Latest ArticlesBased on the etiology, pathogenesis, and dynamic characteristics of coronary microvascular diseases (CMVD), Professor Shen Baofan, National Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, combined years of theoretical exploration and clinical research to apply the principle of "simultaneous occurrence and treatment of phlegm and blood stasis" in the differential diagnosis and treatment of CMVD. In clinical practice, Professor Shen emphasizes treating both phlegm and blood stasis simultaneously, focusing on replenishing qi, activating blood circulation, resolving phlegm, and unblocking collaterals. His approach includes resolving turbid phlegm while promoting blood circulation to remove stasis, treating blood stasis while eliminating phlegm to unblock collaterals, and addressing qi and yin deficiency while resolving phlegm and activating blood circulation. This principle is consistently applied throughout the entire progression of CMVD, achieving significant clinical efficacy. This article summarizes his clinical experience to provide a reference for the treatment of CMVD with traditional Chinese medicine.
"Insomnia due to the kidney's failure to store the will" is a sub-type of insomnia within the TCM "Five-Spirit" diagnostic classification system for insomnia, characterized by the direct symptom of waking early after falling asleep at night. Its disease location is in the kidney, and the pathogenesis is the failure of the kidney-will to rest peacefully. The therapeutic method of calming the kidney will can be adopted for treatment. The medicinal herb Yuanzhi (Radix Polygalae), first documented in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong's Collection of Materia Medica), was said to have the function of "strengthening the will and doubling strength". Subsequent physicians through the ages have extensively discussed it, believing that Yuanzhi has the function of "calming the kidney will". The herb pairs Yuanzhi-Fuling (or Fushen), Yuanzhi-Shudihuang, Yuanzhi-Yizhiren, Yuanzhi-Suanzaoren, and the compound formulas Huanshao pill, Kongsheng Zhenzhong pill, and Qifu decoction can all calm the kidney will to treat insomnia due to the kidney's failure to store the will. Among the herb pairs, Yuanzhi-Fuling (or Fushen) and Yuanzhi-Suanzaoren calm the heart spirit and soothe the kidney will; Yuanzhi-Shudihuang enriches kidney essence and nourishes kidney water to calm the kidney will; Yuanzhi-Yizhiren boosts intelligence, stabilizes qi, and calms the kidney will. Among the compound formulas, Huanshao pill tonifies the spleen and kidney, stabilizes the will, and calms the spirit; Kongsheng Zhenzhong pill tonifies the kidney and heart, calming the spirit and stabilizing the will; Qifu decoction tonifies the kidney and benefits the marrow, stabilizing the will and nourishing the spirit. Modern research indicates that the mechanism of Yuanzhi in treating this type of insomnia is related to improving neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and regulating neurotransmitters, which can provide references for clinical and mechanistic research on Yuanzhi for this condition.
Based on the physician Chen Shiduo's theory of "yang-fire and yin-fire in Qing Dynasty," this paper proposes a new perspective for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) from the concept of "pericardial fire. "The article points out that modern AF treatment has limitations such as bleeding risks from anticoagulation, side effects of medications, and high recurrence rates after interventional procedures. Furthermore, in the treatment of heart fire, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) conventionally focuses on clearing heart fire, relatively neglecting the pathogenesis of the pericardium. Chen Shiduo believed that pericardial fire is a type of "yin-fire," characterized by a slow nature and a tendency to rise upward. It often arises from deficiency of heart qi and depletion of kidney water, leading to floating ministerial fire and stirring of deficient yang, which manifests as palpitations. The treatment emphasizes that "ministerial fire should be tonified, not drained," advocating for methods such as strongly tonifying heart qi, enriching kidney yin to restrain yang, or soothing liver qi to extinguish the flame, thereby returning the ministerial fire to its proper place, rather than simply clearing and draining it. The paper presents a clinical case of AF treated with a modified formula based on Chen's Guipi Decoction and Liuwei Dihuang Pills, demonstrating the clinical reasoning and therapeutic efficacy guided by this theory. This reflects TCM's holistic principle of "treating the root cause" and provides a new theoretical reference for the integrated treatment of AF with Chinese and Western medicine.
To observe the clinical efficacy of special acupoint acupuncture in the treatment of abducens nerve palsy, and compare the efficacy with traditional acupuncture and drugs in the treatment of abducens nerve palsy.
The clinical data of 97 patients with abducens nerve palsy treated by Department of Ophthalmology, Baoding Hospital of Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from June 2020 to March 2022 were analyzed retrospectively, including 40 cases receiving special acupoint acupuncture therapy (special group), 30 cases receiving traditional acupuncture therapy (traditional group) and 30 cases receiving pure drug therapy (drug group). The onset time, clinical efficacy and course of treatment of patients in each group were compared and analyzed.
The onset time of special group was significantly faster than that of traditional group and drug group (P < 0.05); The total clinical effective rate of special group was significantly higher than that of traditional group and drug group (P <0.05); The duration of treatment in the special group was significantly shorter than that in the traditional group and the drug group (P < 0.05); The satisfaction of patients in the special group was significantly higher than that in the traditional group and the drug group (P <0.05).
Compared with traditional acupuncture and drug therapy, special acupoint acupuncture has faster effect, shorter course of treatment, more significant curative effect and higher satisfaction. It is worth popularizing and applying.
To study the effect of head and body acupuncture combined with high-low frequency repetitive transcranial brain stimulation (rTMS) on nerve and limb function of hemiplegic patients with cerebral infarction.
Eighty patients with hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction were selected as the research subjects and were all treated in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Henan Provincial Veterans' Hospital from May 2022 to May 2024. The subjects were randomly and equally divided into the control group and the observation group. Both groups were given conventional medical treatment. The control group was treated with high-low frequency rTMS on the basis of the above, while the observation group was treated with head-body acupuncture and giant needling therapy + high-low frequency rTMS on the basis of conventional medical treatment. The clinical efficacy of the subjects was evaluated. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and activities of Daily Living (Barthel Index) were used to assess the neurological function, limb motor function, balance function, and activities of daily living of the subjects. The cerebral hemodynamics [mean blood flow velocity (Vm) of the middle cerebral artery, pulsatility index (PI)] and serum neurotransmitter levels [brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] of the subjects were detected before and after the treatment.
The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, the levels of NIHSS score and pulse index (PI) were decreased (P <0.05), while the levels of FMA, BBS, Barthel score, middle cerebral artery Vm, BDNF, DA and 5-HT were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the NIHSS score and PI level of the observation group were lower after treatment (P < 0.05), while the FMA, BBS, Barthel scores, Vm, BDNF, DA, and 5-HT levels were higher (P <0.05).
Head and body acupuncture combined with high-low frequency rTMS can effectively improve the clinical efficacy of patients with cerebral infarction hemiplegia, improve nerve function, limb function and balance function, promote hemodynamics and neurotransmitter release.
To explore the clinical efficacy of Tongxuan Qishen formula (clearing Xuan and activating kidney Therapy) in treating diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients with spleen and kidney deficiency, blood stasis and water stagnation syndrome.
A total of 85 patients with diabetic nephropathy who met the criteria of spleen and kidney deficiency, blood stasis and water stagnation syndrome, admitted to Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from January 2022 to April 2024, were randomly divided into a control group (receiving basic treatment) and an treatment group (receiving basic treatment + clearing Xuan and activating kidney Therapy). The treatment group consisted of 43 patients, and the control group had 42 patients. The clinical symptoms, FIB-4 index, glucose and lipid metabolism-related indicators [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], renal function indicators [24-hour urine total protein (24h UTP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA)], and safety indicators were observed and compared between the two groups before and after treatment.
After 12 weeks of intervention, the clinical treatment effective rate in the treatment group was 90.7% (39/43), significantly higher than the 64.3% (27/42) in the control group (P < 0.01). The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome scores in the observation group decreased significantly (P <0.01), while in the control group, although there was a reduction in scores, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Following treatment, the FIB-4 index decreased in both groups, but the improvement in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The lipid profile improvement in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group(P < 0.05). Specifically, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the treatment group decreased significantly (P <0.01), triglycerides (TG) decreased markedly (P <0.05), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed slight improvement but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05). In the control group, TC decreased significantly (P < 0.05), but the reductions in TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were not statistically significant (P >0.05). The HbA1c levels in the treatment group decreased significantly (P <0.05), while no significant improvement was observed in the HbA1c levels of the control group (P >0.05). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the treatment group increased significantly (P < 0.05), while 24-hour urine total protein (24h UTP), serum creatinine (Scr) and uric acid (UA) decreased significantly (P < 0.05). No significant improvement was observed in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P > 0.05). In the control group, although there were improvements in 24h UTP, eGFR, Scr, BUN, and UA, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
Tongxuan Qishen formula can significantly improve the FIB-4 index, renal function, and metabolism-related clinical indicators in DN patients with spleen-kidney deficiency, blood stasis and water stagnation syndrome. It reduces the accumulation of metabolic products in the human body and plays an important role in reducing the risk of liver fibrosis, improving renal function, and delaying disease progression.
To explore the clinical efficacy of Huatan Xiaoyu Formula in the treatment of gastric precancerous lesions and its effect on pepsin and circulating tumor cells (CTC).
A total of 110 gastric precancerous lesions patients with syndrome of phlegm-and-blood stasis obstructing collaterals who received treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2022 to January 2024 were randomly divided into two groups: the conventional group (n = 55) and the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group (n = 55). Compare the efficacy of two groups of patients, including symptom scores, laboratory indicators (including pepsinogen I (PGⅠ), pepsinogen Ⅱ (PGⅡ), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), epidermal growth factor (EGF), tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-α)), and positive detection rate of CTC before and after treatment. The adverse reactions of the two groups were observed.
The total effective rate of the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was higher than that of the conventional group (P <0.05). After treatment, both groups showed a decrease in epigastric fullness, epigastric pain, loose stools, thirst and total score, and the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was lower than the conventional group (P <0.05). After treatment, the score of WHOQOL-BREF in both groups was increased, and Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was higher than that in conventional group (P <0.05). After treatment, the levels of PGⅠ and PGⅠ/Ⅱ in both groups increased, and the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was higher than the conventional group (P <0.05); The levels of PGII in both groups decreased, and the group of Huatan Xiaoyu Formula was lower than the conventional group (P <0.05). After treatment, the levels of MDA, TNF-α and EGF in both groups decreased, and the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was lower than the conventional group (P <0.05); The levels of SOD in both groups increased, and the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was higher than the conventional group (P < 0.05). The positive rate of CTC in the Huatan Xiaoyu Formula group was lower than that in the conventional group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the two groups (P >0.05).
Huatan Xiaoyu Formula can effectively treat gastric precancerous lesions, improve symptom scores, gastrointestinal hormone levels, reduce levels of oxidative stress related factors, body inflammation, and the positive rate of CTC.
To explore the clinical efficacy of Sijun Wendan Formula combined with Febuxostat tablets in the treatment of gouty nephropathy and its impact on patients' renal function.
A total of 148 patients with gout nephropathy admitted to the Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology of Anqing First People's Hospital (from January 2023 to January 2025) were included in this study. The patients were evenly divided into two groups by the random number table method. Patients in the control group (74 cases) were treated with febuxostat tablets. Patients in the observation group (74 cases) were treated with Febuxostat Tablets + Sijun Wendan Formula. During the study, 3 cases dropped out in the control group and 2 cases in the observation group. Eventually, there were 72 cases in the observation group and 71 cases in the control group. Observe the therapeutic effects of the two groups of patients, the TCM syndrome scores before and after treatment (such as frequent nocturia, low back pain, joint swelling and pain, etc.), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and the level of 24-hour urine protein quantification (24h UTP) and adverse reactions.
The curative effect of observation group was higher than that of control group(P < 0.05); After treatment, TCM symptom scores (nocturnal frequent urination, lumbago, joint swelling pain, etc.), PCT, CRP, ESR, UA, BUN, Scr, 24h UTP levels were decreased in both groups (P < 0.05), and eGFR levels were increased(P < 0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores (nocturnal frequent urination, lumbago, joint swelling pain, etc.), PCT, CRP, ESR, UA, BUN, Scr, 24h UTP levels in observation group were lower than those in control group(P < 0.01), and eGFR levels were higher than those in control group(P < 0.05); The incidence of adverse reactions in observation group was lower than that in control group (P <0.01).
The combination of Sijun Wendan Formula and Febuxostat tablets has a good clinical effect in the treatment of gouty nephropathy, and can effectively improve patients' symptoms and renal function. The treatment is safe and reliable.
To analyze the effect of Tianma Gegen decoction on ischemic stroke (Wind-Phlegm-Stasis Blocking Syndrome).
The clinical data of 105 patients with ischemic stroke (Wind-Phlegm-Stasis blocking syndrome) admitted to Rugao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine during January 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into control group (n = 55, conventional treatment) and observation group (n = 50, conventional treatment + modified Tianma Gegen decoction). After 2 weeks of continuous treatment, the clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, and TCM symptom scores, degree of neurological impairment [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score], serum indexes [neuron-specific enolase (NSE), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein(MCP)-1] levels before and after treatment were evaluated.
The total effective rate of observation group was 98.00%(49/50), which was higher than that of control group 85.45%(47/55) (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, TCM syndrome score, NIHSS score and serum levels of NSE, MMP-9, ICAM-1 and MCP-1 in both groups were decreased after treatment(P < 0.01), and the observation group was lower than the control group(P < 0.01). The total incidence of adverse reactions in observation group and control group was 8.00%(4/50) and 5.45%(3/55), respectively, with no statistical significance(P > 0.05).
The modified Tianma Gegen decoction in the treatment of ischemic stroke (Wind-Phlegm-Stasis Blocking Syndrome) can improve the therapeutic effect, alleviate symptoms, reduce the levels of serum NSE, MMP-9, ICAM-1 and MCP-1, which is conducive to the improvement of neurological impairment, and will not increase the occurrence of adverse reactions.
To explore the influence of combination of Formula No.2 for Heart Failure and acupoint application on myocardial enzymes and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
Totally 120 patients with chronic heart failure were randomized in the Taizhou hospital from Dec. 2021 to December Dec. 2024 were randomly grouped. 60 cases in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine, and the remaining 60 cases in the treatment group were given combined therapy with Formula No.2 for heart failure and acupoint application on this basis. The clinical efficacy and TCM symptoms scores and levels of serum myocardial enzymes [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, AST], NT-pro-BNP and cTnT before and after treatment were compared between groups, and the adverse reactions in both groups were observed.
The treatment group had higher total effective rate of treatment and lower scores of TCM symptoms after treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of LDH, CK, CK-MB, AST, NT-pro-BNP and cTnT in the treatment group were reduced after treatment compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). No obvious differences were exhibited in the adverse reactions between both groups (P >0.05).
Formula No.2 for heart failure combined with acupoint application has a significant effect in the treatment of CHF, and it can effectively relieve the symptoms, and improve the myocardial enzymes and serum NT-pro-BNP and cTnT, without causing obvious adverse reactions.
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