Holistic Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The concepts of "辨证" (diagnosis) and "论治" (treatment) are the two most fundamental principles in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for understanding human physiology and pathology, as well as for diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases.

1. Concept of Holism: The Human Body as an Organic Whole Connected to Nature

1. The Human Body as an Organic Whole

In TCM, the human body is viewed as a composite of various tissues and organs, including internal organs, meridians, sensory organs, orifices, limbs, and bones. These different components form an integrated whole, interconnected in structure, physiology, and pathology. Structurally, the body is centered around five major internal organs: the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Through the functional activities of the meridian system and the six hollow organs, the sensory organs and orifices, along with the entire body, form a functional unity from top to bottom and inside to outside.

Physiologically, each internal organ has distinct functions, but they are interdependent. For example, in the process of digestion, food enters the mouth, is digested by the stomach, and then moves to the small intestine, where the spleen further digests it. The small intestine separates the digested material into nutrients and waste. Nutrients are absorbed and transported through the blood to various parts of the body, while waste is excreted through the large intestine. The liver, gallbladder, and triple energizer also play roles in this digestive process. Clearly, digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste excretion involve the coordinated efforts of multiple organs.

Pathologically, any disease affecting one part of the body can impact other parts and their functions. For instance, if the liver fails to metabolize and detoxify various non-nutritive substances (such as drugs, toxins, and metabolic byproducts), it can lead to dysfunction of the spleen, affecting digestion and absorption. Similarly, if the heart's blood circulation is impaired, it can obstruct the lungs' function, leading to respiratory issues.

Therefore, in clinical diagnosis and treatment, TCM practitioners observe the sensory organs, physiological functions, complexion, and pulse to analyze potential internal organ disorders and prescribe appropriate treatments.

2. Human Beings and Nature

Humans live within the natural world, which provides numerous benefits, such as sunlight, air, and rain. However, natural changes can directly or indirectly affect human health, leading to physiological or pathological responses. For example, the warmth of spring, the heat of summer, the coolness of autumn, and the cold of winter can all influence the body. In spring and summer, warmth and heat dominate, leading to relaxed skin and open pores, resulting in increased sweating and urine output. In autumn and winter, coolness and cold prevail, causing the skin to tighten and pores to close, leading to reduced sweating and more frequent bowel movements. This shows that the body's water metabolism adjusts automatically with the seasons. If this adjustment exceeds normal limits or the body's resistance decreases, seasonal and infectious diseases may occur.

Generally, wind-related diseases are more common in spring, heat-related diseases in summer, dryness-related diseases in autumn, and cold-related diseases in winter. For elderly individuals with chronic conditions, seasonal changes can exacerbate their illnesses.

Geographical conditions, like seasonal changes, also influence physiological and pathological states. In warm, humid regions, people are more susceptible to external disease factors due to relaxed skin and relatively weaker constitutions. In dry regions, people are more prone to internal injuries due to tighter skin and relatively stronger constitutions, making them less susceptible to external factors. Different regions shape different constitutions, explaining why people struggle to adapt quickly to new environments.

2. Diagnosis and Treatment Based on Syndrome Differentiation

1. Basic Meaning

Diagnosis and treatment based on syndrome differentiation involve analyzing, summarizing, judging, and concluding the symptoms and signs of a disease using the four diagnostic methods of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. This approach is fundamental to understanding and treating diseases in TCM.

2. Distinction Between Symptoms and Diseases

The distinction between symptoms and diseases is closely related yet different. Generally, a disease encompasses all pathological symptoms, while symptoms represent the manifestation of a disease at a specific stage. Therefore, a single disease can manifest in various symptoms, and different diseases can share the same symptoms. TCM emphasizes distinguishing symptoms and analyzing them in the context of different diseases. For example, a disease with multiple symptoms may require different treatments based on the patient's constitution, disease onset, regional factors, and disease stage.

For instance, the common cold can be categorized into wind-cold and wind-heat types based on symptoms. The former is treated with pungent, warm drugs, while the latter with bitter, cool drugs, illustrating the principle of syndrome differentiation.

Additionally, different diseases with similar symptoms can be treated similarly. For example, dysentery and jaundice are distinct diseases but both involve fever, so they can be treated with methods to clear damp-heat, demonstrating the application of syndrome differentiation.