Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine Section I. Basic Theories of Chinese Medicine 1. Basic Concepts 1.1 Chinese Medicine Chinese medicine is a traditional medical science that studies human physiology, pathology, diagnosis and prevention of diseases, as well as regimen and rehabilitation, and it has a unique theoretical system. 1.2 Theoretical system of Chinese medicine The theoretical system of Chinese medicine is composed of the basic concepts and principles of Chinese medicine, as well as the scientific conclusions derived from the basic principles according to the logical deduction procedure of Chinese medicine, i.e. the scientific laws, and is based on the ancient Chinese ideas of materialism and dialectics, i.e. the theory of qi monism and the doctrine of yin and yang and the five elements as the philosophical foundation, the holistic concept as the guiding ideology, the physiology and pathology of the organs and meridians as the core, and the discriminative treatment as the core. It is a unique medical theory system with the core of the physiology and pathology of the organs and meridians, and the diagnosis and treatment as the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine actually marked the establishment of the basic theory of Chinese medicine, and it and Zhang Zhongjing’s Treatise on Typhoid and Miscellaneous Diseases are the foundation of the basic theory of Chinese medicine and the theory of evidence-based treatment, respectively. Together with Shennong Bencao Jing and Difficult Jing, they have been regarded as the four classics by medical scholars throughout the ages, thus establishing the unique theoretical system of Chinese medicine. 3. Basic characteristics of the theoretical system of Chinese medicine 3.1 Holistic concept 3.1.1 Basic concept of holistic concept The holistic concept of Chinese medicine is the understanding of the unity, integrity and connection between the human body itself and human beings and the environment, which is one of the basic characteristics of Chinese medicine, and it runs through the whole theoretical system of Chinese medicine, including physiology, pathology, diagnosis, identification, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation. 3.1.2 Content of holistic concept Chinese medicine regards the internal organs of the human body and the various tissues and organs on the surface of the body as an organic whole, and at the same time believes that the four seasons and climate, the earth and the surrounding environment have different degrees of influence on the physiology and pathology of the human body, emphasizing both the internal unity of the human body and the unity of the organism and the external environment, i.e., the “unity of heaven and man” theory of Chinese medicine. The theory of “Heaven and Man”. 3.2 The concept of constant movement According to Chinese medicine, qi has the property of movement, and it is not rigid and unchanging. Qi is the most basic material that constitutes the human body and maintains the life activities of the human body, so the human body has a dynamic role in the organism. Chinese medicine uses the viewpoint of movement, change and development, rather than static, unchanging and rigid, to analyze and study medical issues such as life, health and disease, and this viewpoint is called the concept of constant movement. 3.3 Discriminatory treatment 3.3.1 Basic concept of discriminatory treatment Discriminatory treatment is the process of analyzing and synthesizing the information obtained from the four examinations (observation, hearing, questioning, and cutting) under the guidance of Chinese medicine theory, generalizing and judging the evidence, and using the evidence as the basis to establish treatment principles and methods, and putting them into practice. Identification is the premise and basis for deciding treatment, and treatment is the means and method for treating diseases. 3.3.2 Application of evidence-based treatment (1) Commonly used evidence-based methods In clinical practice, the commonly used evidence-based methods are: the eight principles of evidence-based treatment, internal organs evidence-based treatment, Qi, blood, fluid and fluid evidence-based treatment, six meridians evidence-based treatment, Wei Qi, Ying and Blood evidence-based treatment, San Jiao evidence-based treatment, and etiology evidence-based treatment. (2) The relationship between evidence and disease identification In the treatment of evidence identification, the relationship between disease and evidence must be mastered, both disease identification and evidence identification, and evidence identification is more important than disease identification. Different treatment for the same disease: the same disease, at different stages of disease development, with different changes in the disease mechanism, and take different treatment methods. Different diseases with the same treatment: In different diseases, the same or similar pathological changes occur, and the same treatment method is adopted. 4. Basic content of the theoretical system of Chinese medicine 4.1 Philosophical foundation Chinese medicine has absorbed the philosophical achievements before the Han Dynasty and directly quoted a large number of important philosophical concepts and doctrines such as qi, yin and yang, five elements, form and spirit, and the relationship between heaven and man to elucidate the problems in medicine, making them important concepts and theories of Chinese medicine and fusing philosophical theories and medical theories into an inseparable organic whole. 4.1.1 The Theory of Qi “Qi” is a very important category in the history of Chinese philosophy and occupies a particularly important position in the academic thought of Chinese medicine, being the cornerstone of the philosophy and medical theory of Chinese medicine. Qi is the most basic element that constitutes the universe, heaven and earth, and all things in heaven and earth, and has the property of movement. The movement of qi is the internal interaction of qi, which is the source of development and change of things. Qi in the human body refers to a fine substance that constitutes the body and maintains the function of the body’s life activities, and refers to the functional activities of the organs and tissues. Qi and form and their mutual transformation are the basic forms of existence and movement of the material world. 4.1.2 Yin and Yang Theory Yin and Yang is the basic category of ancient Chinese philosophy, which is established on the basis of “qi”. Qi has two bodies and is divided into yin and yang. Yin and Yang are the opposing and unifying properties of Qi itself, containing the meaning of unity of opposites, as the saying goes: “Yin and Yang is divided into two” (Classics? (Yin and Yang). There is a dialectical relationship between yin and yang, which is both opposing and unifying. The contradiction, mutual roots, growth and transformation of yin and yang constitute the contradictory movement of yin and yang, which becomes the basic content of the doctrine of yin and yang. 4.1.3 The Five Elements Theory The Five Elements is one of the basic categories of ancient Chinese philosophy. Everything in the universe is composed of five material elements: wood, fire, earth, gold and water, and the development of various things and phenomena in nature is the result of the continuous movement and interaction of these five substances. Chinese medicine gives the concept of the five elements the meaning of yin and yang, and believes that wood, fire, earth, gold, water and even various things in nature are the result of the contradictory movements of yin and yang. The movement of yin and yang can be reflected by the six qi in the sky: wind, heat, warmth, dryness, humidity and cold, and the five elements in the earth: wood, fire, earth, gold and water. 4.2 The doctrines of organs, meridians, qi, blood, essence and fluids are the theoretical knowledge of Chinese medicine about normal life phenomena. Among them, the doctrine of visceral signs is the core of the theoretical system of Chinese medicine. 4.2.1 The doctrine of visceral signs The doctrine of visceral signs is a doctrine that studies the activity patterns of human internal organs and their interrelationships. It believes that the human body is centered on the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys, with the gall bladder, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder and Sanjiao, and with qi, blood, essence and fluids as the material basis, through the meridians to make the internal organs, outreach to the five organs and nine orifices, limbs and bones, forming an organic whole and unified with the external environment. 4.2.2 Qi, blood, essence and fluid doctrine Qi, blood, essence and fluid are both the material basis of the functional activities of the internal organs and the products of the functional activities of the internal organs. The doctrine of qi, blood, essence, and fluids mainly discusses the material composition of life and the material basis of life activities. 4.2.3 The doctrine of constitution The doctrine of constitution is a doctrine that studies the characteristics, types and changes of human constitution and its relationship with the occurrence and development of diseases. Physique is a relatively stable inherent characteristic of the human body in function and form based on heredity and acquisition, and has a close relationship with health and disease. 4.2.4 Meridian theory Meridian theory is a theory that studies the composition of the human meridian system, its circulation distribution and its physiological functions, pathological changes, and guides clinical treatment. The meridians are the channels through which the body runs qi and blood, intersecting longitudinally and horizontally to network the whole body, linking the body’s internal and external organs, limbs and joints into an organic whole. 4.3 Etiology and pathogenesis The doctrine of etiology and pathogenesis is the theoretical knowledge of Chinese medicine about diseases, which mainly includes the doctrine of etiology and pathogenesis. 4.3.1 Doctrine of etiology The doctrine of etiology is a doctrine that studies the nature and pathogenic characteristics of various pathogenic factors. The three causes theory proposed by Chen Wuzhe in Song Dynasty divides the complex causes of disease into three categories: internal causes, external causes and non-internal causes, among which internal causes refer to the seven extreme emotions of happiness, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear and fright; external causes are wind, cold, heat, humidity, dryness, fire and epidemic gas; and all the causative factors other than internal and external causes, such as food and hunger, tigers and wolves, poisonous insects, exertion, sexual intercourse and trauma, are non-internal and external causes. These three pathogenic factors can cause disease alone or in combination. 4.3.2 The doctrine of disease mechanism The doctrine of disease mechanism is the study of the mechanism of the occurrence, development and evolution of disease, including the pathogenesis, pathogenesis and evolution of the disease process three parts. Chinese medicine believes that the occurrence of disease is related to both positive qi and evil qi, i.e., “if positive qi exists within, evil cannot dry up” and “where evil comes together, its qi must be weak”. Pathogenesis is the study of the pathological changes in the human body, including the prevalence of evil, yin and yang imbalance, Qi, blood, essence, fluid and internal organs and meridians, etc. The mechanism of disease evolution is the study of the general rules of disease occurrence, development and outcome, including disease transmission, pathological transformation, disease regression and recurrence, etc. 4.4 Diagnostic method of evidence identification Diagnostic method, counting, smelling, asking and cutting four methods of diagnosing diseases, referred to as the four diagnoses. The diagnosis is to observe the client’s appearance, form, five senses, tongue and discharge to understand the change of body condition and to detect the disease of internal organs. Smell diagnosis is to identify the changes of the internal body condition from the customer’s speech, breathing and the odor from the body. Questioning is to understand the client’s usual state of health, causes of illness, changes in physical condition and self-conscious symptoms by questioning the client and those who are informed. Cutting diagnosis is to examine the pulse and other parts of the body of the client to measure the internal changes. Identification is to analyze and identify the symptoms of diseases, that is, based on the basic theories of internal organs, meridians, etiology and pathogenesis, to analyze and synthesize the symptoms, signs and other clinical data collected from the four clinics, to identify the cause, nature and location of the disease, as well as the relationship between evil and positive, and then to generalize and judge what kind of symptoms and provide the basis for treatment. Section 2: Chinese Medicine Physique Identification 1. The concept of Chinese Medicine Physique Theory The Chinese Medicine Physique Theory is a doctrine based on Chinese medicine theory, which studies the physiological and pathological characteristics of various physique types, and uses them to analyze the reaction status of diseases, the nature and development trend of lesions, and to guide prevention and treatment. 2.TCM physique identification Chinese medicine physique identification, that is, the object of understanding the human physique, from the physique state and the characteristics of different physique classification, “complete peace” as the goal, to grasp the overall elements of health and disease and the means of individual differences, so as to develop prevention and treatment principles, choose the corresponding treatment, prevention, health methods, to carry out We will develop prevention and treatment principles, select appropriate treatment, prevention and health maintenance methods, and carry out “individualized” interventions. 2.1 Peaceful physique is a physique state with good innate endowment, proper nurturing, harmonization of yin and yang qi and blood, with moderate physique, rosy complexion, energetic, and strong and robust function of internal organs as the main characteristics. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: red face and lips, dense and lustrous hair, moisturized skin, lustrous gaze, bright nose, sensitive sense of smell, normal sense of taste, full of energy, not easily fatigued, can withstand heat and cold, sleep peacefully, good appetite, normal bowel movements. Daily recuperation: daily attention should be paid to maintaining good living habits, eating in moderation, combining work and rest, living a regular life, and insisting on exercise. Exercise: It is advisable to maintain and enhance the existing good normal state through exercise, so that the level of physical fitness can be further improved. You can choose brisk walking, running, ball games, gymnastics, and equipment training and other sports items. Diet: It is advisable to eat regularly, in moderation, without partial food, without food addiction, and to eat more grains and cereals, fruits and vegetables (Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents). 2.2 Qi deficiency is a physical condition characterized by a lack of Qi in the body, with low breath and low functional status of the body and internal organs. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: short of breath and lazy speech, low voice, mental weakness, limbs easily tired and weak, sometimes sweating, dizziness and forgetfulness, yellowish or pale face, less eyes, less lip color, light mouth, light red tongue, fat and tender, may have teeth marks. Daily recuperation: You should maintain a stable and calm state of mind in daily life and avoid excessive tension. Usually, you should go to bed early and get up early, and not stay up late. Exercise and recuperation: It is advisable to do soft and slow exercises, avoid strong physical exercises, choose fast and slow walks, taijiquan, eight duanjin, etc.; avoid overexertion. Diet: Eat foods that benefit the qi and strengthen the spleen, such as millet, japonica rice, yam, beef, barley, gravy, white lentils, dates, syrup, honey, etc. Eat more millet yam rice. 2.3 Yang deficiency refers to the deficiency of Yang energy, loss of warmth, with fear of cold, hands and feet are not warm and other cold manifestations as the main characteristics of the physical state. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: fear of cold, the hands and feet are not warm, the mouth and lips are pale, hair is easy to lose, mental weakness, easy to sweat, sleepy and sleepy, fatigue, like hot food, loose stools, urine clear and long. The main reason for this is that it is not a good idea to have a good time. Early to bed and early to rise, avoid staying up late. Pay attention to keep warm, especially the waist and lower limbs. Exercise: It is advisable to do more exercise, which can promote the circulation of qi and blood, such as jumping rope, jumping, short distance running, etc. Diet regimen: eat more sweet, warm and beneficial foods, such as pork belly, walnuts, pecans, chestnuts, etc.; fruits including peaches, grapes, pineapples, cinnamon, lychees; vegetables including fennel, leeks, etc. 2.4 Yin deficiency is a physical condition characterized by a deficiency of yin fluid in the body, such as fluid, essence and blood, with a dry mouth, dry throat, heat in the hands and feet and other internal heat manifestations. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: hot hands and feet, dry nose and throat, dry mouth and less fluid, like to drink cold drinks, flushed face, a sense of baking heat, dry eyes, blurred vision, slightly dry lips, easy to crack, dizziness and tinnitus, insomnia, dry skin, short urine, dry stools. Daily recuperation: daily life is relaxed, less temper; quit smoking and drinking; go to bed early and wake up early, keep enough sleep, avoid staying up late, keep lunch break; drink more water; avoid sauna. Exercise conditioning: it is advisable to do small and medium intensity exercise, avoid strenuous exercise, exercise to control the amount of sweating, timely replenishment of water. Diet: eat more sweet and cool nourishing food, such as lean pork, duck, turtle, turtle, mung beans, winter melon, sesame, fungus, lily, water chestnut, etc.. Eat less mutton, dog meat, leek, chili, onion, garlic, ginger, sunflower seeds and other warm and dry foods. 2.5 Phlegm-damp body is a body condition characterized by the coalescence of phlegm and dampness due to the internal stoppage of water, with the main characteristics of obesity, fatty abdomen, sticky and heavy mucus in the mouth. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: facial skin prone to oil, sweating and sticky, chest tightness and phlegm, yellow fat and dull, swollen eyes, tired and lazy, sleepy and sleepy, body heavy as wrapped and unpleasant, mouth sticky or sweet, like to eat fat and sweet, cloudy urine, loose and sticky stools, joint pain and heavy, skin numbness; or excessive leucorrhea in women. [Adjustment guidance] daily recuperation: daily life learn to relieve unhappy mood, maintain a calm and relaxed state of mind. The living room should be kept dry, not living in a humid environment; clothing should be breathable. Exercise and recuperation: do more outdoor exercises. Exercise according to their own situation, step by step. Diet: It is advisable to eat light, less fatty, sweet, sticky, greasy food, less alcohol, preferably no alcohol. Eat more vegetables and fruits, such as eating onion, garlic, seaweed, kelp, winter melon, radish, kumquat, mustard and other foods. 2.6 Damp-heat constitution refers to the physical state of damp-heat, with the main characteristics of damp-heat manifestations such as greasy face, bitter mouth and yellow moss. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: oily face, acne prone acne, bitter mouth, dry mouth, body heavy and sleepy, disturbed and slack, red eyes, short red urine, fetid stool or stinky and sticky, scrotal dampness or large amount of taste in the belt. Daily recuperation: Learn to treat happiness and sadness, bitterness and happiness, and obedience and adversity correctly in daily life, and maintain a peaceful state of mind. Regular living, regular life, do not stay up late, do not overwork. Exercise and recuperation: It is advisable to actively participate in sports activities to let excess Yang energy out. It is better to take sports with high consumption, such as long-distance running, mountain climbing, swimming, various ball games and so on. Diet conditioning: It should be light and eat more sweet-cold, sweet and flat foods, such as mung beans, hollow vegetables, amaranth, celery, cucumber, winter melon, lotus root, watermelon, etc. 2.7 Blood stasis is a physical condition characterized by poor blood flow in the body, with dull complexion, purple tongue and other blood stasis tendencies or internal obstruction. Physical Analysis] Physical Characteristics: Obscure face, dark and dull, both cheekbones easily see pigmentation, dull mouth and lips, dull and dark around the eyes, wrong skin nail, may have head, chest, hypochondrium, less abdomen or extremities and other places needle-like pain. Easily irritable and forgetful. Purple dull tongue or petechiae or petechiae, varicose veins under the tongue. Daily recuperation: Maintain a calm and relaxed state of mind in daily life. Avoid anger, learn to communicate, improve understanding, cultivate a wide range of interests and hobbies, and listen to more cheerful and festive music. Exercise and recuperation: It is advisable to do more projects that can open the meridians, such as various dances and taijiquan, etc. People with blood stasis have weaker cardiovascular function and should not do strenuous exercises. Diet: Eat more brown sugar, yellow wine, wine, mash, peach kernel, hawthorn, safflower and other foods, and eat less cold foods. Recommended diet: Hawthorn brown sugar soup, black bean and Chuanxiong porridge. 2.8 qi-depressed physique refers to the physiological state formed by long-term emotional and mental disorders and qi stagnation, with introversion, depression, worry and vulnerability as the main manifestations. Physical analysis] Physical characteristics: insomnia, forgetfulness, palpitations and palpitations, often melancholy look, the mood is more bored and unhappy, sensitive and suspicious, chest and fullness, two dorsal pain, or breast pain, or good tai breath, or belching and erratic, or pharyngeal foreign body sensation, stool is dry. Daily recuperation: Try to maintain a relaxed mood, cultivate optimism and joy, take the initiative to participate in useful social activities, improve enthusiasm for study and work, and cultivate a wide range of interests and hobbies. Exercise: it is advisable to do more exercise can promote the circulation of qi and blood, which is very useful to drive away the depressed mood. Dietary regimen: on the basis of a general diet of grains and cereals, eat more wheat, artemisia, onion, garlic, kelp, seaweed, radish, kumquat, hawthorn, buckwheat, citrus peel (Chen Pi), plum, rose and other foods that have the ability to move the qi and relieve depression, eliminate food and wake up. 2.9 endowment is a special physical state caused by congenital or genetic factors, with physical defects or diseases, allergic reactions, etc. as the main characteristics. Causes include congenital factors, genetic factors, or environmental factors, drug factors, etc. Physical analysis】 Physical characteristics: congenital disorders, physiological defects, allergic reactions and other major features, allergic people commonly asthma, wind mass, itchy throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, etc. [Adjustment guidance] Daily adjustment: should maintain a calm state of mind, should do a good job of daily prevention and maintenance, avoid contact with a variety of allergenic objects to reduce the onset. When the seasons change, pay attention to increase or decrease clothing. Exercise and recuperation: It is advisable to adhere to exercise to enhance the body’s ability to adapt to the environment. Avoid exercising in the field in spring or during the alternating seasons to prevent the onset of allergic diseases. Diet: It is advisable to have a light and balanced diet, with a proper mix of coarse and fine food, and a reasonable combination of meat and vegetables. Avoid eating cold, spicy, fatty, oily and “hairy” food, such as chicken wings, duck wings, mutton, seafood, etc. Thinking questions 1.Please briefly describe the names of the four classical works of Chinese medicine. 2.Please briefly explain the concepts of different treatments for the same disease and different diseases. 3.Please briefly describe the three causes. 4.Please briefly explain the concept of body constitution in Chinese medicine. 5.Please briefly describe the names of the nine physical constitutions of the population. 6.Please briefly describe the concept of Yin deficiency constitution.