Observation of Life: A Universal Principle for Humans and Animals
The principles discussed here apply to both humans and animals, as seen in ancient Chinese veterinary texts that are rooted in the foundational works of Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) and Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders).
This series is based on Professor Wu‘s lectures, and I am deeply grateful for his teachings.
TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Diagnosis and Pathology:
Key Concepts in TCM:
- Yin-Yang and the Five Elements
- Zangxiang (Organ Manifestations)
- Qi, Blood, Essence, and Body Fluids
- Meridians
The above concepts form the physiological foundation of TCM and serve as models for understanding pathology. When these concepts are understood thoroughly, diagnosis becomes much simpler, even without reliance on advanced instruments.
How do these concepts support life processes?
- Yin-Yang is an overarching holistic concept.
- The Five Elements divide this holistic view into five functional systems, which correspond to the Five Zang Organs.
- These systems are sustained by the material foundation of Qi, Blood, Essence, and Body Fluids, enabling transformations of matter, energy, and information.
- Meridians act as conveyors for the material foundation mentioned above.
Using the terminology of Western medicine and modern science:
- Yin-Yang and the Five Elements represent genetics.
- Zangxiang (Organ Manifestations) correspond to organ systems.
- Qi, Blood, Essence, and Body Fluids refer to material metabolism .
- Meridians are akin to signal transmission pathways.
Integrating TCM with Western Medicine:
As we promote TCM in the United States, many people are unfamiliar with its concepts. To bridge this gap, we compare TCM with Western medicine. While Western medicine emphasizes specialization and the central dogma, it has moved toward holistic perspectives since 2000. Systems biology divides the body into eight systems: circulatory, respiratory, digestive, musculoskeletal, urinary, endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. Interestingly, these eight systems align closely with TCM's Five Zang Organs.
How are they connected?
The transformation from the eight systems in Western medicine to the Five Zang Organs in TCM follows a progression from systems → organs → cells → molecules. At the molecular level, this corresponds to the concept of Qi, Blood, Essence, and Body Fluids in TCM. Since TCM regards these as foundational substances, their discussion inevitably overlaps with molecular biology.
Comparison of Basic Life Activities in TCM and Western Medicine:
| Aspect | TCM | Western Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Materials | Qi, Blood, Essence, Body Fluids | Oxygen and nutrients (sugar, fat, protein, trace elements, vitamins) |
| Physiological Process | Meridians as pathways; Five Zang organs working together | Eight systems (musculoskeletal, urinary, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, immune, digestive, endocrine) |
| Fundamental Changes | Qi transformation (transport and changes of Qi, Blood, Essence, Body Fluids) | Interconversion of matter, energy, and information |
| Functional State | Yin-Yang | Excitation and inhibition |
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我们保健所研究动物中医学，由于中医学博大精深而中兽医的知识鲜少而很多教材已脱离本质。很难讲其保留的糟粕与有价值的内容各占多少。于是我们必须自己研究整体的传统中医学。中医的整体观，不论是人，兽皆由此理，记载的古中兽医书籍也都源于【黄帝内经】与【伤寒论】。 此系列源自学习吴教授的课程，感谢老师教授。
中医机体辩证与病理途径:
- 阴阳五行
- 脏象
- 气血精津液
- 经络
以上为中医学研究的生理构造，同样也是病理模型。中医要清楚这些的话，看病会简单得多，不依赖大型仪器设备。以上生理构造如何帮助生命运行呢？ 阴阳（1）是一个整体观念，五行是这个整体再分成5个功能系统，也被细分为五脏（2）。在这个5个功能系统中，以气血精津液（3）为物质基础，发生物质，能量与信息的变化；而经络（4）为物质基础（3）的传送带。用西医和现代语音； 阴阳五行是遗传，（2）脏象是器官系统，（3）气血精津液物质代谢，（4）经络是信号传导.
因为我们在美国推广中医学，更多人对中医本来不了解。我们将中医的理念与大家熟悉的西医一起比对。在西医强调细分和中心法则，在2000年后西医研究也逐渐走向整体。系统生物血的生物信息学将整体分成8个系统（分别是循环，呼吸，消化，运动，泌尿，内分泌，神经和免疫系统）， 这8个系统恰好也与中医学的五脏相同。 如何相通呢？
8个系统转化为中医的五脏，由系统到器官到细胞再到分子，而分子就属于中医气血精津液的范畴。因为中医认为气血精津液属于经纬物质，这就涉及分子的问题。
中西医对生命体基本生命活动的认知比较
中医 西医
原料： 气血精津液 氧和营养物质（糖，脂，蛋白质，微量元素，维生素）
生理过程： 经络为通道，五脏协同作用 8大系统（运动，泌尿，神经，呼吸， 循环，免疫，消化，内分泌）
基础变化： 气化（气血精津液的运送与变化） 物质，能量与信息的互相转化
功能状态： 阴阳 兴奋与抑制