Traditional Chinese Medical Practice Research Articles

Mechanism of PM2.5 Induced/Aggravated Allergic Diseases and its Prevention and Treatment

Growing evidence links atmospheric PM2.5 pollution to the onset and progression of allergic diseases, yet this connection remains underexplored. This study examines how various sources and components of PM2.5 contribute to allergic disease mechanisms. Integrating findings from epidemiological studies, animal and cellular experiments, and clinical research, we elucidate potential mechanisms underlying PM2.5-induced and exacerbated allergic responses. Additionally, we review current treatment approaches for PM2.5-related allergic conditions, encompassing both traditional Chinese and modern medical practices. This study aims to deepen understanding of PM2.5-induced allergic disease mechanisms and provide a foundation for future targeted therapies.

Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of a child with primary trigeminal neuralgia: A case report

Primary Trigeminal Neuralgia (PTN) is a paroxysmal severe pain that occurs in the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve in the head, face, and oral cavity, which is more common in middle-aged and elderly people. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical practice in which "treating internal diseases externally" is employed, and it refers to the use of both acupuncture and moxibustion. It has been reported in many literatures that acupuncture is effective in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia with few adverse reactions. This article reports on the case of a 9-year-old child with primary trigeminal neuralgia who, after experiencing some effectiveness but significant adverse reactions while using carbamazepine, was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, resulting in a complete cure.

Doctors’ Dilemma in Auspicious Pulse Diagnosis Represented in the Ming-Qing Fiction

Pregnancy diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine involves such issues as medical skills, narrative skills, family decency, and ethics. It is an excellent case for the exploration of ethical dilemmas in traditional Chinese medical practice. The early classical medical texts such as Su Wen (Basic Questions) and Ling Shu Jing (Spiritual Pivot Canon) provide a principle-based ethical guide for doctor-patient communication, while popular fiction such as Hong Lou Meng (A Dream of Red Mansions), Yu Mu Xing Xin Bian (Stories: Entertain to Enlighten) and Feng Yue Meng (Courtesans and Opium) in the Ming and Qing dynasties present literary examples for solving ethical dilemmas. This article will analyze these texts from three perspectives. First, the doctors in the text were subject to gender order and other delicate etiquette and customs, therefore were unable to make the diagnosis without embarrassing the patients and jeopardizing family decency. Second, the narrator tends to attribute pregnancy misdiagnosis to three reasons: incomplete patient information, doctors’ poor narrative competence, and doctors’ corrupted medical ethics. Finally, the Ming-Qing fiction proposes three methods to solve this moral dilemma: clear pulse reading, tactful speech, and taboo challenging. This discussion of moral dilemmas in pregnancy diagnosis in traditional Chinese medical practice can be used as a reference for the localization of narrative medicine.

The role of traditional complementary physical interventions in obstetrics – A scientific review commissioned by the European board and college of obstetrics and gynaecology (EBCOG)

Because of the fear of the use of pharmacological agents, many pregnant women are opting to use alternative management modalities either as primary management or to compliment standard contemporary medical practices. The traditional complementary physical interventions of acupuncture, acupressure, and electrostimulation have a long tradition of use in traditional Chinese medical practice and are advocated for the management of antenatal conditions such as spontaneous miscarriages, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary problems. They have also been advocated as useful to help the process of labour in promoting a cephalic delivery, induction/augmentation of labour and pain relief. Postpartum these modalities have been said to help the secretion and production of milk. While a number of studies, some randomized controlled, have suggested a potential role for these traditional complementary physical interventions, systematic reviews have generally failed to show a definite conclusive beneficial role and all reviews generally suggest the need for further controlled research in the field. Since no adverse effects appear to be associated with the use of these modalities in pregnancy, such modalities of management can be considered but only as an adjuvant to standard pharmacological management after a full clinical assessment has ruled out underlying pathology.

Development of China's health care system in the time of COVID‐19: Challenges, opportunities, and call for actions

Development of China's health care system in the time of COVID‐19: Challenges, opportunities, and call for actions

Yiqi Huoxue preserves heart function by upregulating the Sigma-1 receptor in rats with myocardial infarction.

Yiqi Huoxue (YQHX) is widely used in traditional Chinese medical practice due to its reported cardioprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying these effects of YQHX via the regulation of the Sigma-1 receptor. The Sigma-1 receptor is a chaperone protein located on the mitochondrion-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. It serves an important role in heart function by regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and enhancing cellular bioenergetics. In the present study, male Sprague Dawley rats with myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure were used. MI rats were administered different treatments, including normal saline, YQHX and fluvoxamine, an agonist of the Sigma-1 receptor. Following four weeks of treatment, YQHX was revealed to improve heart function and attenuate myocardial hypertrophy in MI rats. Additionally, YQHX increased the ATP content and improved the mitochondrial ultrastructure in the heart tissues of MI rats in comparison with acontrol. Treatment was revealed to attenuate the decreased expression of the Sigma-1 receptor and increase the expression of inositol triphosphate type 2 receptors (IP3R2) in MI rats. By exposing H9c2 cells to angiotensin II (Ang II), YQHX prevented cell hypertrophy and normalized the decreased ATP content. However, these positive effects were partially inhibited when the Sigma-1 receptor was knocked down via small interfering RNA transfection. The results of the present study suggested that the Sigma-1 receptor serves an important role in the cardioprotective efficacy of YQHX by increasing ATP content and attenuating cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Acupuncture treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: An overview of systematic reviews.

What is known and objectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture through a review and analysis of systematic reviews of acupuncture for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.MethodsSystematic reviews of acupuncture treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy were collected by searching CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. The retrieval period was from the establishment of the database to February 14, 2020. After literature selection and extraction, included reports were evaluated in terms of the quality of the methodology and of the report using criteria from the AMSTAR2 scale and the PRISMA statement.Results and discussionEighty eight reviews were retrieved. The inclusion criteria were a published systematic evaluation/meta‐analysis/systematic review of acupuncture treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, which included subjects meeting the diagnostic criteria for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and which compared acupuncture treatment with non‐acupuncture treatment. After the inclusion criteria had been applied, 18 reviews were finally included. According to the PRISMA statement, 3 reports were relatively complete, 12 reports had certain defects, 3 reports had considerable information missing, and 18 reports had extremely low methodological quality according to the AMSTAR2 scale. Current evidence shows that acupuncture improves diabetic peripheral neuropathy and increases nerve conduction velocity. However, the methodological quality of the reviews is generally extremely low, and most of the reviews had certain defects, showing that there is still much room for improvement in terms of the methodology and quality of the research reports.What is new and conclusionAcupuncture appears to have an effect on DPN, effectively improving nerve conduction and clinical symptoms. Although the methodological quality of the included studies was generally very low and defects were frequent, our study highlights areas where improvement in methodology is required. There is a need for further study of the pathogenesis of DPN, and for developing a unified standard for methods of acupuncture treatment, acupoint selection, and adverse reactions reporting. Traditional Chinese medical practices such as acupuncture should adopt an evidence‐based approach to provide greater confidence in their use.

Consistency of dark skeletal muscles in Thai native black-bone chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Black-bone chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) have become economically valuable, particularly in Southeast Asia as a consequence of popular traditional Chinese medical practices. Chickens with whole body organ darkness are considered to have higher value and are, therefore, more often requested. This research study aimed to investigate the darkness in 34 skeletal muscles of 10 Thai black-bone chickens (five males and five females). The evaluation of muscle darkness was done on two levels: (i) a color chart was employed at the macroanatomical level and (ii) by using melanin pigment to evaluate the structure at the microanatomy level. The results revealed that the accumulation of melanin pigment in the muscle tissue was observed in the endomysium, perimysium and epimysium. With respect to the results of the color chart test, iliotibialis lateralis pars preacetabularis, gastrocnemius, fibularis longus and puboischiofemoralis pars medialis showed the highest degree of darkness, while serratus profundus, pectoralis, iliotibialis cranialis, flexor cruris lateralis, and flexor cruris medialis appeared to be the least dark. In addition, we found that the highest and lowest amounts of melanin pigment was noted in the flexor carpi ulnaris and pectoralis (p < 0.05), respectively; however, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) observed between the sexes. These results reveal that the 34 specified muscles of black-bone chickens showed uneven distribution of darkness due to the differing accumulations of melanin pigments of each muscle.This information may provide background knowledge for a better understanding of melanin accumulation and lead to breeding improvements in Thai black-bone chickens.

Acupressure: A brief review on alternative treatment approach for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese medical practice (TCM); where thin needles are pricked at specific points in the body. In Ancient time, this practice was used to relieve pain but now it has become a therapy to treat other conditions. As an ancient practice, acupressure uses healing power of the body to treat itself by stimulating specific points. Different studies have found positive effects of acupressure in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), as it has been effectively used to procure regular menstrual frequency and normalize the androgen hormone levels. According to acupressure theory, an energy flow pattern is essential for health, when this energy flow is disturbed in body leads to diseases. These acupressure points are present on meridians and vital energy “qi” flows along it, though no anatomical and histological existence is available for such points. Present review briefly describes these points.

Protective effects and potential mechanism of salvianolic acid B on sodium laurate-induced thromboangiitis obliterans in rats

BackgroundThe root of Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba (RSMA) (Lamiaceae) is used for the treatment of patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) in traditional Chinese medicine. Previously, a mixture of phenolic acids extracted from RSMA has shown significant protective effects on TAO rats. PurposeThis study investigates the inhibitory effects of salvianolic acid B on TAO induced by sodium laurate injection in rats to explore the effective constituents of RSMA in TAO treatment. MethodsTAO rats were developed using injected sodium laurate. After treatment with ligustrazine hydrochloride (15 mg/kg) and various doses of salvianolic acid B (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) by tail intravenous injection, levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in plasma were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The right femoral arteries were studied by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical analysis to determine pathological changes and overexpression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the femoral artery walls of TAO rats. ResultsSalvianolic acid B significantly decreased the expressions of TXB2 and ET-1 and increased the expression of 6-keto-PGF1α in plasma, and significantly inhibited the overexpression of TNF-α and iNOS in the femoral artery walls of TAO rats at medium and high doses. ConclusionSalvianolic acid B has a protective effect on TAO rats. The mechanism may involve inhibition of thrombosis and TAO-associated inflammatory responses, which may explain the success of RSMA treatment of TAO in humans in traditional Chinese medical practice. Hence, it may be a potential drug for TAO treatment in conventional medicine.

Using Acupuncture in Labor Pain and Childbirth-Related Issues: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUNDLatent threats, such as prolonged labor duration and postpartum hemorrhage, endanger women and newborns during and post childbirth, which produce burdens on natal care and public health expenditures. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, has increasingly been used for labor delivery in various countries to cope with these problems.METHODThis narrative review searched 29 English and Chinese electronic databases. Thirty-one empirical studies, carried out in Asia, America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia were reviewed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.RESULTSAcupuncture is adopted with positive signs toward labor pain relief, delivery mode, labor duration, postpartum hemorrhage, APGAR score (an evaluation for a neonatal evaluation), and birth weight.DISCUSSIONWith support of earlier studies, the satisfactory effects of acupuncture on labor delivery reviewed in this research have been noted by obstetric researchers and scholars, physicians, nurses, and midwives.CONCLUSIONThis review recommends the use of acupuncture in obstetric profession with respect to maternal-related healthcare.

Ethyl Acetate Extract of Asclepias curassavica Induced Apoptosis in Human Cancer Cells via Activating p38 and JNK MAPK Signaling Pathways.

Background. Asclepias curassavica L. (Asclepiadaceae), as a traditional medicinal plant, is used as treatment for tumors in traditional Chinese and Indian medical practice. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unresolved. The current study investigated its antitumor activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Method. Cell viability was detected by a real-time cell analysis system and MTT assay. Antitumor effect of ethyl acetate extract of Asclepias curassavica (EAAC) on NIC-H1975 tumors in vivo was assessed in BALB/c-nu/nu mouse. Apoptosis was measured using Hoechst33342 staining and Annexin V/PI-staining. Apoptosis-related proteins and MAPK signaling pathways were analyzed based on Western blot assay. Results. EAAC exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity in vitro than other polar parts. Meanwhile, EAAC could inhibit sensitive cell line NIC-H1975 proliferation in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, EAAC had a significant inhibitory effect on NIC-H1975 tumor growth in BALB/c-nu/nu mouse. NIC-H1975 cells showed obvious apoptosis characteristics after EAAC treatment. Fas, caspase family members caspase 3, caspase 9, and caspase 8 showed dose-dependent induction by EAAC treatment, with increasing PARP cleavage. Additionally, EAAC significantly downregulated antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, XIAP, survivin, and Mcl-1 and upregulated proapoptosis proteins Bak, Bax, as well as activation of p38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, inhibiting p38 and JNK MAPK by pharmacological inhibitors abrogated EAAC-induced apoptosis. Conclusion. Our data indicated that EAAC exerted potent antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo by triggering the apoptotic pathway.

Establishment pharmacological research platform for "Concurrent treatment of the brain and heart" and its application on dissecting mechanism of Danhong injection

The Concurrent treatment of the brain and heart (CTBH) theory is proposed based on traditional Chinese medical theory and clinical practice. In this study, a framework for the pharmacological research platform was established to investigate the principles of concurrent treatment of the brain and heart. The platform for CTBH includes several key techniques for network modeling, discovery of active substances, dissecting mechanism of action and investigation of pharmacokinetic property of TCM. Taking network modeling of CTBH as an example, using database search, literature mining, network construction and module analysis, the that network modules closely associated with the pathological progress of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were identified, while further functional enrichment analysis of these modules indicated that the key biological processes included oxidative stress, metabolism and inflammation. GSK3B, NOTCH1, CDK4 were identified as key nodes in these network modules. The above-mentioned platform was applied to construct component-biomolecules network of Danhong injection for the identification of common targets and pathways. Among them, GSK3B had the highest correlation with the composition of Danhong injection in the network, and the biological function of whose cluster was related to cell oxidative stress. Based upon results of network analysis, validation experiments suggested that Danhong injection significantly improved the survival rate of oxidative injured myocardial cells and nerve cells, and the protective effect was related to the increase of phosphorylated GSK3β protein expression. Moreover, extracts of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Carthami Flos exerted the synergisticcytoprotective effect. The results indicated that the mechanism of treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases of Danhong injection could be studied through network modeling and other methods. In summary, the proposed pharmacological platform provided a feasible way for revealing the mechanism of CTBH by using modern scientific methods.

Investigating the Effects of Acupuncture on Autism Through Varying and Combined Methods

Background: Autism spectrum disorders pertain to neuro-developmental disorders that threaten not only the quality of life and social activities of children (or adults) with these illnesses in their lifetime if no proper training is provided, but also multiplies social costs such as public health expenditures. A variety of treatments, including complementary and alternative medicine, demonstrate improvement, among which acupuncture shows impacts on the autistic symptoms. Method: This literature review includes 37 empirical projects with 2,743 children in mainland China, Hong Kong, the UK, and Egypt. It offers an overview of the effectiveness of acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, on enhancing impairments that affect these disorders; for example, communication and social skills, sensation, speech, motor skills, behaviour, emotion, cognition, intelligence, and self-care. Performed in different forms (for example, scalp and tongue acupuncture, auricular point pressure), this method can be used alone or with other therapies, supported by advanced technology such as electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture. Result: Although the findings are encouraging, well-designed randomised controlled studies are suggested for further research. Conclusion: In summary, acupuncture is a potential measure for treating autism. Keywords: Chinese medicine, complementary and alternative therapy, developmental disability, literature review.

Tail Nerve Electrical Stimulation and Electro-Acupuncture Can Protect Spinal Motor Neurons and Alleviate Muscle Atrophy after Spinal Cord Transection in Rats.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in death of spinal neurons and atrophy of muscles which they govern. Thus, following SCI, reorganizing the lumbar spinal sensorimotor pathways is crucial to alleviate muscle atrophy. Tail nerve electrical stimulation (TANES) has been shown to activate the central pattern generator (CPG) and improve the locomotion recovery of spinal contused rats. Electroacupuncture (EA) is a traditional Chinese medical practice which has been proven to have a neural protective effect. Here, we examined the effects of TANES and EA on lumbar motor neurons and hindlimb muscle in spinal transected rats, respectively. From the third day postsurgery, rats in the TANES group were treated 5 times a week and those in the EA group were treated once every other day. Four weeks later, both TANES and EA showed a significant impact in promoting survival of lumbar motor neurons and expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and ameliorating atrophy of hindlimb muscle after SCI. Meanwhile, the expression of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the same spinal cord segment was significantly increased. These findings suggest that TANES and EA can augment the expression of NT-3 in the lumbar spinal cord that appears to protect the motor neurons as well as alleviate muscle atrophy.

The use of acupuncture in patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease, a progressive neuro-degeneration of multiple systems damaging motor and non-motor functions, affects individual and societal dimensions negatively. In addition to standard treatments, complementary and alternative medicine has been adopted, in which acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice by needle penetration at specific stimulation points (acupoints) along the body, indicates positive outcomes in this illness. Apart from offering an overview of using acupuncture in Parkinson's disease, this literature review analyses the effects of acupuncture on Parkinson's-induced physical symptoms and mental problems such as slow movements, stiffness, constipation, and sleep disorders. In light of the 35 reviewed research projects in mainland China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States of America, this study reveals the optimization of this approach through combined therapy and its preventive contribution using acupuncture alone. It also suggests research and practical implications that hint at enhancements in medical applications.

如何看待“靈性”在世俗醫學－生命倫理學中的位置？

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract in English only.In a recent article, Jeffrey P. Bishop addresses the biopsychosociospiritual approach to medicine that has gained popularity in the past few decades as a way to correct the reductionism and scientism of biomedical ethics and “personalize” the colder aspects of scientifically and technologically advanced biomedicine. Although he welcomes the attempt to bring religion and spirituality back to contemporary medical discourse and practice, Bishop is quite critical of the “the total care approach” entailed in bio-psycho-socio-spirituality. For him, what is labeled “religious” or “spiritual” is nothing more than a kind of liberal or humanist discourse operating within the framework of secularized medical control via its various metanarratives of social functioning. Bishop’s challenge is significant because it remains open to question how in biomedical ethics we should acknowledge the distinct roles played by different religions and spiritual traditions in biomedical decisions, which very often go beyond the social and technological dimensions of biomedicine.Bishop’s contextualization of Western biomedicine is also useful for helping Chinese bioethicists to understand that any attempt to reconstruct Chinese bioethics will go nowhere if we confine ourselves to concepts that address particular issues in particular contexts in the history of Western medicine. For example, for traditional Chinese medicine and medical practice, the challenge may not be too much depersonalization or too much scientism, but rather how to depersonalize or become more scientific in certain situations. Therefore, Bishop is correct when he points out that rather than embracing Western biomedicine, or biopsychosociospiritual medicine, China should turn to its own spiritual traditions borne out of the life-worlds of its people to fully understand its potential and limits.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 88 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

從儒家傳統論中醫職業精神的形成機制

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.中國傳統醫師職業精神是中國優秀職業精神的有機組成部分，影響其形成與發展有着多方面因素，尤其是儒家思想。儒家的人本文化特質為醫學、醫療實踐與醫師職業精神營造出濃郁的文化背景；儒家的“不為良相，當為良醫”的價值觀逐步提升了醫學與醫師職業精神的社會地位與價值；儒家的核心價值思想——“仁”深刻揭示了醫師職業精神的內在本質與要求；儒家的責任倫理使醫師在行醫實踐中始終按照社會對醫師職業的整體責任要求、按照為病家謀幸福的個體責任要求規範自己的言行；儒家的“修身”促進了醫師職業精神的養成。所有這些都從不同側面促進了中國傳統醫師職業精神的形成。儒家思想對中國傳統醫師職業精神的形成為當下中國醫師職業精神建設提供了有益的啟示與借鑒。The “Regulations on Medical Ethics for Medical Professionals in the PRC” promulgated by the Chinese Ministry of Health function as contemporary moral rules for medical professionalism. The principles underlying these ethical rules are not that different from those underlying bio-medical ethics in the West, which provides a broad platform for medical ethics and moral codes. However, this paper explores Confucian moral teachings to supplement the current discourse related to professional ethics. The issue up for discussion is how medical professionalism can be reconstructed based on Confucianism. This paper outlines the Confucian ethics that formed the cultural context in which traditional Chinese medical practice is perceived and conducted.According to Confucianism and especially the tradition of ruyi (or literati-physicians), “humanness (ren) is the art of medicine and healing.” Medical practice is considered part of the process of moral self-cultivation. Accordingly, the principles of Confucian ethics in medicine are not confined to regulating the external conduct of the professional agent, but are extended to cultivate the internal disposition of the moral agent, allowing a physician to fully understand the appropriate relationship between the physician and patient. Moral codes and regulations are necessary and essential for sustaining any sound medical practice. However, according to Confucian teachings, it is more important for medical professionalism to involve a mechanism that can transform medical practice from a technical craft into a spiritual pathway.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 591 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

Ginseng and male reproductive function

Ginseng is often referred to as the King of all herbs, and is found to be a promising agent to improve general well-being. Ginseng has also been reputed as an aphrodisiac, and is used to treat sexual dysfunction as well as to enhance sexual behavior in traditional Chinese medical practices. Data from animal studies have shown a positive correlation among ginseng, libido, and copulatory performances, and these effects have been confirmed in case-control studies in human. In addition, ginseng is found to improve the sperm quality and count of healthy individuals as well as patients with treatment-related infertility. These actions are mostly attributed to ginsenosides, the major pharmacological active components of ginseng. This review compiles the current knowledge about the multifaceted effects of ginseng on male reproductive function, and also focuses on its mechanisms of action that may represent novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of male reproductive diseases or disorders.

Developing a policy for integrating biomedicine and traditional Chinese medical practice using focus groups and the Delphi technique

Developing a policy for integrating biomedicine and traditional Chinese medical practice using focus groups and the Delphi technique