Effective Common Chinese Herbal Medicines Used in Treating Chronic Cholecystitis with Liver-Gallbladder Dampness-Heat Syndrome: A Review of Clinical Studies in the Past 10 Years

The objective of the study is to identify the effective common Chinese herbal medicines used in treating chronic cholecystitis with liver-gallbladder dampness-heat syndrome(CCLGDHS) through reviewing relevant clinical studies published in the past 10 years. Data were collected from Science Direct and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure. Data screening was carried out for the abstracts and full texts of the data. The top 15 Chinese herbal medicines with the highest occurring frequency were selected, statistically analyzed, and classified by their medicinal properties, actions, and indications according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 edition. The top 15 effective common Chinese herbal medicines comprise Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Jin Qian Cao, Bai Shao, Yin Chen, Yu Jin, Chuan Lian Zi, Yan Hu Suo, Zhi Shi, Ban Xia, Bai Zhu, Pu Gong Ying, Gan Cao, Zhi Zi, and Qing Pi. The predominant natures were cold, cool, and warm. This combination can clear stagnant heat, warm Yang, and regulate Qi dynamics. In addition, bitter, pungent, and sweet were the predominant flavors. They can clear dampness-heat, regulate Qi dynamics to relieve cramps and pain, as well as tonify the deficiency. Along with entering the liver and gallbladder meridians, these herbal medicines also entered the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians to prevent potential disease transmission. The combinatorial medicinal actions of the effective common Chinese herbal medicine highlight the importance of the holistic concept of traditional Chinese medicine when treating CCLGDHS. In addition, the inclusion of activating blood to promote blood circulation, relieving cramps and alleviating pain, and tonifying the spleen and stomach represents a new finding in the treatment principle for CCLGDHS.

Guidelines on common cold for Traditional Chinese Medicine based on pattern differentiation

OBJECTIVE: To establish the guidelines on common cold treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in terms of pattern identification. METHODS: The guidelines were formulated by using the basic patterns of common cold in ChinaPharmacopeia integrated with findings from systematic literature review and the experts' consensus on the issue in question. RESULTS: Common cold was divided into four patterns in the guidelines. The medications were recommended respectively: Ganmaoqingre granule for wind-cold exterior syndrome,Yinqiaojiedu granule for wind-heat exterior syndrome, Huoxiangzhengqi Wan for summer-heat dampness exterior syndrome and Shensu Wan for wind-cold exterior syndrome accompanied with Qi deficiency. CONCLUSION: The guidelines were primarily derived from the practice experience of TCM and the experts' consensus. The process was not strictly evidence-based because of lacking enough clinical studies. Further refinement of the guidelines should be needed as more studies are available.

The Flu and You--Common Sense May Be the Best Medicine

俗话说,"笑一笑,十年少;愁一愁,白了头"。现实的情况虽然未必有这么夸张,但至少也能说明情绪和健康之间存在着某种关系。医学研究发现,积极情绪可能提高人们对普通感冒的抵抗力。如果患了感冒,人们大可不必为此而焦虑,因为那样反而不利于感冒的消除。相反,充足的睡眠、积极的锻炼以及合理的饮食能起到比药物或抗生素更强的治疗效果。