Wang Lingtai on Liver Disease

Author: Wang Lintai, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-08-01
Features: The liver is one of the important organs in the human body, serving as the body's "chemical factory." Its normal function directly affects people's health and quality of life. Liver diseases, especially viral hepatitis, are among the most common and difficult-to-treat conditions in China, significantly impacting public health, social, and economic benefits. How to effectively prevent and treat liver diseases has become one of the key tasks for the medical community.
Wang Lintai has diagnosed and treated a large number of patients with various liver diseases over the years, accumulating extensive clinical experience and developing distinct characteristics. This popular science book is written to provide patients with easy-to-understand knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health care and medical guidelines for liver diseases.
The liver is one of the important organs in the human body, serving as the body's "chemical factory." Its normal function directly affects people's health and quality of life. Liver diseases, especially viral hepatitis, are among the most common and difficult-to-treat conditions in China, significantly impacting public health, social, and economic benefits. How to effectively prevent and treat liver diseases has become one of the key tasks for the medical community.
In recent years, some progress has been made in studying the pathogenesis of liver diseases, but clinical treatment remains in a "plateau phase," with advances but no breakthroughs. In addition to interferon and nucleoside analogs, there are very few Western medications available for treatment. Clinical efficacy, especially complete response rates, has always been unsatisfactory. Moreover, numerous adverse reactions, limited indications, and high costs have restricted their widespread use.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the valuable legacies of our nation and has played a significant role in the prosperity and development of our ethnic culture. Although TCM ancient texts do not provide specific names for liver diseases, the descriptions and treatments for TCM syndromes such as jaundice, costal pain, liver stagnation, accumulation, and abdominal distension are extremely similar or identical to those of liver diseases in modern medicine. Many effective formulas, such as Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Chai Hu Decoction), Yin Chen Hao Tang (Gentian and Bupleurum Decoction), Yi Guan Jian (Unani Decoction), and Ren Shen Bi Jia Jiao Wan (Ginseng and Turtle Shell Decoction), are still widely used in clinical practice today.
Due to its profound knowledge base, TCM plays a dominant role in the field of liver disease prevention and treatment today. Its holistic concept and syndrome differentiation approach align well with the immune pathogenesis of liver diseases in modern medicine. TCM treatment of liver diseases is renowned both domestically and internationally for its cost-effectiveness and high efficacy. Currently, most of the clinical liver-protective, enzyme-lowering, and jaundice-reducing medications are Chinese herbal medicines or traditional Chinese medicine preparations.
In the foreseeable future, TCM or integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment will remain the main tools for liver disease prevention and treatment.
The Hepatitis Department of Shuguang Hospital has a history of over 60 years. Over the years, it has diagnosed and treated a large number of patients with various liver diseases, accumulating extensive clinical experience and developing distinct characteristics. Since the passing of our late master, Xia Desin, several generations of dedicated physicians have followed in his footsteps, continuously innovating and establishing the department as a renowned TCM liver disease specialty in Shanghai and even across the country. It is currently one of the clinical medical centers for TCM liver diseases in Shanghai and a key specialty recognized by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
To provide patients with easy-to-understand knowledge of TCM health care and medical guidelines for liver diseases, we have compiled this popular science book. Although we have strived for perfection, due to our limited expertise, there may be inaccuracies. We welcome feedback from both colleagues and readers to make improvements for future revisions.