Yin, Yang and Coca Cola: Changing and Enduring Concepts of Health and Balance among Zhong Yi 中醫 in Southern China

Abstract

While modern dentistry views mouth and teeth as significant parts of the oral system, Chinese medicine does not justapose a concept of the ‘oral system” in its epistemological system. Some Zhong Yi consider the mouth, tongue, nose and throat as parts of Kou Zhou口周, but hardly ever focus on the teeth. Furthermore, Chinese Medicine is a resilient medical system that considers the body as a holistic balance. Hence, Kou Zhou is not a separated system of the body, but a location connecting several internal organs such as the heart, liver and stomach. Apart from the pulse diagnosis, some Zhong Yi prefer tongue diagnosis. In Chinese medicine, the tip of tongue has a strong correlation with the heart. The research on health issues in relation to Kou Zhou and their treaments provides us with access to viewing the internal environment of human body, and to the spirits of heart.