Explore Traditional Chinese Medicine

Author: Zhong Xiyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Traditional Chinese Medicine theory encompasses the understanding of the human body and nature by ancient Chinese sages. It also applies these insights to analyze and summarize the causes of diseases, pathological changes, symptom manifestations, disease progression, and prognoses. The Lei Jing states: "The 'ji' (mechanism) is the essence and the change; it is the source of disease transformation." The symptoms of diseases share commonalities but also vary due to individual differences in patients and objective factors, presenting in countless forms. The Su Wen·Zun Shi Yao Da Lun says: "Strictly grasp the disease mechanism and assign it to its proper category." Despite the complexity of syndromes, once a physician grasps the disease mechanism, they can adapt to changing circumstances, like "a general commanding an army or a sailor steering a boat." Thus, the significance of the disease mechanism lies in its role as a concise yet comprehensive method for clinical diagnosis and treatment, as well as a means for physicians to improve their medical skills. The occurrence of diseases is fundamentally caused by the imbalance of yin and yang. The symptoms of diseases can be broadly categorized into two types: deficiency and excess. The course of a disease is a struggle between the body's vital Qi and pathogenic factors. The treatment of diseases involves correcting the imbalance of yin and yang in the body by utilizing the yin-yang properties of medicinal substances. Therefore, understanding the situation of both vital Qi and pathogenic factors is the primary key to grasping the disease mechanism, which is also the essence of "avoiding the loss of Qi's appropriateness." Further, through "examining symptoms to identify the cause," one determines which pathogenic factor is responsible, which meridians or organs are affected, and identifies the patterns of progression. This leads to accurate diagnosis, prescription, and treatment. If a physician neglects the disease mechanism, they will be confused in practice, fail to distinguish between yin and yang, hot and cold, deficiency and excess, and misunderstand the root and branch of treatment, inevitably making errors of over-treating deficiency or excess. Li Nian'e said: "In ancient times, when discussing diseases, people did not mention the form or body of the disease but spoke of its mechanism, focusing only on the theory. Once the theory is mastered, the mechanism is revealed, and then the diagnosis becomes accurate." Combining the disease mechanism with pathology is the correct perspective of the ancients. If one does not know the location of the disease mechanism and treats it broadly, the disease may not be cured, and life may be lost in the process. This method of treating a vast field to catch a single rabbit is akin to indiscriminate attacks, killing faster than a blade. Moreover, if one does not understand the disease mechanism, it is like hitting the finger when the head aches—treating symptoms without addressing the root cause. This makes it impossible to even consider more refined or layered treatment methods.