The Relationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine

Abstract

The essence of the traditional Chinese medicine has always been the most advanced and experienced therapeutic approach in the world. It has knowledge that can impact the direction of future modern medical development; still, it is easy to find simple knowledge with mark of times and special cultures. The basic structure of traditional Chinese medicine is composed of three parts: one consistent with modern medicine, one involuntarily beyond modern medicine, and one that needs to be further evaluated. The part that is consistent with modern medicine includes consensus on several theories and concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, and usage of several treatments and prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine including commonly used Chinese herbs. The part that is involuntarily beyond modern medicine contains several advanced theories and important concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, relatively advanced treatments, formula and modern prescriptions, leading herbs, acupuncture treatment and acupuncture anesthesia of traditional Chinese medicine that affect modern medicine and incorporates massage treatment that has been gradually acknowledged by modern therapy. The part that needs to be further evaluated consists not only the knowledge of pulse diagnosis, prescription, and herbs, but also many other aspects of traditional Chinese medicine.

Full text

Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume , Article ID ,  pages
http://dx.doi.org/.//
Review Article
The Relationship between Traditional Chinese
Medicine and Modern Medicine
Jingcheng Dong1,2
1Institute of Integrated Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
2Department of Integrated Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
Correspondence should be addressed to Jingcheng Dong; jcdong@.com
Received  January ; Revised  April ; Accepted  June 
Academic Editor: Christopher G. Lis
Copyright ©  Jingcheng Dong. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
e essence of the traditional Chinese medicine has always been the most advanced and experienced therapeutic approach in
the world. It has knowledge that can impact the direction of future modern medical development; still, it is easy to nd simple
knowledge with mark of times and special cultures. e basic structure of traditional Chinese medicine is composed of three parts:
one consistent with modern medicine, one involuntarily beyond modern medicine, and one that needs to be further evaluated. e
part that is consistent with modern medicine includes consensus on several theories and concepts of traditional Chinese medicine,
and usage of several treatments and prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine including commonly used Chinese herbs. e
part that is involuntarily beyond modern medicine contains several advanced theories and important concepts of traditional
Chinese medicine, relatively advanced treatments, formula and modern prescriptions, leading herbs, acupuncture treatment and
acupuncture anesthesia of traditional Chinese medicine that aect modern medicine and incorporates massage treatment that has
been gradually acknowledged by modern therapy. e part that needs to be further evaluated consists not only the knowledge of
pulse diagnosis, prescription, and herbs, but also many other aspects of traditional Chinese medicine.
1. Introduction
e essence of traditional Chinese medicine has always been
the most advanced and experienced medicine in the world.
Itsvastsystemisfullofpracticalmedicaltechnologyand
proven experiences that have been gradually incorporated
into modern medicine; it has knowledge that can impact the
direction of future medical development, yet its knowledge is
simple enough to t changing times and varied cultures. e
basic structure of traditional Chinese medicine is composed
of the following three parts: the part that is consistent with
modern medicine, the part that is involuntarily beyond
modern medicine, and the part that needs to be further
evaluated or abandoned.
2. The Part That Is Consistent with
Modern Medicine
In the th century, what is now known as “western medicine”
was introduced to China but was not commonly used and
thus had little eect. It was not until the Opium War that
“western medicine” began to develop in China. erefore,
prior to that event, traditional Chinese medicine was always
the leading force of medical care in China.
e key to successful medicine lies in its ecacy. A popu-
lar Chinese saying states “Excellence is from experience.” e
foundation of traditional Chinese medicine is based on ,
years of practice and experiences. With the founding of a new
China in , western medicine in the region also began to
play a large role in medical care. As modern (westernized)
medicine’s impact increased, it led to the development of
“integrative medicine” at the end of the s. eories,
therapeutic principles, technologies, and understanding of
the life sciences were elaborated, and the basic structure
of traditional Chinese medicine also became clearer. Most
importantly, traditional Chinese medicine began to reach a
common point with modern medicine.
2.1. Consensus on Several eories and Conceptions of Tra-
ditional Chinese Medicine. For example, “the essence of

 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
kidney” is a core concept of traditional Chinese medical
theory. Studies by Shen showed that “kidney deciency
syndrome” is equivalent to the aging in modern medicine,
regardless of its external performance and internal changes
[–]. Studies by Chen et al. showed that what is known as
“heart qi deciency” is associated with cardiac insuciency
in modern medicine [–].
2.2. Consensus on Inspection, Auscultation-Olfaction, Inquiry,
and Palpation Method. ere are four main components of
traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis [,]. Inspection is a
method to determine the medical status by visually examin-
ing the changes in appearance and the movement of the whole
body or part of the body. Generally speaking, inspection
includes examination of the tongue as well as the observation
of a patient’s external appearance, in order to recognize
the internal and external manifestations of disease. Visual
examination is consistent with modern medicine’s emphasis
on observation of a patient appearance and movement. For
example, a pale lip can indicate anemia in modern medicine.
e use of auscultation-olfaction, including listening to
the sounds and smelling for odors, is also consistent with
modern medicine. If a patient speaks loudly and powerfully,
the physician can determine that the patient is full of energy.
Conversely, if a patient’s voice is weak or he does not want
to talk, it is most likely that the patient’s diseases are caused
by “deciency.” A patient’s bodily odors can also reveal much
about the respective illness. If a patient has a rotten apple
like odor, it is likely diabetic ketoacidosis. Inquiry refers
to the gathering of a thorough history and reviewing the
systems. ese include physical and mental feelings, life
history, family history, past medical history, onset time,
and the present symptoms, which are widely used both in
traditional medicine and modern medicine.
2.3. Consensus on Several Treatments of Traditional Chinese
Medicine. erapeutic studies show that Chinese medicine
and modern medicine have reached a consensus on the
methodsofdiaphoresis,purging,vomiting,warming,clear-
ing, neutralizing, eliminating, and reinforcing (eight com-
monly used treatments in traditional Chinese medicine). For
instance, the “reinforcing method” is able to improve neu-
roendocrine regulatory function, enhance the body’s ability
to combat stress, adjust immune function, and improve the
body’s systemic function. Diaphoresis is able to promote
perspiration and defervescence as well as play a role in
reducing inammation among other methods adopted by
modern medicine.
2.4. Consensus on Several Prescriptions of Traditional Chinese
MedicineandCommonlyUsedChineseHerbs. Illnesses cured
by many ancient Chinese compounds are similar to certain
diseases or conditions also seen in modern medicine and are
summarized in Tab l e .
ere are many Chinese herbs either given as single drugs
or as formulations that have been eective treatments for par-
ticularillnessesforthousandsofyears.Withthedevelopment
of modern medicine, the pharmacology and mechanism of
action of many of these Chinese herbs have been determined,
so that traditional Chinese medicine has gradually formed a
consensus with modern medicine (Table ).
3. The Part Ahead of Modern
Medicine Involuntarily
Traditional Chinese medicine is a practical medicine built
on experience. e theoretical system is built by means
of an ancient plain materialist philosophy, the method of
“syndrome dierentiation,” and the use of natural means
to treat illness rather than emphasizing consistency with
contemporary science and technology [,]. Unlike modern
medicine that has view that “Nature that cannot be certied
cannot be conquered,” keeping abreast of requirements of
contemporary science, traditional Chinese medicine with the
overalloldandsimplefeaturesinvoluntarilygivesawareness
beyond the era. e so-called “integrative medicine” is able
to reveal this essence continually.
3.1. Several Advanced eories and Important Conceptions of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. In terms of medical theories
and ways of thinking, traditional Chinese medicine has a
signicant contribution to modern medicine. For example,
the theory of the “correspondence between man and uni-
verse” in traditional Chinese medicine is the unied outlook
of body and environment. What are known as the “biological
life” theory and the “biological clock” theory in modern
medicine refers to the patterns of hormone secretion, and
treating diseases according to the place of origin are all the
embodiment of “correspondence between man and universe.”
e views of “unity of opposites” and “balance amongst
dynamic forces” indicate the existence of universal laws in
humanlife.Althoughtheseviewsareemphasizedinmodern
life science, both approaches dier from traditional Chinese
medicine because traditional Chinese medicine always con-
siders these views as its guiding ideology and as fundamental
law. erefore, the cognitive degrees of Chinese medicine and
western medicine in these views are of dierence.
For example, studies by Shen show that “kidney de-
ciency” is due to neuroendocrine disturbance and preaging
of the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which is
consistent with the hypothesis that “the senile bell lies in
hypothalamus” proposed by Everi in the s []. How-
ever, the practice of traditional Chinese medicine precedes
modern medicine by thousands of years. Our study found
that the knowledge of “chronic disease involving kidney” in
traditional Chinese medicine has a profound connotation in
modern life sciences. Many diseases, such as airway inam-
matory diseases, with long-term recurrence, oen exacerbate
the pathological changes in the anti-inammatory system
andHPAaxis.Patientssueringfromtheseareknowntohave
signicant “kidney deciency.” We summarized many the-
ories and concepts with advanced knowledge in traditional
Chinese medicine in Table .
3.2. Several Relatively Advanced Treatments of Traditional
Chinese Medicine. “Same treatment for dierent diseases,”

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
T : Several ancient herbal formulas that form consensus with modern medicine.
Formula Origin Composition Function Traditional application Modern
application
Ginseng
Decoction
[]
Shiyao
Shenshu from
Xiuyueruban-
jing
Houlu
Large ginseng – g
Invigorating qi
to prevent
prostration
It is seen aer hemorrhage, ulcer, and sore.
ose who get qi and blood deciency, pale
complexion, aversion to cold with fever, cold
limbs,spontaneoussweatingorcold
sweating, and faint pulse catch this kind of
disease.
Hemorrhagic or
cardiogenic
shock
Sini
Decoction
[,]
Tai y a n g
meridian
syndrome
from Treatise
on Febrile
Diseases
Radix Glycyrrhizae
Preparate (monarch,
two liang), Rhizoma
Zingiberis (minister,
one and half liang),
Radix Aconiti
Preparata (assistant,
one piece, uncooked)
Warming the
middle
energizer to
dispel cold,
Rescuing from
collapse by
restoring Yang
Shanghan Taiyang disease which is
mistakenly treated by sweating method
damages yang, yangming, taiyin, shaoyin,
jueyin and cholera, displaying such
symptom as deadly cold hand and foot,
aversion to cold, vomiting and no eagerness
to drink, hypogastralgia and diarrhea,
spiritual deciency and always sleeping,
white and slippery tongue coating, faint
pulse, and such diseases as plague, malaria,
Juedisease,Collapsediseaseandpain
disease. All above belong to yin syndrome.
Multiple shocks
Zhenwu
Decoction
[]
Shaoyin
meridian
syndrome
from Treatise
on Febrile
Diseases
Poria cocos, Paeonia
Lactiora Pall, Ginger
(sliced) each three
liang, Atractylodes
macrocephala koidz
(two liang), Radix
Aconiti Lateralis
Preparata (one piece,
processed)
Warming yang
to promote
diuresis
It directs to deciency of spleen-yang and
kidney-yang and Water and Dampness
Retention. e syndromes show as follows:
dysuria; heavy limbs with pain;
hypogastralgia and diarrhea; limb swelling;
white tongue coating and no eagerness to
drink; deep pulse; taiyang-diseases which
are overused sweating method; edema due
to yang insuciency; sweating but not
relieve the symptom; fever; epigastric throb;
dizziness; trembling body.
Cardiogenic or
renal edema
Yupingfeng
Powder []
Spontaneous
Sweating
Decoction
from Danxi’s
experiential
therapy
Saposhnikovia
divaricata, Radix
astragali, one liang
each, Atractylodes
macrocephala koidz
(two liang) ree
qian. e above with
one and half cup of
water and three pieces
of ginger
Tonifying
Spleen and
supplementing
defending qi;
Consolidating
exterior for
arresting
sweating
It is called by TCM immunomodulator. It
treats spontaneous sweating due to
deciency of yang, susceptibility of
pathogenic wind; body injury by wind, rain,
cold and dampness, and withered skin;
sweating and disgusting wind; pale
complexion, pale tongue, and thin-white
coating, oating and decient pulse. It also
treats decient people with loosened striae
and susceptibility of pathogenic wind.
Rising the
immune
function
one of the most important and characteristic concepts in
traditional Chinese medicine reects the spirit of “syndrome
dierentiation and treatment” and refers to the thought that
dierent diseases at certain stages of development show
the same pathogenesis. And therefore, the same therapeutic
principles can be applied to diseases. For example, according
to modern medical diagnosis, dierent diseases are able to
be cured by “reinforcing kidney and replenishing qi” as long
as they are attributed to “kidney-qi deciency” syndrome.
Modern research has shown that this concept of “same
treatment for dierent diseases” is likely to be one of the
directions of modern medicine in the future. Because some
of the “walls” that exist between the diseases are not always
reasonable, the reason for division is oen based on anatomy,
rather than etiological and pathological changes. Studies have
shown that dierent diseases with similar syndrome oen
have common pathological and physiological changes. It is
easier to achieve better eects by using the same prescription
because dierent diseases may have comparable changes at
the cellular, molecular, and genetic levels, and drug targets or
the target groups may be similar across various diseases.
3.3. Several Relatively Advanced Formula and
Modern Prescriptions
3.3.1. Realgar-Indigo Naturalis Formula. Acute promyelo-
cytic leukemia (APL) has a poor prognosis. In the s,
a famous Chinese medical expert in China, Doctor Shi-lin
Huang, designed a Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula (RIF),
in which, realgar, a mined ore, is the principal element and
Indigo naturalis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Radix psudostellar-
iae are adjuvant components to assist the eects of realgar.
e main components of RIF are realgar, Indigo naturalis,

 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
T : Consensus of several commonly used herbs.
Herb Ecacy Traditional
application Essential component Pharmacologic action Modern
application
Ephedra []
Antiperspiration,
relieves lung
congestion,
antiasthmatic,
diuretic
Used for respir ator y
infections caused by
“wind,” asthmatic
cough and chest
distress, edema
caused by wind,
asthma, pruritis
HN
OH
Ephedrine
HN
OH
Pseudoephedrine
Ephedrine induces
central nervous system
excitation; improves
myocardial
contractility, increases
cardiac output; acts on
adreno-receptor;
signicantly relaxes
bronchial smooth
muscle.
Pseudoephedrine has
better eects on
dieresis compared with
ephedrine; minimal
erethitic eects on
vascular system.
Mainly used for
bronchial
asthma, the
common cold,
allergic
response, nasal
congestion,
edema,
hypotension
Datura ower
[]
Suppresses cough
and relieves
dyspnea; anesthetic
and odynolytic;
relieves spasms
and pain
Used for coug h,
asthma, abdominal
pain; rheumatic
aches, epilepsy,
infantile convulsion,
and anesthesia.
O
O
HO
NO
Scopomamine
OH
O
O
N
Cytospaz
Analogous to an
alpha-blocking agent,
scopomamine has
analgesic functions and
can strengthen the
analgesic action of
sauteralgyl via blocking
adrenergic receptors;
reduces vagal
inhibitory eects on
the heart and
stimulates the
apneustic center.
For gastric and
duodenal ulcers
and gall bladder
disease, kidney
disease,
intestinal
cramps, and can
also be used for
tremor palsy.
Coptis []Heat dampness,
re detoxication.
For hotness and
humidity, vomiting,
dysentery jaundice,
fever, coma, upset,
insomnia,
hematemesis, and
epistaxis due to blood
hot, toothache,
carbuncles.
N
O
O
O
O
+
Berberine
Antipathogenic
microbe;
antiarrhythmic,
antihypertensive,
positive inotropic
eect; detoxication,
anti-inammatory,
antipyretic, and
antiplatelet
aggregation.
Commonly used
to treat bacterial
gastroenteritis,
dysentery, and
other
gastrointestinal
diseases.
Aconite []
Reviving yang for
resuscitation,
supplementing re
and strengthening
yang, eliminating
cold to stop pain.
e most eective
drug for recovering
depleted yang.
For excessive yin
rejecting yang, loss of
yang due to severe
diaphoresis, vomiting
and diarrhea, cold
extremities, cold
hypochondrium
protrusion. Coryza
due to insuciency of
yang, dorsal furuncle
and pyocutaneous
disease, and other
unretractable cold
diseases.
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
NH
HO
OH
HO
OH
H
Myoctonine
Has a cardiotonic
eect, dilates blood
vessels, increases blood
ow, improves blood
circulation,
antiarrhythmic,
anticold, improves
tolerance to hypoxia
tolerance and
anti-inammatory and
analgesic eects.
Clinically used
to alleviate pain,
especially
suitable for the
digestive system
and cancer pain.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
T : Continu ed.
Herb Ecacy Traditional
application Essential component Pharmacologic action Modern
application
Honeysuckle
[]
Heat clearing and
detoxicating,
detumescence,
improves eyesight,
dispels wind and
heat
For anthracia and
furunculosis,
pharyngitis,
hieropyra,
hematochezia caused
by pyretic toxicity,
anemopyretic cold,
fever caused by warm
pathogen
e main component is volatile
oil
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
O
O
O
Isochlorogenic acid
Antimicrobial;
anti-inammatory and
antipyretic eects,
strengthens the
immune function,
centra analepsia eects,
lipid-lowering eect,
antiendotoxin.
For gastric and
duodenal ulcers
and gall bladder
disease, kidney
disease,
intestinal
cramps, and can
also be used for
tremor palsy.
T : Advances in traditional Chinese medicine that are ahead
of modern medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine
(thousands of years ago)
Modern medicine
(recent decades)
e integration of life
knowledge/experience with
traditional Chinese medicine
Ranging from primary studies
of a single gene or protein to
current use of genomics,
proteomics and informatics
Emotional pathopoiesis and its
correspondence between man
and his environment
Gradual recognition of
psychological factors and its
relationship with physiology
and pathology.
Syndrome dierentiation,
abidance by the triple
pathogens and physique theory
Establishment of individual
treatment
Chinese compound
(multitarget herbal treatment)
From primary single target
drugs to multitarget drugs,
signicantly reduce the side
eects of medical treatment.
and Salvia miltiorrhiza, with tetraarsenic tetrasulde (A),
indirubin (I), and tanshinone IIA (T) as major active ingre-
dients, respectively [–]. Multicenter clinical trials showed
that a complete remission rate of .% []to%[]and
a -year overall survival rate of .% []wereachieved
in APL patients receiving RIF, with moderate adverse eects
such as gastrointestinal discomfort and rash. Doctor Zhu
Chen claried the molecular mechanism of the compound
Huangdai tablets in the treatment of APL in  from the
perspective of molecular biology and biochemistry in the
renowned journal Proceedings of the National Academy of
SciencesoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica(PNAS).eresults
show that AsS induces degradation of the cancer protein,
thus reversing the increase in cancer cells and making
them dierentiate and mature. Tanshinone and indirubin
promote the ubiquitination of the oncoprotein and accelerate
its degradation, further promoting the dierentiation and
maturation of the leukemia cells and inhibiting cell cycle and
proliferation of cancer cells. Animal studies also showed that
the use of natural indigo aer realgar substantially reduced
toxicity. ese reect the concepts of typical “minister”
(the place inferior to “monarch” drug) and “assistant” (the
place inferior to “minister” drug) eect. Tanshinone and
indirubin increase the production of channel proteins that
deliver AsS, which signicantly increase the concentration
of AsS in leukemia cells, improving its ecacy. Both
tanshinone and indirubin play the role of “guide” (the place
inferior to “assistant” drug). e compound Huangdai has a
synergistic eect with the other components greater than its
three individual components by the joint application of each
component (Figure ).
3.3.2. Airway Stabilizer Solution. e airway stabilizer solu-
tion created by Doctor Jing-cheng Dong is based on Xiao
Qing Long Tang (Little Dragon Decoction) and Ding Chuan
Tang (Anti-asthmatic Decoction), composed of ligusticum
wallichii, ginkgo biloba, skullcap, Asarum, ginger, almonds,
earthworm, rehmannia, and magnolia. It is eective in the
clinical treatment of bronchial asthma and variability of
cough. e various components and the basis for its ecacy
are rooted in traditional Chinese medical theory, and the
composition of the drug may be the main material basis for
its ecacy (Table ).
3.4. Several Leading Herbs. e study of Chinese medicine
is driven in part by the development of modern pharma-
cology. For instance, Artemisia annua was recorded in the
“Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergency”(writtenbyHong
Ge in Eastern Jin Dynasty) as a drug used to treat malaria.
Modern research has shown that it has an antimalarial active
ingredient (the peroxide group of sesquiterpene lactone)
consisting of only  elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
It is a completely dierent novel compound compared to
known antimalarial drug structures. is nding overturned
the judgment of experts who insisted that the structure
of the antimalarial drugs must have a nitrogen-containing
heterocyclic ring [,]. It helps provide a direction for
the design and synthesis of new drugs. In addition, ginseng,
skullcap, astragalus, epimedium, and other herbs were also
eachshowntohaveauniqueeect(Tabl e  ).
3.5. Acupuncture Treatment and Acupuncture Anesthesia at
Aect Modern Medicine. ose who practice acupuncture
approach the treatment by looking at pathology in the
whole body. According to dierent body conditions, varied

 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Realgar-indigo naturalis formula
Realgar Indigo naturalis Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix pseudostellanae
Tetraarsenic tetrasulde (A) Indirubin (I) Tanshinone IIA (T)
Intercompatibility
Tetraarsenic tetrasulde is sovereign,
indirubin is guide, and tanshinone IIA
is assistant.
F : Realgar-Indigo naturalis formula.
T : Components and ingredients of the airway stabilizer
solution.
Name Herb Ingredient
Airway
stabilizer
solution
Ephedra Ephedrine and other minor
components
Ligusticum wallichii Tetramethylpyrazine
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgolide
Scutellaria Baicalin
Asarum Racemic go A black alkali
Ginger ale Ginger oil glycosides
Almonds Amygdalin
Earthworm Earthworms antipyretic
Rehmannia Habitat catalpol
Magnolia Volatile oil
acupoints and manipulations are selected. e selection
inuences multiple targets and many diseases and stimulates
the body to treat diseases, aecting the pathological process
and improving physique.
is adjustment is accomplished by the integration of
the central nervous system, including cortex recombination,
neural plasticity, and release of various neurotransmitters
and hormones [,]. e basis of acupuncture may be in
changes in gene expression.
Acupuncture anesthesia is a method used to prevent sur-
gical pain and relieve physiological dysfunction. It is suitable
for those who are allergic to narcotic drugs. Since ,
Shanghai No.  People’s Hospital used it instead of narcotic
drugs to perform tonsillectomies. Since then, acupuncture
anesthesia has been passed from general usage to selected
application. According to its clinical eect and scientic eval-
uation, acupuncture anesthesia is eectively used in thyroid
surgery, surgery of posterior cranial fossa, craniocerebral
operation, anterior cervical surgery, pulmonary resection,
caesarean section, tubal ligation, and tooth extraction. It
is also used in some surgeries with uncertain results like
hysterectomy, caldwell-luc operation, subtotal gastrectomy,
and strabismus surgery. It has not proved to provide eective
anesthesia in limb surgery and perineal surgery.
e basis of acupuncture anesthesia is the adjustment
to inhibit large pain pathways by the negative reection
of spinal pain [–]. e acupuncture signal and the
pain signal from the pain region transmit impulses into
the brain. Acupuncture stimulates the antipain material to
reduce the pain. Endogenous opioids participate in this
process due to the increased release of opioids. Several
neurotransmitters are related to acupuncture anesthesia, and
some relatively central cerebral nuclei were found. CCK-
has the negative-reection-to-opioid eect, which is the vital
factor of acupuncture and morphine. e eect of electric
acupuncture depends on the balance of central opioid and
CCK-. e acupuncture signals can be reected on some
regional area of the brain to deal with the injury stimulations,
which might be the physical basis of acupuncture anesthesia.
Dierent frequencies of electric acupuncture dierentiate the
pain-relieving eects, which may be related to the specic
expression of central genes. Two Hz electric acupuncture is
widely used in the brain treatment, while  Hz has a narrow
extension in the brain treatment. Psychological factors are
not the deciding factors for success, but they are also quite
important.
3.6.MassageTreatmentatIsGraduallyAcknowledgedby
Modern Medicines. Massage treatment utilizes the particular
skills with hands or limbs to practice manipulation on
the surface of the body. erefore, it has the direct eect
of activating blood and dispersing stagnation, smoothing
tendons, and improving malformation. On the other hand,
massage reectively inuences the neuro and body uid
by acupoint-meridian-viscera network. Clinical researches
show that appropriate manipulations can result in improve-
ment of outcomes [].
Modern research studies show that massage can promote
blood and lymph circulation, increase metabolism, and assist
therepairofsotissueinjury[]. e diastolic function

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
T : Several advanced commonly used herbs.
Herb Function Traditional use Major ingredient Pharmacologic eect Modern
application
Artemisia
apiacea Hce
[,]
Antipyretic,
antimalaria
Fever, malaria,
icterus
O
O
H
O
H
O
O
H
Regulation of
immune function,
and
anti-inammatory,
antibacterial,
antimalarial role.
Malaria such
as
encephalopa-
thy, bilious
malaria
Panax ginseng
C.A.Mey []
Reinforce qi,
reduce anxiety
Fatigue, chronic
illness,
dehydration
HO
HO
HO
HO HO
HO
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OO
O
OH
H
H
O
O
O
O
Main component is ginseng saponin (can
be divided into three groups, namely,
oleanolic acid group, protopanaxdiol, and
the original Panaxatriol group)
Improve physical,
mental activity, and
strengthen immunity.
e pharmacological
activity of ginseng has
an “adaptogens” like
eect.
Antitumor
activity
Scutellaria
baicalensis
Georgi []
Heat dampness,
anticoagulation,
tocolysis.
Cough,
tocolytic, icterus
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
O
O
O
O
O
HO
HO
OH
O
O
Baicalin and baicalein
Decrease cerebral
vascular resistance,
improve cerebral
blood circulation,
increase cerebral
blood ow and
antiplatelet
aggregation.
Paralysis aer
cerebrovascu-
lar
disease
Astragalus
hoangtchy []
“Solid the
surface,”
detumescence
“Qi weakness,”
chronic
diarrhea, rectal
prolapse, blood
in the stool,
uterine
bleeding, “blood
deciency,”
diabetes,
chronic
nephritis,
proteinuria.
HO
HO
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OO HO
O
H
H
O
Astragaloside IV
Strengthens
immunity, stimulates
erythropoeisis,
increases the number
of red blood cells,
hepatoprotective
eect, enhances
adrenal function,
improves fatigue,
antiaging, antiulcer
Hypertension,
ischemic heart
disease;
cerebral
infarction,
cerebral
thrombosis,
diabetes, acute
glomeru-
lonephritis,
myasthenia
gravis, cardiac
arrhythmia,
psoriasis,
chronic
rhinitis.

 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
T : Continu e d.
Herb Function Traditional use Major ingredient Pharmacologic eect Modern
application
Herba
epimedii []
Reinforce
kidney yang,
antirheumatism
Atrophic
arthritis,
dormientum
spermatorrhea,
hypertension.
HO
OH
OH
OH
OH OH
OH
OH
O
O
O
O
OO
O
Icariin
Modulates the
hypothalamic-
pituitary-gonadal axis
and adrenal cortical
axis, and the thymus
axis,
immunomodulatory
eects, antiasthmatic,
anti-inammatory
and antiviral eects,
improves the
hemodynamic and
hemorheology.
Polio;
neurasthenia;
treatment of
chronic
bronchitis;
male
hormone-like
eects.
oftheheartimproves,andarteriolefunctionimprovesas
well aer massage. e total cell count increases, while
lung function improves. e content of catecholamines in
plasma decreases so that the autonomic nervous system is
inhibited, which can cause a reduction in pain []. Massage
can eectively increase digestion in the stomach, adjust the
secretion of stomach uid, and release the spasm of smooth
muscle []. When ST and BL are manipulated, the
function of periphery blood T lymphocyte elevates. Rub-
bing manipulation, embrocation, and kneading manipulation
could increase the elasticity and glossiness of skin.
In short, skilled massage manipulation can eectively
prevent diseases by the combination of static strength and
motive force in a localized point or throughout the entire
body.
4. Some Parts That Need to Be Newly
Recognized or Abandoned
In the system of human science, including medical science,
concepts change from new to old, and ideas become theories
andfacts.Alltheconceptsandrulesindicatethestability.
However, this kind of stability is conditional, partial, and
relative, while instability is absolute and unconditional. Any
scientic systems should confess their demerits and rectify
them so as to generate new concepts, methods, and theory.
Meanwhile,theinitialphaseofmodernmedicineandtra-
ditional Chinese medicine were founded in specic cultures
and eras. So TCM theory should be divided into two parts,
one of which needs to be promoted, the other of which need
to be abandoned. Integrative medicine is an important way to
achieve this [].
4.1. About Palpation. “Cunkou pulse” should be newly rec-
ognized. It belongs to the “Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin.”
“Classic of Questioning ” (written by Qui Bian in the Warring
StatesPeriod) put forward that “Cunkou pulse” can detect
diseases of the whole body. “Lung” controls whole meridians,
is the master of “qi”, and is the origin of “qi” and “blood.”
erefore, it can reect all the changes of viscera, meridians
and “qi-blood” to diagnose diseases. “e Internal Canon of
Medicine” (written in Huang in the Warring States period)
pointed out that meridians include meridians and collaterals,
not vessels. e pulse we palpate originates from the heart,
which beats. e meridian cannot beat, so it should not be
able to be palpated. e pulse is only one kind of syndrome.
Not all diseases can be presented by the pulse. erefore,
palpationispartofsigns,butoneshouldbecarefulwhen
palpation is the only examination method.
4.2. About Formula Prescription. Although formulary pre-
scriptions are benecial in medicine, they still have some
demerits. It is hard to distinguish the “assistant” and the
“guide” in some prescriptions, and therefore, it is necessary to
conduct further research. “Compendium of Materia Medica”
(written by Si-miao Sun in the Ming Dynasty) has lots of
prescription to treat sterility. If a sterile female drank a cup of
rain water in the spring, she would become fertile. If a sterile
female stole a lamp from a rich person’s bed, she would also
become fertile. Even broom, dishwater, ashes on widow’s bed,
the wood in toilet, the trees red by thunder, and the rope
hung by itself were thought to treat diseases.
4.3. About Chinese Medicine. Si-miao Sun (a well-known
doctor in Chinese history) recorded saltpeter as bitter and hot
in taste, extremely cold, and nontoxic. Modern researchers
nd saltpeter contains nitrocompoundwhich may cause liver
cancer. Also Pollia was recorded as bitter and hot in taste,
warm and nontoxic, although it contains aristolochic acid
which may cause kidney failure, lymphoma, kidney cancer,
and liver cancer.
5. Conclusion
China is a nation composed of many ethnic groups, many
with their own subcultures, beliefs, and history. Because of
this, it is important to note that traditional Chinese medicine
should have two concepts: rstly, it only refers to traditional

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 
medicine in the Han nationality; secondly, it is the sum
of traditional medicines of all nationalities in the Chinese
mainland. With respect to the structure and characteristic of
traditional medicines, they can be divided into three parts:
the knowledge and facts in agreement with modern medicine,
the knowledge and practices not recognized in modern
medicinethatmaybevaluableinthefuturepracticeof
modern medicine, and nally, the component of traditional
medicine that has been adequately disproven and should be
abandoned from future medical practice.
Acknowledgments
is project was funded from the grants from the
National Basic Science Program of China (CB)
and National Natural Science Program of China (no.
/H).
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