[The origin and development of ointment rubbing].

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• External Therapies
• Medical History

Background:

• Ointment rubbing therapy combines massage with ointments for treating diverse medical conditions.
• This therapy has historical roots dating back to the Pre-Qin periods, with significant development during the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties.
• Despite its historical prevalence, the therapy is not widely known today due to lost texts and unexplored ancient prescriptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To trace the historical origin and evolution of ointment rubbing therapy.
• To summarize the characteristics of this therapy across different historical periods.
• To identify and present representative ancient texts related to ointment rubbing therapy to guide future research.

Main Methods:

• Historical literature review.
• Analysis of ancient Chinese medical texts and monographs.
• Tracing the development and characteristics of ointment rubbing therapy through dynasties.

Main Results:

• Ointment rubbing therapy originated in the Pre-Qin periods and flourished in the Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties.
• Key characteristics and applications of the therapy were identified for each historical era.
• A summary of representative ancient books was compiled, highlighting the historical significance and therapeutic scope.

Conclusions:

• Ointment rubbing therapy is a valuable external therapy in traditional Chinese medicine with a rich history.
• Further research into its historical texts and prescriptions is needed to revive and promote this therapy.
• This paper provides a foundational reference for understanding and researching ointment rubbing therapy.