Two Pathogen-Based Etiological Theories of Infectious Diseases in Ancient Chinese Medicine: A Historical Review

In the etiology of traditional Chinese medicine, the Qi-based theory of infectious diseases, which is primarily rooted in climatic explanations, has long been widely recognized by both academic circles and the general public. As research on medical traditions such as folk medicine and religious medicine in ancient China continues to deepen, the worm-centered theory of infectious diseases that focuses on biological pathogens has gained increasing scholarly attention.

The doctrines of Gu (demonic poison) and Jiuchong (nine worms) are representative of this theoretical framework. These doctrines attribute the onset and transmission of numerous infectious diseases to the invasion and migration of real or hypothetical pathogenic Chong (worms). Correspondingly, a variety of intervention methods were developed to treat patients and curb disease spread, encompassing medicinal therapy, physical isolation, personal cultivation practices, and even religious rituals.

Systematic research on these worm-centered infectious disease theories is of great significance. It helps to comprehensively reconstruct the cognitive system and response strategies for infectious diseases in ancient China.