Poisonous medicine in ancient china

This chapter introduces the history of toxicology in ancient China. It highlights the paradoxical meanings of toxicity or du in classical Chinese pharmacy, with perceived potency both to harm as a poison and to cure as a medicine. Instead of avoiding toxic substances entirely, Chinese doctors valued their therapeutic power and used them strategically-by dosage control and drug combination-to cure sickness. This chapter uses aconite, a highly toxic herb, as an example to show this crucial practice in Chinese pharmacy. The herb, one of the most commonly utilized drugs in antiquity, could induce strong bodily sensations that were deemed therapeutic. It was also deployed as a powerful poison in court murder, hunting, and warfare in ancient China. Finally, this chapter compares du with the Greek concept of pharmakon, and shows both striking similarities and critical differences on the use of toxic drugs between the two pharmacies.