The story of the great physician Tuệ Tĩnh

For over six centuries, the philosophy of "using Vietnamese medicine to treat Vietnamese people" of the great physician and Zen master Tuệ Tĩnh has steadfastly accompanied the cause of caring for and protecting the health of the people.

The historical site of the Temple of the Great Physician and Zen Master Tuệ Tĩnh in Tuệ Tĩnh commune. Photo: THÀNH CHUNG

The founder of traditional Vietnamese medicine.

In the history of Vietnamese traditional medicine, Tuệ Tĩnh was an outstanding physician who laid the foundation for Vietnamese traditional medicine in an independent, self-reliant direction, deeply connected to the lives of the people. His real name was Nguyễn Bá Tĩnh (1330 - 1400), from Nghĩa Phú village, Cẩm Giàng district, Hải Dương province (now Tuệ Tĩnh commune, Hải Phòng city), and he was a physician living during the late Trần dynasty.

In 1351, during the reign of King Tran Du Tong, he passed the Imperial Examination. Unlike many intellectuals of his time, Tue Tinh did not pursue an official career but chose the path of monastic life, taking the Buddhist name Tue Tinh, dedicating his entire life to studying medicine and treating the sick and the poor. He traveled throughout the countryside, collecting medicinal plants, summarizing folk remedies, training monks, and transforming many temples into centers for community medical care.

Tuệ Tĩnh's scholarly achievements are encapsulated in two major works: "Hồng nghĩa giác tư y thư" and "Nam dược thần hiệu". In his writings, he systematized hundreds of Vietnamese medicinal herbs and thousands of remedies for 184 diseases, ranging from internal medicine and surgery to pediatrics, gynecology, and health preservation.

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The core principle in Tuệ Tĩnh's medical practice was the philosophy of "Vietnamese medicine for Vietnamese people." He advocated using readily available and easily obtainable medicinal herbs suitable for the Vietnamese constitution, while combining various treatment methods such as oral medication, acupuncture, massage, compresses, steaming, and health preservation techniques.

Statue of the renowned physician Tuệ Tĩnh in the inner sanctuary of the Bia Temple. Photo: THÀNH CHUNG

Value for future generations

Tuệ Tĩnh's philosophy of "using Vietnamese medicine to treat Vietnamese people" is not just a historical legacy, but continues to be inherited and vividly developed in the current practice of public health care in Hai Phong city, especially at the grassroots level .

At Lai Khe Commune Health Station No. 2, the model of examination and treatment using traditional medicine has been yielding clear results. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lanh suffered from chronic itching for many years. After treatment with Western medicine proved ineffective and she was concerned about side effects, she was advised to use traditional Vietnamese medicine at Lai Khe Commune Health Station No. 2. Familiar and easily available herbs, some even found in her own garden, helped significantly improve her condition and stabilize her mental state.

The medicinal herb garden of the Military-Civilian Medical Clinic of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion always has a variety of medicinal plants to serve the officers, soldiers, and people on the island.

Furthermore, traditional medicine is also effective when combined with modern medicine at specialized treatment facilities. According to Dr. Le Quang Duc , Deputy Director of Hai Duong Provincial General Hospital, in treating digestive diseases such as gastritis and duodenal ulcers, combining the two medical systems yields more comprehensive results.

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According to Mr. Pham Duc Thuy, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong City Traditional Medicine Association, the association currently has over 2,000 members, operating in dozens of local branches and sub-branches. Each year, the association's affiliated facilities examine and treat millions of patients, the majority of whom receive treatment using traditional medicine or a combination of traditional and Western medicine. Millions of traditional herbal remedies are used, affirming the people's trust in traditional medicine. The quality of traditional medicine examination and treatment is constantly improving, with many clinics operating stably and effectively, building trust among the people.

From the medical philosophy of Tuệ Tĩnh to the traditional Vietnamese medicinal herb gardens, health stations, hospitals, and development projects of today, there is a continuous thread connecting and promoting the value of "Vietnamese medicine for Vietnamese people." This is considered one of the appropriate and sustainable approaches in caring for, protecting, and improving the health of the people in the new era.

THANH NGA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/chuyen-ve-dai-danh-y-tue-tinh-536485.html