Guiding modern traditional Chinese medicine research using the theory of state-target differentiation and treatment—Maintaining the validity of traditional Chinese medicine and creating new medical science

Abstract

As an important part of Chinese civilization, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history and broad social foundation. In the development of modern medicine, TCM bears the responsibility of inheriting Chinese culture, while integrating with modern science and technology to continuously promote medical progress. The theory of “state-target differentiation and treatment” is an innovative model combining Chinese and Western medicine that has provided a new mindset and method for modernizing TCM. This theory not only guides the reconstruction of modern TCM diagnosis and treatment systems, but also strongly promotes the reconstruction of the modern herbal system. As an emerging bioinformatics technology, phenomics research can reveal biological processes dynamically and quantitatively, which will help “open the black box” of TCM by providing technical methods to reveal the nature of “state” and the mechanism of “state modulation” in TCM. TCM can provide a valuable clinical reference from the perspective of disease cognition, sort out phenomics information parameters systematically and uniformly, and provide more accurate and meaningful data for phenomics research. The in-depth combination of TCM and phenomics from the concept and technology will vigorously promote the development of human precision medicine. Modern TCM research guided by the theory of state-target differentiation and treatment can effectively improve the scientific basis and targetability of clinical treatments and can also initiate a breakthrough in the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, further promoting the profound communication and cooperation between Chinese and Western medicine, so as to achieve better development of medicine in the future.

Keywords

integrated Chinese and Western medicine / phenomics / precision medicine / state-target differentiation and treatment / traditional Chinese medicine

References

[1] Shen Z . Microscopic differentiation and microscopic trend of syndrome differentiation. J Tradit Chin Med. 1986; (02): 55- 57 (in Chinese).

[2] Tong X . The future development of traditional Chinese medicine by state-target medicine. Chin J Integr Med. 2021; 41 (01): 16- 18 (in Chinese).

[3] Wang Y , Tong X . Implications of classification, staging and syndrome-differentiation ideology for the construction of Chinese medicine theory of chronic diseases. J Tradit Chin Med. 2017; 58 (24): 2091- 2094 (in Chinese).

[4] Zhang L , Wang L , Zhou Y , et al. A brief analysis of Tong Xiaolin's "ten states of chronic disease" approach. J Tradit Chin Med. 2021; 62 (11): 934- 938+942 (in Chinese).

[5] Gu C , Wang H , Liu W , Piao C . The use of state-target differentiation in diabetic gastrointestinal excessive heat - Da Huang Huang Lian Xie Xin Tang with Zhi Mu, Ku Gua and Sang Ye. Liaoning J Tradit Chin Med. 2020; 47 (02): 1- 3 (in Chinese).

[6] Wei X , Gou X , Zhao L , Liu S , Tong X . The use of state-target differentiation in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus with liver and stomach stagnation and heat-Da Chai Hu Tang with Huang Lian, Zhi Mu and Chi Shao. Liaoning J Tradit Chin Med. 2020; 47 (03): 1- 3 (in Chinese).

[7] Pang B , Liu W , Zheng Y , et al. Discusses the Chinese medicine evidence and treatment of prediabetes from "Six Yu". Beijing J Chin Med. 2017; 36 (06): 505- 507 (in Chinese).

[8] Tong X , Zhao Y , Bi G , Chen L , Li H , Dong L . Application of the theory of "preventive treatment of disease" and "channels disease" in the treatment of diabetic microvascular complications in Chinese medicine. J Tradit Chin Med. 2007; 48 (06): 485- 486+494 (in Chinese).

[9] Tong X , Liu W , Wang J , Ni Q , Wei J . Key points of identification and practical application of the four different stages of diabetes mellitus: stagnation, heat, deficiency, and injuring stages. Jilin J Chin Med. 2012; 32 (05): 442- 444 (in Chinese).

[10] Lu JZ , Ye D , Ma BL . Constituents, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacology of Gegen-Qinlian decoction. Front Pharmacol. 2021; 12: 668418.

[11] Nakashima N , Kimura I , Kimura M , Matsuura H . Isolation of pseudoprototimosaponin AIII from rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and its hypoglycemic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. J Nat Prod. 1993; 56 (3): 345- 350.

[12] Miura T , Ichiki H , Iwamoto N , et al. Antidiabetic activity of the rhizoma of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and active components, mangiferin and its glucoside. Biol Pharm Bull. 2001; 24 (9): 1009- 1011.

[13] Fan M , Kim EK , Choi YJ , Tang Y , Moon SH . The role of Momordica charantia in resisting obesity. Int J Environ Res Publ Health. 2019; 16 (18): 3251.

[14] Jia S , Shen M , Zhang F , Xie J . Recent advances in Momordica charantia: functional components and biological activities. Int J Mol Sci. 2017; 18 (12): 2555.

[15] Tong X , He L , Zhao L . Discussions about the "state-target-cause-prognosis" Chinese medicine clinical diagnosis and treatment strategy. J Tradit Chin Med. 2015; 17: 1441- 1444 (in Chinese).

[16] Tong X . Ideas and suggestions on "reconstructing the modern Chinese herbal system". Jilin J Chin Med. 2023; 43 (01): 1- 4 (in Chinese).

[17] Tong X , He L , Zhao L . Reflections on Chinese medicine towards the era of precision. J Tradit Chin Med. 2016; 57 (20): 1715- 1718 (in Chinese).

[18] Li S . The conception and study of biomolecular network markers of TCM evidence. J Tradit Chin Med. 2009; 50 (09): 773- 776 (in Chinese).

[19] Li S , Zhang P , Gu J , Jiang R , Li Y . Principles, methods and applications of relational inference based on biological networks. China Sci:Inf Sci. 2022; 52 (05): 856- 869 (in Chinese).

[20] Chen H , Ma Y , Li M , et al. Tongue-coating microbiome reflects cardiovascular health and determines outcome in blood pressure intervention. J Genet Genomics. 2023: S1673-8527(23)00009-7.

[21] Chen H , Li Q , Li M , et al. Microbial characteristics across different tongue coating types in a healthy population. J Oral Microbiol. 2021; 13 (1): 1946316.

[22] Xu X , Gao Z , Yang F , et al. Antidiabetic effects of Gegen Qinlian decoction via the gut microbiota are attributable to its key ingredient berberine. Dev Reprod Biol. 2020; 18 (6): 721- 736.

[23] Di S , Yao C , Qiao L , et al. Exploration of the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of Luo Tong formula on retinal function in diabetic rats via the "gut microbiota-inflammation-retina" axis. Chin Med. 2022; 17 (1): 133.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 2024 The Authors. Advanced Chinese Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Higher Education Press.