The following is an inquiry into the phenomenon of “Spirit” and its relation to the practice of locating an acupuncture point. In this context of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which finds its roots in Taoist tradition, the aspect of Spirit shen is understood as being inextricably inter-related, inter-dependent and inter-connected with the Body and Mind aspects of this triune. Eight practitioners agreed to participate in a taped interview describing the experience of locating an acupoint. Although each practitioner described an experience which was unique, four threads emerged which are similar: (1) the practitioner focuses a body mediated awareness inward; (2) this awareness is then extended to the patient; (3) then there is the experience of movement toward the point both with intention and a palpating finger; and (4) when the point has been located there is a pause, followed by the sensation of arrival of the patient’s qi at the acupoint.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A Medicina chinesa divulgada no ocidente tem sido estudada de forma fragmentada entre as suas diferentes formas de expressão desenvolvidas ao longo da história do Pensamento Médico Chinês. Nesse sentido o texto destaca três possíveis vertentes desta expressão, que denomina: Medicina Clássica Chinesa (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ), Medicina Tradicional Chinesa (ZHÖNG YÏ) e Medicina Chinesa Contemporânea (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). A primeira expressa as formulações nas obras clássicas surgidas a partir do período formativo da Medicina Chinesa, na Dinastia HÀN (206 a.C. a 221 d.C.). A segunda como corpo teórico e prático de conhecimento que, se disseminou no Oriente em geral e, posteriormente, no Ocidente como uma continuidade da Medicina Clássica Chinesa (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). A terceira refere-se à corrente hegemônica, hoje, na República Popular da China e mais tarde nos meios ocidentais. O objetivo do trabalho é investigar como tem sido divulgada no Ocidente por diferentes autores representantes de cada uma dessas vertentes a categoria SHÉN , frequentemente traduzida no Ocidente como Mente ou Espírito. Para tal, leva-se em conta a notoriedade acadêmica, a familiaridade com o idioma chinês, os pressupostos adotados, a história pessoal de cada um desses autores, entendidas como determinantes para suas apreensões de sentidos e significados da categoria SHÉN e, consequentemente, para os sentidos que assumem sua divulgação no Ocidente. Entendendo a Medicina Chinesa como uma Racionalidade Médica, conforme definição de Madel Therezinha Luz composta de seis dimensões: cosmologia, doutrina médica, dinâmica vital, morfologia, diagnose e terapêutica, o trabalho investiga do ponto de vista teórico-conceitual, amparado na Filosofia e Antropologia Médicas como a categoria SHÉN relaciona-se a cada uma das dimensões da Racionalidade Médica Chinesa. SHÉN relaciona-se com diversas outras categorias do Pensamento Médico e Filosófico Chinês, não sendo possível conceituá-lo sem mencionar categorias, tais como DÀO, YÏN YÁNG , TIÄN (Céu), RÉN (Homem), DÌ (Terra), MING (Destino), WÜ XÍNG (Cinco Fases), SÄN BÄO (Três Tesouros), GUÏ e LING Manifesta-se de diferentes formas através de sua relação com os ZÁNG FÜ (Órgãos e Vísceras), interferindo no funcionamento orgânico-visceral, nos aspectos de personalidade, nas emoções, entendidas como uma totalidade corpo-mente-espírito no Pensamento Médico chinês. SHÉN está presente em todas as dimensões da Racionalidade Médica Chinesa, diferindo o grau de importância dado por autores representantes de cada uma das três vertentes da Medicina Chinesa. Autores representantes da Medicina Clássica Chinesa (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) E DA Medicina Tradicional Chinesa (ZHÖNG YÏ) tendem a valorizar sua presença em todas as dimensões. Autores representantes da Medicina Chinesa Contemporânea (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) tendem a valorizar a participação de SHÉN na dimensão Diagnose. Percebe-se, portanto, que SHÉN ao participar de todas as dimensões ganha o importante papel de estruturante da Racionalidade Médica Chinesa, não podendo, portanto, ser negligenciado nos estudos da Medicina Chinesa, sob pena de comprometer a importância da Racionalidade Médica. / The Chinese medicine spread in the West has been studied in a fragmented way among its different forms of expression developed throughout the history of Chinese Medical Thinking.In this sense, the text highlights three possible paths of this expression, which are denominated: Classical Chinese Medicine (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ), Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZHÖNG YÏ) e Contemporary Chinese Medicine (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). The first one expresses the formulations in the classical works which appeared during the formative period of Chinese Medicine, in the HÁN Dynasty (206 b.C. to 221 a.C.). The second one as theoretical and practical body of knowledge which disseminated itself in the East in general and, later on, in the West as a continuity of Classical Chinese Medicine (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). The third one refers to the current hegemony, today, in the Peoples of Republic of China, which began from a systematization and unification of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZHÖNG YÏ), proposed by Mao Zedong, practiced in the Peoples of Republic of China, later, on western milieus. The objective of this paper is to investigate how the SHÉN category, frequently translated as Mind or Spirit, has been spread in the West by different authors representing each one of these paths. For such, we take into consideration academic notoriety, familiary with the Chinese language, the presupposition adopted, the personal history of each one of these authors, understood as determinants for their apprehensions of senses and meanings of the SHÉN category and, consequently, for the meanings which its diffusion in the West may assume. Understanding Chinese Medicine as a Medical Rationality, according to the definition of Madel Therezinha Luz, constituted by six dimensions: Cosmology, Medical Doctrine, Vital Dynamics, Morphology, Diagnosis and Therapeutics, this research investigates, from the theoretical-conceptual point of view, supported by Medical Philosophy and Anthropology such as the SHÉN category, relates to each one of the Chinese Medical Rationalitys dimensions. SHÉN relates to many different other categories of Chinese Philosophical and Medical Thinking, not being possible to conceptualize it without mentioning these categories, like DÀO , YÏN YÁNG , TIÄN (Heave), RÉN (Men), DÌ (Earth), MING (Destiny), WÜ XÍNG (Five Phases), SÄN BÄO (Three Treasures), GUÏ e LING It manifests itself indifferent ways by means of its relation with the ZÁNG FÜ (Organs and Viscera), interfering in the organic-visceral functioning, in the aspects of personality, emotions, understood as a body-mind-spirit totality in the Chinese Medical Thinking. SHÉN is present in all dimensions of Chinese Medical Rationality, differing in the degree of importance give by authors which represent each of the three paths of Chinese Medicine. Authors representing the Classical Chinese Medicine (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZHÖNG YÏ) tend to valorize its presence in all dimensions. Authors representing the Contemporary Chinese Medicine (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) tend to valorize SHÉN participation in the Diagnosis dimension. Its notice, therefore, that SHÉN , when participating in all dimensions, gain the important role of structuring the Chinese Medical Rationality, not being possible to disregard it in the studies of Chinese Medicine, under the risk of compromising the importance of this Medical Rationality.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A Medicina chinesa divulgada no ocidente tem sido estudada de forma fragmentada entre as suas diferentes formas de expressão desenvolvidas ao longo da história do Pensamento Médico Chinês. Nesse sentido o texto destaca três possíveis vertentes desta expressão, que denomina: Medicina Clássica Chinesa (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ), Medicina Tradicional Chinesa (ZHÖNG YÏ) e Medicina Chinesa Contemporânea (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). A primeira expressa as formulações nas obras clássicas surgidas a partir do período formativo da Medicina Chinesa, na Dinastia HÀN (206 a.C. a 221 d.C.). A segunda como corpo teórico e prático de conhecimento que, se disseminou no Oriente em geral e, posteriormente, no Ocidente como uma continuidade da Medicina Clássica Chinesa (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). A terceira refere-se à corrente hegemônica, hoje, na República Popular da China e mais tarde nos meios ocidentais. O objetivo do trabalho é investigar como tem sido divulgada no Ocidente por diferentes autores representantes de cada uma dessas vertentes a categoria SHÉN , frequentemente traduzida no Ocidente como Mente ou Espírito. Para tal, leva-se em conta a notoriedade acadêmica, a familiaridade com o idioma chinês, os pressupostos adotados, a história pessoal de cada um desses autores, entendidas como determinantes para suas apreensões de sentidos e significados da categoria SHÉN e, consequentemente, para os sentidos que assumem sua divulgação no Ocidente. Entendendo a Medicina Chinesa como uma Racionalidade Médica, conforme definição de Madel Therezinha Luz composta de seis dimensões: cosmologia, doutrina médica, dinâmica vital, morfologia, diagnose e terapêutica, o trabalho investiga do ponto de vista teórico-conceitual, amparado na Filosofia e Antropologia Médicas como a categoria SHÉN relaciona-se a cada uma das dimensões da Racionalidade Médica Chinesa. SHÉN relaciona-se com diversas outras categorias do Pensamento Médico e Filosófico Chinês, não sendo possível conceituá-lo sem mencionar categorias, tais como DÀO, YÏN YÁNG , TIÄN (Céu), RÉN (Homem), DÌ (Terra), MING (Destino), WÜ XÍNG (Cinco Fases), SÄN BÄO (Três Tesouros), GUÏ e LING Manifesta-se de diferentes formas através de sua relação com os ZÁNG FÜ (Órgãos e Vísceras), interferindo no funcionamento orgânico-visceral, nos aspectos de personalidade, nas emoções, entendidas como uma totalidade corpo-mente-espírito no Pensamento Médico chinês. SHÉN está presente em todas as dimensões da Racionalidade Médica Chinesa, diferindo o grau de importância dado por autores representantes de cada uma das três vertentes da Medicina Chinesa. Autores representantes da Medicina Clássica Chinesa (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) E DA Medicina Tradicional Chinesa (ZHÖNG YÏ) tendem a valorizar sua presença em todas as dimensões. Autores representantes da Medicina Chinesa Contemporânea (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) tendem a valorizar a participação de SHÉN na dimensão Diagnose. Percebe-se, portanto, que SHÉN ao participar de todas as dimensões ganha o importante papel de estruturante da Racionalidade Médica Chinesa, não podendo, portanto, ser negligenciado nos estudos da Medicina Chinesa, sob pena de comprometer a importância da Racionalidade Médica. / The Chinese medicine spread in the West has been studied in a fragmented way among its different forms of expression developed throughout the history of Chinese Medical Thinking.In this sense, the text highlights three possible paths of this expression, which are denominated: Classical Chinese Medicine (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ), Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZHÖNG YÏ) e Contemporary Chinese Medicine (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). The first one expresses the formulations in the classical works which appeared during the formative period of Chinese Medicine, in the HÁN Dynasty (206 b.C. to 221 a.C.). The second one as theoretical and practical body of knowledge which disseminated itself in the East in general and, later on, in the West as a continuity of Classical Chinese Medicine (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ). The third one refers to the current hegemony, today, in the Peoples of Republic of China, which began from a systematization and unification of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZHÖNG YÏ), proposed by Mao Zedong, practiced in the Peoples of Republic of China, later, on western milieus. The objective of this paper is to investigate how the SHÉN category, frequently translated as Mind or Spirit, has been spread in the West by different authors representing each one of these paths. For such, we take into consideration academic notoriety, familiary with the Chinese language, the presupposition adopted, the personal history of each one of these authors, understood as determinants for their apprehensions of senses and meanings of the SHÉN category and, consequently, for the meanings which its diffusion in the West may assume. Understanding Chinese Medicine as a Medical Rationality, according to the definition of Madel Therezinha Luz, constituted by six dimensions: Cosmology, Medical Doctrine, Vital Dynamics, Morphology, Diagnosis and Therapeutics, this research investigates, from the theoretical-conceptual point of view, supported by Medical Philosophy and Anthropology such as the SHÉN category, relates to each one of the Chinese Medical Rationalitys dimensions. SHÉN relates to many different other categories of Chinese Philosophical and Medical Thinking, not being possible to conceptualize it without mentioning these categories, like DÀO , YÏN YÁNG , TIÄN (Heave), RÉN (Men), DÌ (Earth), MING (Destiny), WÜ XÍNG (Five Phases), SÄN BÄO (Three Treasures), GUÏ e LING It manifests itself indifferent ways by means of its relation with the ZÁNG FÜ (Organs and Viscera), interfering in the organic-visceral functioning, in the aspects of personality, emotions, understood as a body-mind-spirit totality in the Chinese Medical Thinking. SHÉN is present in all dimensions of Chinese Medical Rationality, differing in the degree of importance give by authors which represent each of the three paths of Chinese Medicine. Authors representing the Classical Chinese Medicine (GÜ DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) and the Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZHÖNG YÏ) tend to valorize its presence in all dimensions. Authors representing the Contemporary Chinese Medicine (DÄNG DÀI ZHÖNG YÏ) tend to valorize SHÉN participation in the Diagnosis dimension. Its notice, therefore, that SHÉN , when participating in all dimensions, gain the important role of structuring the Chinese Medical Rationality, not being possible to disregard it in the studies of Chinese Medicine, under the risk of compromising the importance of this Medical Rationality.

One in six couples wishing to start a family are infertile. The many causes of infertility include genetic defects that can be single gene, multifactorial or chromosomal (including Y deletions, karyotype abnormalities and gamete aneuploidy). This thesis is concerned with the association between infertility and increased sperm aneuploidy. Specific questions are: should males be screened for sperm aneuploidy before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)? Is there a relationship between individual semen parameters and sperm aneuploidy for specific chromosome pairs? What is the role of genome organisation in male gametes and its association with infertility? Whether use of alternative therapy (in this case, traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)) can be used to improve sperm disomy levels. Statistical analysis of questionnaire data revealed that infertility specialists believed there to be merit in screening sperm aneuploidy levels before ICSI. Evidence is presented for possible chromosome-specific and semen parameter specific mechanisms for sperm aneuploidy as is evidence of genome organisation that may be perturbed in infertile males. Finally, in six males studied, sperm aneuploidy levels improved significantly coincident with TCM. Closer investigation of the biological activity of individual therapeutic herbs and treatment cocktails revealed strong anti-oestrogenic and anti-oxidant properties. This suggests a possible mechanism of action of the herbs and provides the basis from which future placebo controlled clinical trials might continue. Possible criticisms of the work presented here include the unavailability of blood samples from many of the patients (thus preventing karyotype analysis) and the absence of a second control group in our studies on semen parameters. Nevertheless significant steps have been made towards establishing the need for, and the implementation of, a pre-ICSI screening test. Moreover progress has been made towards further understanding the aetiology of sperm aneuploidy and towards the implementation of a new treatment that may, ultimately, augment, or even replace ICSI.

<div> <p> This dissertation examines medical representations, or what I call “fiction medicine,” in post-1949 Chinese literature and film. It is not uncommon to evaluate whether medical facts are scientifically portrayed in literary and cinematic works. Insightful and reasonable as this method is, the interpretation of relevant descriptions from a single medical perspective tends to exclude what may be labeled as misrepresentations from scholarly attention. Therefore, without judging the value of fiction medicine in accordance with scientific standards, this dissertation analyzes how and why medical (mis)representations are formed in the way they are shown, which allows me to unearth those factors, such as politics, international relations, ideology, and the like, that exert considerable influence on the construction of medical landscape in cultural works. </p> <p> By exploring the interaction between representations and medicine under the Chinese revolutionary context, I argue that during the socialist period (1949-78), while revolutionary concerns tightly regulated the writing of fiction medicine to consolidate the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s rule, the production of fiction medicine was not always monolithic, containing tensions and even resistances against the prevailing ideology. I also argue that, after 1978, although socialist fiction medicine was deconstructed in many ways, some remnants of its legacies have kept influencing contemporary literary and cinematic imaginations. Based on my main arguments, I will further explore why some socialist legacies were preserved and remained influential while others were abandoned as reminders of the past. I suggest that this phenomenon was highly related to the shifting goals of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the post-1978 political, ideological, and economic reorientation.</p> </div> <br>

Introduction Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical practice, performed since approximately 2000 B.C. Qigong constitutes one of five main pillars in TCM and is a method of meditation, exercise as well as self-medication. Basic tenets of TCM is the body existing in balance with Qi (life-energy) and its emphasis on holistic dynamic processes over material structure. A lot of research has been done on the positive health effects of Qigong, although it is unclear whether the evidence situation is judged to be sufficient to prove Qigong effective. Objective To investigate the arguments for and against acceptance of Qigong in Swedish Healthcare Methods This is a qualitative study that followed the hermeneutical method, as well as the normative ethical theory, of study-design and data analysis. Searches of grey literature and electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane) were performed, serving the purpose to collect different perspectives. The selection of sources was based on relevance to the aim. Data emerged was analysed in order to investigate the most relevant ethical arguments for and against integration of Qigong in the Swedish healthcare. Results Main arguments against acceptance of Qigong were: “Traditional Chinese Medicine’s underlying philosophy stand in opposition to scientific worldview”, “Lack of strong evidence”, “Complementary and Alternative Medicine lead people away from Evidence Based Medicine”, and “Economical incentive and bias in Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Qigong”.Main arguments for acceptance of Qigong were: “Extensive proven experience”, “Further acceptance and integration may increase patient safety and promote research”, and “Qigong is risk-free and highly available at low cost” Conclusion A strong argument against acceptance of Qigong is “lack of strong evidence”. Strong arguments for acceptance of Qigong are “further acceptance and integration may promote research” and “Qigong is risk-free and highly available at low cost”. Thus, strong arguments are found for, as well as against, integration of Qigong in Swedish established healthcare. The balance between these strong arguments, however, will have to be discussed further, as there is no obvious right answer.

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published_or_final_version / Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This written thesis examines the process of producing Herb and Life: a Chinese Medical Family, a thirty-minute documentary video that explores the producer's family members' relationship with Traditional Chinese Medicine. This documentary uses interviews, narration, music, and observational sequences to display documentary subjects' career choices and their experiences with Traditional Chinese Medicine. This written thesis reveals the development of this documentary, from the pre-production to production and post-production stages. It also incorporates theoretical analysis and self-evaluation of this documentary video.