Therapeutic wisdom in traditional Chinese medicine: a perspective from modern science

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Hi All,

 

See this.

 

Phil

 

Wen-Yue Jiang (2005) Therapeutic wisdom in traditional Chinese

medicine: a perspective from modern science. Trends in

Pharmacological Sciences 26(11), November, 558-563. Department of

Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking

University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, PR China. The

reasons why the standards of evaluating Western medicine are not

suitable for testing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are explicit in the

therapeutic objective and principles of TCM. TCM aims to correct

maladjustments and restore the self-regulatory ability of the body, and

not to antagonize specific pathogenetic targets. Maladjustments in a

disease can be classified into several “Patterns” according to TCM

theory. Multiple diseases might share one “Pattern” and be treated by

the same herbal formula whereas one disease might display several

different “Patterns” and be treated by multiple formulae. These

principles are supported by evidence that multi-system changes in one

Pattern can be modulated by a herbal formula. The approaches used in

systems biology and pharmacogenetics are similar to the practices of

TCM. I propose that a combined approach using specific parameters

associated with modern medicine, the general condition of individuals,

as outlined by TCM, and Pattern stratification of diseases should be

employed to re-evaluate herbal formulae. Copyright Elsevier Ltd All

rights reserved.

 

Glossary

 

Bianzheng-Pattern Differentiation: the unique TCM diagnostic method.

The purpose of collecting and analyzing symptoms and signs is to

evaluate the overall maladjustments in the body and to classify the

Pattern of maladjustment through determining the nature and location

of the maladjustment. The four basic Patterns of maladjustment nature

are Heat, Cold, Excess and Deficiency. The five locations of

maladjustment include the LU, LV, HT, SP and KI. There are >100

common Patterns in TCM.

 

Re-Heat Pattern: characterized by flushed face, fever or feverishness,

thirst, irritability and restlessness, constipation, deep-colored urine,

reddened tongue and rapid pulse. Herbs that alleviate a Heat Pattern

have a “Heat-clearing” or “Cold” nature.

 

Han-Cold Pattern: characterized by pallor, Cold intolerance, absence of

thirst, loose stools, clear profuse urine, pale tongue and slow pulse.

Herbs that alleviate a Cold Pattern have a “Cold-dissipating” or “warm”

nature.

 

Shi-Excess Pattern: Accumulation or Stagnation of metabolic waste,

body fluids and Blood. Excess Pattern is further divided into, for

example, Phlegm Stasis and Blood Stasis. Phlegm Stasis Pattern is

Accumulation of thick body fluids. Blood Stasis is Stagnation and

slowness of Blood circulation.

 

Xu-Deficiency Pattern: “over-catabolism” and “over-consumption”,

Deficiency of nutrients, and weakness.

 

Wuzang-Five Organ systems (in TCM): although the five visceral organ

names (KI, LV, HT, SP and LU) are the same as in Western medicine,

their connotations are fundamentally different. Ancient TCM doctors

identified the function of an organ on the basis of anatomical

knowledge, as in Western medicine (e.g. KI is located in the lumbus

and is connected with the ureter), but mainly by observing signs and

symptoms of diseases. For example, one patient complained of lumbar

ache and told the doctor that the ringing in his ears and the aching of

the knees were also alleviated after taking certain herbs that strengthen

KI function, and then the doctor associated the KI with the ears and

bones. These are not accidental discoveries. Subsequently, TCM

practitioners have repeatedly shown that KI function is related to

reproduction, ear, bone, development and aging. Thus, the name of an

organ in TCM is only a symbol of a functionally inter-related unit or

system, and not the real structural organ in modern medicine. The

scientific basis of these functional associations has been partially

proven but needs further exploration.

 

Best regards,

 

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