Theoretical discussion and clinical application of treating the same syndrome with different methods in "treatise on febrile and miscellaneous diseases"

Abstract

The theory of " treating same syndrome with different methods" has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine( TCM). It originated from Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases,and had objective formation factors. The " syndrome" in TCM was a comprehensive manifestation of etiology,characteristics,disease location and trend of disease. Considering the rich connotation of " syndrome",the diverse treatment methods,and the complex ingredients in prescriptions,different specific methods or prescriptions have been often applied to treat the same syndrome. Therefore,based on the theory of " treating same syndrome with different methods",the concept of " prescriptions corresponding to syndromes" was extended,suggesting one syndrome treated with several different prescriptions. Moreover,the concept of " prescription corresponding to syndrome" doesn't refer to a random match between the " syndrome" and the " prescription". Instead,it would refine and objectify the " same syndrome" and seek subtle differences in symptoms,signs and chemical indicators of different diseases and individuals. It further embodied the new diagnosis and treatment model of " pathogenesis combined with pathology,drug properties combined with pharmacology". As a result,the nature of " treating same syndrome with different methods" lies in different microscopic pathological changes or trends,which traditionally expressed as the same syndrome with different symptoms,the same syndrome with different trends,and the same syndrome with different diseases and the same syndrome with different physiques. Therefore,by enriching the connotation of " syndrome",and further defining its objective pathology and development trend,the correspondence between " syndrome" and " prescription" became more precise. By carefully identifying the different characterizations,trends and prognosis in same syndrome,medical practitioners could give individual and dynamic prescriptions,so as to improve the clinical efficacy.