played musical instruments made of bamboo tubes and cured many people's ailments. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the unity of body and mind, and music can bring joy to the heart. A joyful heart can activate Qi and blood circulation. Fresh Qi and blood flow to the affected area, helping to clear harmful substances from the body and enhance healing ability.

Since Miao Fu didn't practice the "Four Diagnoses" or use the "Eight Methods" like later doctors, and even refrained from any surgical treatment, by ordinary standards, he might not be considered a "doctor." However, he successfully treated numerous patients with remarkable results, making him worthy of being called a "doctor." Therefore, we agree with Zhong Shuzi's opinion of classifying him as an "ancient physician."

Miao Fu's treatment methods are somewhat similar to those of the "Zhuyouke" doctors, but much simpler and more effective. The "Zhuyouke" doctors also avoid using drugs and surgery but have complex and intricate rituals, including chanting spells, drawing symbols, burning incense, and offering paper effigies, which are numerous but usually fail to treat severe illnesses. In contrast, Miao Fu only used a straw dog and ten words to cure various diseases, both major and minor.

It is worth mentioning that some cultivators, after staying at a certain level for a long time and developing compassion, enjoy treating others. Many methods require the recitation of mantras and incantations, so Miao Fu is highly likely to have been a cultivator. This also explains why his music therapy was highly effective, as combining music with cultivation amplifies the therapeutic effects of music. Laozi said that governing a great country is like cooking a small fish, and the same applies to treating serious illnesses as cooking a small fish.

Now, here's an example of cooking a small fish. Turmeric has weight loss effects, and so does chili pepper. However, if you use them separately, even if you consume them every day, you may not see significant weight loss effects. But if you mix the two together and add hot oil, the weight loss effect of turmeric increases by 2000 times (according to data from a US laboratory). If you have it for dinner, you'll see the weight loss results the next day.

Music therapy works similarly; to enhance its therapeutic effects, it must be combined with Qigong or meditation. Dr. Wu Shen, a music therapy professor at the University of Hawai'i in the United States, is a modern version of Miao Fu. He is a Qigong practitioner and a musician, and his music has powerful healing effects. He has saved many lives, including numerous American musicians.

Thus, when writing the character for medicine, "藥," five thousand years ago, it featured grass on top and music below. This indicates that music was the primary therapeutic means during that era.

----- Dr Zhu Weimin July 17, 2023

You might also be interested in the article below :

Yu Fu

In ancient China, there were no medical radio scanners to locate the position of brain tumors. However, how did surgeons operate on brain conditions?