The Quantitative Ideas and Methods in Assessment of Four Properties of Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to summarize and reflect on the current status and problems of the research on the properties of Chinese medicinal herbs. Hot, warm, cold, and cool are the four properties/natures of Chinese medicinal herbs. They are defined based on the interaction between the herbs with human body. How to quantitatively assess the therapeutic effect of Chinese medicinal herbs based on the theoretical system of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) remains to be a challenge. Previous studies on the topic from several perspectives have been presented. Results and problems were discussed. New ideas based on the technology of biophoton radiation detection are proposed. With the development of biophoton detection technology, detection and characterization of human biophoton emission has led to its potential applications in TCM. The possibility of using the biophoton analysis system to study the interaction of Chinese medicinal herbs with human body and to quantitatively determine the effect of the Chinese medicinal herbal is entirely consistent with the holistic concept of TCM theory. The statistical entropy of electromagnetic radiations from the biological systems can characterize the four properties of Chinese medicinal herbs, and the spectrum can characterize the meridian tropism of it. Therefore, we hypothesize that by the use of biophoton analysis system, the four properties and meridian tropism of Chinese medicinal herbs can be quantitatively expressed.

Potential screening and early diagnosis method for cancer: Tongue diagnosis

“…TCM, as a complete set of the theoretical system, is completely different from modern medicine ( 1 ). It is to explore the cause, nature, position and pathogenesis of the disease and maintain the health of human body basing on the guiding principles of the holistic concept and syndrome differentiation ( 2 , 3 ) and the theory of Yin and Yang (the two opposing principles in nature) and the five elements (gold, wood, water, fire and soil). Four methods of diagnosis including observation diagnosis, auscultation, interrogation and feeling the pulse and numerous effective therapeutics including Chinese herbs ( 4 ), acupuncture ( 5 ), moxibustion, massage, cupping therapy, Tai chi, qigong ( 6 ) and so on, constitute a complete diagnosis and treatment system of TCM.…”

The Effects of Natural Chinese Medicine Aconite Root, Dried Ginger Rhizome, and Coptis on Rectal and Skin Temperatures at Acupuncture Points

“…Previous studies have attempted to define the degree of cold or hot properties of drugs with regard to the application of Chinese materia medica in TCM clinical treatment [ 5 – 8 ]. A variety of modern scientific technologies have been used to investigate the biomedical effects of the 4 properties, such as animal thermotropism behavior [ 9 , 10 ], infrared thermal imaging [ 11 ], microcalorimetry [ 12 ], cytological evaluation [ 13 , 14 ], biological photon analysis technology evaluation method [ 15 , 16 ], energy metabolic evaluation method [ 17 , 18 ], and cold and hot associated protein pathways [ 19 , 20 ]. However, the quantitative methods used for the evaluation of cold and hot properties of the Chinese materia medica are incomplete and require further investigation.…”

Traditional Chinese Bitter Flavor theory: Is there any relation with taste type II receptors?

“…Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) property theory, evolved from long-term medical practice with the contemporary thoughts and theories in social and nature sciences 1 , is an important pharmacy theory which is based on the physiological, pathological and clinical effect when drugs act on human body. As a guide principle, TCM property theory has played an important role in syndrome differentiation and clinical prescription for thousands of years 2,3 .…”

“…As a guide principle, TCM property theory has played an important role in syndrome differentiation and clinical prescription for thousands of years 2,3 . TCM property theory studies the formation mechanism and the application regularity of TCM properties, including four properties 1 , five flavors 4,5 , meridian entry 6 , toxicity and so on. These various characteristics description of efficiency as drugs effect on human body forms the TCM property theory of the system.…”

“…However, TCM theory is limited by the understanding of the nature at the cognitive level 1 and more objective, quantitative references should be added to evaluate the guiding significance. In this direction, we have made big emotional investment to evaluating the Five Flavors theory, one element of TCM theory systems.…”