A Preliminary Study of the Relevance of Zhu You Shu and Narrative Medicine

Zhu You Shu (祝由术 a form of traditional Chinese spiritual healing) originated and was extensively utilized in China. This paper illustrates the origin, concept and techniques of Zhu You Shu in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and explores the correlation between Zhu You Shu and the three focuses and three elements of narrative medicine. The elements of Zhu You Shu, such as Zhu Shuo Bing You (祝说病由 explaining the original cause of the disease) and Qing Zhi Xiang Sheng (情志相胜 generation and restraint of emotions) share fundamental similarities with narrative medicine. Based on the principles and the interoperability of Zhu You Shu and narrative medicine, the doctor engages in active listening and communication with the patient to establish a trusting relationship. Utilizing the Qing Zhi Xiang Sheng technique, the doctor seeks to understand and regulate the patient’s psychological processes. By integrating psychological cues, the aim is to restore emotional balance and enhance the patient’s emotional and mental well-being while fostering a lasting emotional bond and providing spiritual support. Zhu You Shu has the potential to enhance the clinical pathway of narrative medicine in TCM. Simultaneously, the progress of narrative medicine will offer more sophisticated contemporary medical theories to assist the advancement of Zhu You Shu.