History of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine

1. ANCIENT PERIOD (FROM THE EARLY 1ST CENTURY TO THE 3RD CENTURY CE)
It was recorded only in the form of practical experience. Living in a tropical monsoon region, where malaria, seasonal illnesses, and intestinal infectious diseases were common, ancient Vietnamese people accumulated considerable experience in using medicinal substances in food, drink, and daily life, such as betel leaves, areca nuts, ginger, onions, garlic, chili, galangal, coix seeds, lime, green tea, chè vằng, and they also knew how to prevent tooth decay through the custom of blackening the teeth.

2. MEDIEVAL PERIOD (3RD CENTURY – 17TH CENTURY CE)
The Vietnamese nation entered the medieval period under the domination of the Han, Wei, Jin, Song, Qi, Liang, Sui, and Tang dynasties (179 BCE – 938 CE). Under this rule, upper-class Vietnamese were likely introduced to a classical medical tradition through physicians from China, such as Dong Feng (187–226) and Lam Thang (479–501). During this period, several Vietnamese medicinal materials were recorded in Chinese pharmacopoeias, including:
– Coix seed and kudzu root (Danh Y Biet Luc).
– Cardamom (Hai Nam Ban Thao – Tang dynasty).
– Rangoon creeper (Ban Thao Khai Bao – Song dynasty).
– Lemongrass (Ban Thao Thap Di).
– Betel and areca nut (To Cung Ban Thao).
– Vetiver, bitter melon, pumpkin, and malva nut (Ban Thao Cương Mục).

2.1. The Ngo – Dinh – Early Le – Ly Dynasties (938–1224)

Vietnamese medicine, in addition to its experiential character, also took on a religious dimension because Taoism and Buddhism flourished strongly during these dynasties. A notable example is that in 1136, the physician Nguyen Minh Khong reportedly treated King Ly Than Tong’s mental illness using incantations and rituals.

2.2. The Tran – Ho – Later Le Dynasties (1225–1788)

From the Tran dynasty onward, Confucianism developed strongly. Chu Van An and Truong Han Sieu were among those who initiated a movement against superstition nationwide, and it was at this time that Vietnamese medicine had the opportunity to advance.

However, because Vietnamese intellectual and cultural life remained closely tied to China, Vietnamese medicine developed largely on the theoretical foundation of traditional Chinese medicine. Thus, during this period, Vietnamese medical figures left to posterity works such as:
– Cham Cuu Tiep Hieu Dien Ca by Nguyen Dai Nang (Ho dynasty), which supplemented acupuncture points such as Nhu Anh, Boi Lam for malaria, Truc Cot for wasting disease, and Quan Dan, Phuc Nguyen for epilepsy.
– Bao Anh Luong Phuong by Nguyen Truc (1455), on the treatment of measles and smallpox.
– Y Hoc Yeu Giai Tap Chu Di Bien by Chu Doan Van (1466), discussing water-fire balance and exogenous diseases.
– Nhan Khoa Yeu Luoc by Le Duc Vong (Le dynasty), on the treatment of eye diseases, especially trachoma and ingrown eyelashes.
– Bao Sinh Dien Tho Toan Yeu by Dao Cong Chinh (1676), on methods of physical and mental hygiene.
– Ta Thi Chuan Dich Y Uoc by Ta Chat Phac (Le dynasty), on the use of medicinal prescriptions for internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics.

Particularly during the Tran dynasty, while the royal court and nobility preferred Chinese drugs, the physician Tue Tinh, with a spirit of independence and self-reliance, advocated the principle “Southern medicine for Southern people” through his work Nam Duoc Than Hieu (supplemented and reprinted in 1761).

However, it was not until the Later Le period that the full body of Chinese and Vietnamese medical theory and practice was synthesized at the deepest level in Hai Thuong Y Tong Tam Linh by Le Huu Trac (1720–1791).

In earlier dynasties, rulers were mainly concerned with the health of the king, officials, and the military, while the health care of common people was left to private practitioners or religious institutions. Only during the Ho dynasty (1400–1406) did Ho Han Thuong establish Quang Te Thu to provide treatment for the people and appoint physician Nguyen Dai Nang to oversee it.

Especially under the Le dynasty (1261), in addition to establishing Y Hoc Huan Khoa to train physicians, the government also promulgated the Hong Duc Code, which contained provisions on medical ethics (Article 541), food hygiene management (Article 420), and forensic medicine in the text Nhan Than Kiem Tra Nghiem Phap.

2.3. The Le–Mac and Tay Son Periods (1428–1802)

In addition to the great classical work of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac, this period also produced:
– Nam Duoc by Nguyen Hoanh (Tay Son period), introducing 500 medicinal herbs and 130 mineral- and animal-based medicinal materials.
– Lieu Dich Phuong Phap Toan Tap on infectious diseases; Ho Nhi Phuong Phap Tong Luc on pediatrics; and Ly Am Phuong Phap Thong Luc on gynecology by Nguyen Gia Phan (1784–1817).

During this same period, Vietnam—particularly Dang Trong—engaged in economic exchanges with Southeast Asian countries, through which local products such as Tho Nhan Sam, Nguu Tat, Phuc Linh, pangolin scales, turtle shell, and cicada slough were traded in exchange for agarwood, aloeswood, and rhinoceros horn.

3. MODERN PERIOD (17TH CENTURY – 20TH CENTURY CE)

3.1. The Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1884)

State medical administration did not differ much from that of the Le dynasty. In academic terms, Vietnamese physicians continued compiling and authoring medical works, while also learning to some extent from Chinese medical experience, including:
– Xuan Dinh Y An Kinh Tri Chu Chung by Le Kinh Hap, specializing in epidemic and seasonal diseases.
– Thach Nha Kinh by Duong Khai, on tongue diagnosis.

3.2. The French Colonial Period (1884–1945)

Vietnamese traditional medicine entered the 20th century after the Nguyen court signed the Harmand Treaty (August 25, 1883), turning Vietnam into a colony.

From 1894 to 1906, the traditional physician offices (Ty Luong Y) were successively dissolved and replaced by hospitals or infirmaries under the authority of the Inspectorate of Health of Indochina.

In 1920, the French colonial administration limited the number of traditional medicine practitioners in Southern Vietnam to no more than 500. In 1943, it issued an additional decree restricting traditional practice by prohibiting the use of potent medicinal substances such as processed aconite and croton seed.

Under such difficult conditions, the Central Vietnam Medical Association (established September 14, 1936) organized training courses for traditional physicians. Together with the Vietnam Medical and Pharmaceutical Association in the North and the Medical Association in the South, it united the Vietnamese medical community to revive traditional national medicine and resist French colonial repression of traditional medicine.

During this period, in addition to medical works written in classical Chinese and Nom script, such as:
– Ve Sinh Yeu Chi (1901) by Bui Van Trung of Nam Dinh.
– Bi Truyen Tap Yeu (1906) by Le Tu Thuy of Ha Nam.
– Y Thu Luoc Sao (1906) by Vu Dinh Phu.
– Tu Duy Tap (1910) by Do The Ho.
– Trung Viet Duoc Tinh Hop Bien, listing 1,500 medicinal substances, by Dinh Nho Chan.

There were also medical texts written in the Romanized Vietnamese script, including:
– Viet Nam Duoc Hoc by Pho Duc Thanh.
– Nam Duoc Bo by Nguyen An Cu.
– Y Hoc Tung Thu by Nguyen An Nhan.

These works contributed significantly to the popularization and preservation of traditional medicine and pharmacy among the people.

2.3. From the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the Present (1945 – Present)

Revolution broke out, followed by a prolonged resistance war. Research groups on traditional medicine and pharmacy were established within ministries and provincial health departments in liberated zones, contributing to the treatment of war injuries among soldiers and illnesses among the people.

After the success of the resistance war, under the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Ministry of Health issued a decision on April 12, 1956, establishing the Traditional Medicine Section within the Department of Medical Treatment to specialize in research on traditional medicine. On June 3, 1957, the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association was established to unite practitioners and researchers of traditional medicine and pharmacy. On June 17, 1957, the Institute for Traditional Medicine Research was founded.

More than anyone else, President Ho Chi Minh paid close attention to the integration of modern medicine and traditional medicine in building a Vietnamese system of medicine. In his letter to the Health Sector Conference on February 27, 1955, he wrote:

“During the years of subjugation, our medicine, like other sectors, was suppressed. Now that we have gained independence and freedom, health workers must help the people and help the Government build a health service suited to the medical needs of our people. Medicine must also be based on the principles of science, nationality, and mass orientation.”

In the same letter, he further emphasized:

“Our ancestors had many valuable experiences in treating diseases with our own medicines and Chinese medicines. To broaden the scope of medicine, you should also pay attention to studying the combination of Eastern and Western medicine.”

The Resolutions of the 3rd Party Congress in 1960, the 4th in 1976, and the 5th in 1982 all set forth the policy of:
– Combining modern medicine and traditional medicine to build a Vietnamese medical system.

Based on Party resolutions, the Prime Minister also issued many directives guiding the health sector in implementing these policies. In particular, in 1980, the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam affirmed that the combination of modern medicine and traditional medicine was a fundamental principle for building Vietnamese medicine. The Ministry of Health also issued many circulars to concretely guide the implementation of Party Congress resolutions and Government Council resolutions.

After more than 50 years of persistently implementing the Party’s and State’s guidelines, the health sector has achieved significant accomplishments in building a Vietnamese medical system that combines modern medicine with the nation’s traditional medicine in many areas: sectoral development perspectives, personnel training, medical research on treatment and medicinal substances, and the compilation of both popular and specialized materials on national traditional medicine.

Since the liberation of Southern Vietnam, all five medical universities in the country, together with the Military Medical Academy, have established departments of traditional medicine, including the Department of Traditional Medicine at Hanoi Medical University (1961) and the Department of Traditional Medicine at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City (1976).

During the flourishing period of traditional medicine, and in order to serve the policy of training and development under the principle:

“To develop and perfect the people’s health protection system on the basis of combining modern medicine and pharmacy with traditional medicine and pharmacy.”