The first Chinese medical school was founded by the first emperor of the Tang dynasty in 629 A.D. Its foundation was followed by standardization of medical books and a set of formal examinations for doctors. In the centuries that followed, other medical schools were established, the curriculum was expanded, and the examination and licensing process became more comprehensive. In 1970, the Chinese Academy of Medical Science published a collection of traditional herbal remedies in common use. It lists 796 prescriptions made from combinations of 248 plant or animal ingredients. The purpose of Chinese traditional herbal medicine is the restoration of health through correction of imbalances within the patient's body or between the patient and the larger social and natural order.
Chinese medicine regards the human body as a small-scale reflection of the cosmos.
The principles of treatment are derived from Taoism, a philosophy or religion that emphasizes following the right path, or Tao, in order to find one's place within the larger universe of being. Taoism's holistic emphasis following the right path, or Tao, in order to find one's place within the larger universe of being. Taoism's holistic emphasis was reflected in the close correlation between Chinese herbal medicine and daily dietary habits. Foods were eaten with regard to their therapeutic qualities and adjusted to changes in the body. Traditional herbal medicine in China included preventive treatment.