Two Definitions of Life Will Highlight on Physiological Understanding of Six Meridians

Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases is an ancient guideline for traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) clinicians which classified all diseases into six meridians.In Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases, many syndromes are enunciated in simple vocabularies without physiology and pathology, which is always criticized.It seems that a bridge is necessary for physiological and pathological understanding on Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases.In past decade, two definition of life in cell and in our body are presented respectively.In both definitions, energy conversion is the core pathways for all organisms which can be regarded as motion of qi.Moreover, metabolism of energy agents can be seen as yang while gene expression and stem cell proliferation & differentiation(SCPD) should be seen as yin in cell and in our body respectively.The both definitions also outline the physiology and pathology of six meridians in Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases, which can be unveiled as followings: taiyang meridian-elimination of energy and end metabolites;yangming meridian-acquiring energy agents;shaoyin meridian-the conversions of energy agents;taiyin meridian-new born somatic cell attending the metabolism of energy agents and then going to die;shaoyin meridian-storage and activity of stem cell;jueyin meridian-proliferation & differentiation of stem cell to produce somatic cell.These definitions will ignite new physiological and pathological understandings on Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases.

Features analysis of five-element theory and its basal effects on construction of visceral manifestation theory

OBJECTIVE:To study the Chinese ancient five-element theory,one of the philosophical foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory construction,from the perspective of comtemporary cognitive science,and to reveal the important functions of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory.METHODS:The basic effects of five-element theory in the construction of TCM theory are intensively expounded and proved from the following aspects:embodiment of five-element theory in cognizing the world,quasi axiom of five-element theory in essence,classification thery of family resemblance and deductive inference pattern of five-element theory,and the openness and expansibility of five-element theory.RESULTS:If five-element theory is considered acognitive pattern or cognitive system related to culture,then there should be features of cognitive embodiment in the cognitive system.If five-element theory is regarded as a symbolic system,however,then there should be a quasi-axiom for the system,and inferential deduction.If,however,five-element theory is taken as a theoretical constructive metaphor,then there should be features of opening and expansibility for the metaphor.CONCLUSION:Based on five-element theory,this study provides a cognitive frame for the construction of TCM(a medicine that originated in China,and is characterized by holism and treatment based on pattern identification differentiation)theory with the function of constructing a concept base,thereby implying further research strategies.Useful information may be produced from the creative inferences obtained from the incorporation of five-element theory.

Effect of music therapy derived from the five elements in Traditional Chinese Medicine on post-stroke depression

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of five phase music therapy in patients with depression after ischemic stroke.METHODS: A total of 92 patients with post-stroke depression were randomly divided into the control group(32 cases), treatment group A(30 cases), and treatment group B(30 cases). All groups were given basic therapies for cerebral infarction. In addition,the control group was administerd 50 mg of oral sertraline hydrochloride daily, while treatment groups A and B received needling at Baihui(GV 20)plus acupoint injection at Yanglingquan(GB 34) daily; treatment group B also received music therapy derived from the five phases in Traditional ChineseMedicine theory twice daily. All treatments were administered for 5 d per treatment cycle for three cycles, with a 1 d interval between cycles. In all three groups, Hamilton's depression scale(HAMD-17)score and the activities of daily life(ADL) score were measured before and after treatment, and side effects were assessed with the treatment emergent symptom scale.RESULTS: The HAMD-17 score significantly decreased after treatment in all three groups, and the post-treatment reduction in HAMD-17 score was markedly greater in treatment group B than in treatment group A(P < 0.01). The ADL score significantly increased after treatment in all three groups,and the post-treatment increase in ADL score was significantly greater in treatment group B than in treatment group A(P < 0.01). The treatment emergent symptom scale score was highest in the control group, and lowest in group B, and significantly differed between the three groups(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Five phase music therapy plus acupoint needling and acupoint injection can improve the symptoms in patients with post-stroke depression.