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.
Psoriasis is a kind of immune-mediated chronic skin disease induced by combined genetic and environmental factors. The effective and safe treatment of psoriasis has always been a challenge in dermatology clinics. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an important direction for the current treatment of psoriasis, is characterized by historical significance, unique characteristics, and rich experience. In recent years, the “hemo-modulating therapy” of TCM has reached a consensus with excellent progress in the treatment of psoriasis. This paper reviews the current TCM treatments of psoriasis and discusses the possibilities for psoriasis disease management.
Heart failure (HF) is a major global healthcare problem leading to substantial deterioration of prognosis. The current clinical guidelines in HF have begun to emphasize the importance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM has been utilized in clinical practice for over 2000 years and is capable of treating a variety of HF pathogenic issues. This review summarizes the classification, pathophysiology, and treatment of HF from three perspectives: Western medicine, TCM, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (ITCWM). Emphasizing the most recent evidence, this review consolidates knowledge on ITCWM treatments for HF pertaining to different TCM syndromes, including TCM decoctions, oral patent Chinese medicine, TCM injections, as well as therapies like acupuncture and moxibustion. Additionally, this review explores TCM approaches to HF prevention, such as tai chi, Baduanjin exercise, and Sanfu acupoint herbal patching. The findings of this study suggest that ITCWM holds promise for the treatment and rehabilitation of HF. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic liver disease characterized by the accumulation of excessive liver lipids without alcohol-induced damage. It has emerged as a significant global health issue. A recent research has indicated that dysregulation of lipid decomposition, uptake, production, oxidation, and secretion causes alterations in various types of lipids, leading to organelle dysfunction and metabolic signaling pathway impairment. Scholars propose that turbid toxin is crucial in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. This article elucidates the meaning of turbid toxin in conjunction with the current literature and analyzes the modern pathophysiological mechanism underlying the development of NAFLD, including turbid toxic substance production, related organelle involvement, biological processes, and pathways, ultimately leading to disease outcomes. The relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and the turbid toxin is also explored to establish a foundation for further mechanistic research on NAFLD.
In the realms of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine research, the skin and lungs are recognized for their integral roles in both the physiological functions and pathological mechanisms affecting the human body. These organs are not only complementary and coordinated in their physiological functions but also interact pathologically, providing feedback and influencing each other. The etiology of immune-mediated skin diseases is multifaceted, involving numerous factors beyond mere skin characteristics, often including multisystem diseases. Cutaneous and Respiratory Comorbidities denote the concurrent presence of skin and lung diseases, sharing a common pathogenic mechanism. Although research on Cutaneous and Respiratory Comorbidities has received increasing attention, the foundational theories and the specifics of related diseases remain unclear. This paper aims to elucidate the theoretical basis of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine concerning immune-mediated Cutaneous and Respiratory Comorbidities, thereby laying a groundwork for the early detection and integrated treatment of these diseases.
Objective: This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of Baduanjin on the metabolic status of individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim was to identify effective interventions for MetS prevention and treatment.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of English (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) and Chinese (CNKI, Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Database, VIP) databases till August 19, 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on Baduanjin for MetS patients were included. Data were pooled and assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation for Systematic Reviews was used to evaluate literature quality.
Results: Eight RCTs involving 435 participants were included. Baduanjin showed significant improvements in fasting blood glucose (mean difference [MD] = −0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.22, −0.61], p < 0.0001) and glycated hemoglobin levels (MD = −0.99, 95% CI [−0.38, −1.60], p < 0.00001). Waist-to-hip ratio (MD = −0.04, 95% CI [−0.03, −0.06], p = 0.002), body mass index (MD = −1.60, 95% CI [−0.10, −3.10], p = 0.04), fasting insulin (MD = −4.82, 95% CI [−0.15, −8.59], p = 0.01), systolic blood pressure (MD = −7.16, 95% CI [−5.16, −9.17], p < 0.00001), diastolic blood pressure (MD = −3.43, 95% CI [−0.62, −6.24], p = 0.02), total cholesterol (MD = −0.48, 95% CI [−0.10, −0.85], p = 0.01), triglycerides (MD = −0.39, 95% CI [−0.14, −0.64], p = 0.003), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = −0.52, 95% CI [−0.10, −0.94], p = 0.01) also significantly improved. No adverse events were reported. Literature quality ranged from very low to moderate.
Conclusions: Baduanjin effectively improves metabolic status in individuals with MetS, including blood glucose, lipid profile, obesity-related indicators, insulin levels, and blood pressure. However, the overall literature quality is moderate to low. Further rigorous RCTs are needed to explore Baduanjin's effects on MetS, considering intervention methods, content, and research methodologies.