The Mongolian Doctor and the Mongolian Medicine

The Mongolian Ethnic Group (蒙古族) has lived across the vast northern grasslands for centuries, traditionally relying on nomadic pastoral life for survival. During their long history of adapting to harsh climates, migration, and grassland living, Mongolian people gradually developed a unique system of medical knowledge and healing practices. These traditional medical theories and therapies became an important part of the broader history of Chinese ethnic medicine and contributed greatly to the development of healthcare in northern China and Inner Asia.

As early as the 13th century, Mongolian doctors had already created and widely used many medicines and therapeutic methods suited to the nomadic lifestyle, grassland environment, and cold climate conditions. Traditional treatments included herbal medicines such as the powerful remedy known as “Hedier”, as well as moxibustion, medicinal baths, bone-setting therapy, trauma treatment, koumiss therapy using fermented mare’s milk, and dietary healing methods.

Among these therapies, Mongolian bone-setting techniques became especially famous for their practical effectiveness. Other widely used folk therapies included smoke fumigation, hot fomentation using animal stomachs, and hot blood soaking treatments for injuries and muscle pain. Many of these techniques later spread into inland China and the Tibetan regions through cultural exchange and migration routes.

Development Through Cultural Exchange

After the 13th century, the expansion of the Mongol Empire greatly increased communication between the Mongolian people and other civilizations, including Chinese, Tibetan, Arab, Persian, and European societies. Through these exchanges, Mongolian medicine absorbed new medical theories, medicinal ingredients, and treatment methods from neighboring cultures.

During the Ming Dynasty (明朝) and Qing Dynasty (清朝), Mongolian medicine entered a new stage of systematic development. Mongolian physicians increasingly integrated knowledge from both Traditional Chinese Medicine (中医) and Tibetan Medicine (藏医) while continuing to preserve their own grassland medical traditions.

Gradually, Mongolian medical scholars established more complete theoretical systems, including concepts related to Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the balance between cold and heat within the human body, and theories concerning organs, circulation channels, and disease diagnosis. Several influential Mongolian medical scholars emerged during this period, including Naoerji Moergen (脑尔吉·莫尔根), Zhanbula (占布拉), Yixibalazhuer (伊希巴拉珠尔), and Zhanbuladaoerji (占布拉道尔吉), who played important roles in the advancement of Mongolian medical science.

Classical Mongolian Medical Texts

Over time, Mongolian medicine produced a large number of important medical books and academic works. Famous texts included The Sea of Prescriptions (《方海》), Four Amrita (《四部甘露》), Formal Dictionary of Mongolian Medicine (《蒙药正典》), Brook of Amrita (《甘露之泉》), Outline of Pulse Diagnosis (《诊脉纲要》), New White Dew Therapy (《新白露疗法》), and Selections of Mongolian Medicine (《蒙药选编》).

Among these works, the Formal Dictionary of Mongolian Medicine was particularly significant, recording 879 types of medicinal substances along with 576 medical illustrations, making it one of the most comprehensive traditional Mongolian medical references in history.

At the same time, Mongolian medicine gradually developed specialized clinical departments similar to modern medical systems. Separate branches emerged for orthopedics, internal medicine, infectious diseases, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, dermatology, and facial diseases.

Modern Development of Mongolian Medicine

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国) in 1949, Mongolian medicine experienced rapid institutional development and modernization. Numerous Mongolian hospitals, Chinese-Mongolian integrated hospitals, medical research institutes, and Mongolian medical colleges were established throughout the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区).

Today, modern Mongolian medical institutions continue to combine traditional therapies with scientific research and modern healthcare systems. Mongolian pharmaceutical factories are capable of producing more than 350 kinds of Mongolian medicinal preparations and patent medicines, many of which are widely used in northern China for the treatment of orthopedic injuries, digestive disorders, rheumatism, and chronic illnesses.

Characteristics of Mongolian Medicine

One of the defining features of Mongolian medicine is its close connection with grassland life and natural ecology. Traditional Mongolian doctors often emphasized the relationship between seasonal climate, diet, emotional balance, and physical health. Many treatments focused on restoring harmony between the body and the surrounding environment.

Animal products, medicinal herbs from the grasslands, fermented dairy foods, and thermal therapies all played important roles in traditional Mongolian healing practices. Even today, therapies such as medicinal baths, bone-setting, moxibustion, and dietary treatment remain important parts of Mongolian ethnic medicine and continue to attract attention for their practical effectiveness and strong cultural heritage.