Traditional Chinese bone-setting therapy relieves bone-related pain by using small splints, or by re-aligning, resetting, and stretching the bone to cure disarticulation, fractures and other locomotive disorders. These highly specific bone-setting methods have been used for over 3,000 years and play a huge role in Traditional Chinese Medicine. At the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, specialized practitioners were assigned to cure orthopedic conditions. Basic methods and theories were developed during the Han and Ch’in dynasties, which were recorded in documents such as the Golden Mirror of Medicine, Invaluable Prescriptions for Ready Reference, The Secret Prescriptions for Curing Wounds and Fractures and Wounds, and the Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies. All these records have been passed down from one generation to another and contain valuable volumes of data on how to address bone disorders.
Aside from creating a unique theoretical system with refined curing techniques and principles, traditional Chinese bone-setting has also been able to gain highly enriching experiences over the course of its longstanding medical practices. Chinese medical experts invented the small splint immobilization which was eventually imitated by other countries due to its effectiveness. Traditional Chinese bone-setting is considered one of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s contributions to the world.
The ease, availability, and effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine have led to the overall health and well-being of the Chinese people. Among the medical practices and medicines, some have been thoroughly recorded while others have been only carried through oral instruction. Sadly, a lot of institutes of Traditional Chinese Medicine and hospitals are abandoning these age-old healing techniques because of financial concerns about its waning popularity, leaving less than ten hospitals of the southern and northern TCM Schools to carry on the tradition. Traditional Chinese medicine now is in danger of being totally abolished or abandoned. Effective steps need be taken at the soonest possible time to protect the ancient medicine practices of China. In addition, policy and academic studies should be encouraged to develop further various forms of traditional medicines.