Overview and analysis of syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese MedicineEvidenceIt refers to a type of disease manifested by exogenous evils invading the human body surface. It belongs to the early stage of exogenous diseases and is characterized by aversion to cold, fever, head and body pain, floating pulse, etc. Its core content can be divided intoCause and pathogenesis(Such as wind-cold and wind-heat attack the surface),clinical manifestations(such as nasal congestion, cough) andTreatment principles(Relief of sweating). The evidence is further dividedSymptoms of wind coldwithWind-heat syndrome, the treatment methods are different. The following article will focus on the definition, classification, symptoms and classic prescriptions to help readers systematically understand the connotation of external syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine.

Definition of symptoms and etiology and pathogenesis

Explicit syndrome is called "exogenous external evil" in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which mainly refers toSix lustful thingsWind-cold or wind-heat evil qi (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, fire) invade from the fur or mouth and nose, blocking the movement of Wei Qi, leading to Ying Wei imbalance. As stated in "Treatise on Febrile Diseases": "Taiyang disease is caused by a floating pulse, strong pain in the head and neck, and aversion to cold." At this time, the evil qi is light and has not yet penetrated, so the pulse is floating and the symptoms are concentrated on the surface of the body. Common triggers include catching cold, being exposed to rain, or sudden changes in climate. In modern medicine, colds in the early stages often fall into this category.

Classification of manifestations and typical symptoms

Symptoms are divided into two categories according to the nature of the evil energy:Symptoms of wind coldSymptoms include severe aversion to cold, mild fever, no sweating, runny nose, and thin white tongue coating;Wind-heat syndromeIt is characterized by severe fever, bad wind, sweating, sore throat, yellow nasal discharge, and thin yellow tongue coating. In addition, special types such as summer cold syndrome (such as summer cold with chest tightness) also exist. Wu Jutong, a physician in the Qing Dynasty, emphasized in "Tiao Bing of Febrile Diseases": "Treatment of external diseases is like a general, and the most important thing is to fight quickly." It is suggested that timely intervention is needed to prevent external diseases from spreading internally.

Treatment of superficial symptoms and classic prescriptions

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of symptoms follows the "If it is on the skin, it will be caused by sweating"Principle. For wind-cold symptoms, the pungent-warm solution method is often used, such asEphedra soup(ephedra, cinnamon twig, almond, licorice); for wind-heat syndrome, choose the pungent and cool method to relieve the symptoms, such asYinqiaosan(Honeysuckle, Forsythia, Mint). Modern Chinese patent medicines such as Fenghanmao Granules (manufacturer: Tongrentang) and Fengremao Capsules (manufacturer: Baiyunshan) are also widely used. It should be noted that those with physical weakness need to be combined with strengthening drugs, such as Shensu Yin (ginseng + perilla leaves).

Summary and notes on the evidence

Explicit syndrome is the key syndrome differentiation link of exogenous diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Its characteristics are:Shallow disease location and short course of disease, correctly distinguishing the attributes of cold and heat is the core of treatment. Patients should avoid self-abuse of diaphoretic drugs, especially the elderly and infirm. Modern research shows that some exolytic prescriptions have anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects (for example, ephedrine can relieve nasal congestion). Citing the concept of "A good ruler governs the skin" in the Huangdi Neijing, the importance of early intervention is emphasized. For daily prevention, attention should be paid to keeping warm and enhancing the external health function.

Quote sources:1. "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" by Zhang Zhongjing (Eastern Han Dynasty) 2. "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" by Wu Jutong (Qing Dynasty) 3. Product information reference: Tongrentang Fenghanmao Granules, Baiyunshan Fengheatmao Capsules Instructions 4. Theoretical basis: "Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine" (People's Medical Publishing House)