Overview on pattern identification – History, nature and strategies for treating patients: A narrative review

Abstract

Introduction: In traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM), various systems of practice exist that have used different theories to guide their practice. Although data gathering has been limited to what can be observed by the four examinationssi zhen, the different systems of practice have focused on different observational data to make diagnostic decisions and choose corresponding treatments. The organization of the data into patterns has led to what is called Pattern Identification based systems of practice (PIs). Methods: The range of systems, theories, treatments and PIs were explored in order to highlight important issues for researchers to consider in performing PI based research Results: Expert opinions, scholarly and clinical literature on the key issues which compose 'pattern identification' (PI) were identified with respect to the history, development, nature and the different strategies used by different PIs for diagnosing and treating patients. Conclusion:It is important for researchers to understand these issues so as not to weaken their results and findings, whether conducting survey-based research, clinical trial research, laboratory studies or seeking to influence teaching and practice. This is the first in a series of papers by the international Pattern Identification Network Group (iPING) helping to clarify the area of research on PIs and which seek to expand lines of research on PIs so that teaching, practice, clinical and laboratory research can be more consequential.

Acupuncture as a Treatment Within Integrative Health for Palliative Care: A Brief Narrative Review of Evidence and Recommendations

“…Few therapeutic options offer a mixed-evidence based approach like this. It may also be advantageous if traditionally based practice 108 is used since emerging evidence supports the performance of TEAM diagnostic evaluations and treatments in palliative care. A recent study found that the diagnostic patterns were predictors for response in hot flashes in cancer patients.…”

Antiamylase, Antilipase, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Activity of Nonea obtusifolia (Willd.) DC. from Palestine

“…Nowadays, the use of phytomedicine has become an essential type of therapy in our modern life due to its importance in the treatment and prophylaxis of several illnesses [ 1 ]. Obviously, their use has existed since ancient civilizations and has been utilized as conventional and complementary types of therapies [ 2 ]. Moreover, due to their influence on many systems in the human body, most of the prescribed medicines nowadays are originated from plants [ 3 ].…”

Inter-Rater Agreement in Traditional Chinese Medicine: On the Potential Contribution of Popplewell's Work

“…TCM is a complex system of practice that has combined different treatment systems (e.g., herbs and acupuncture) into one with a single diagnosis system. 5,9 While in Japan, the diagnostic processes and patterns for herbal medicine and acupuncture are different, 10 which is understandable given that they have been practiced separately for a long time. 5 It is probable that the types of diagnoses for the different systems are likely to be different due to differences in how they act and changes that can be observed, 11,12 which raises the question of whether a single diagnosis system can precisely capture the details of different systems of practice (herbs and acupuncture) and to what extent this may introduce problems in establishing DA for TCM?…”

“…This may at first seem to be a strange question, but it is relevant because there are TEAM practice systems where the diagnosis is routinely arrived at without discussion of or use of the symptoms of the patient to decide the pattern of diagnosis. 10 There are also systems that usually include the symptoms of the patient when deciding the pattern of diagnosis 10 and there are systems that seek a diagnosis that explains why the symptom occurs, 13 so that the pattern is based on a limited subset of patterns that could explain the origin of the symptom. 8,10 To understand the role of symptoms in deciding the pattern in a specific system of practice, literature reviews and surveys of practice need to be conducted.…”

“…10 There are also systems that usually include the symptoms of the patient when deciding the pattern of diagnosis 10 and there are systems that seek a diagnosis that explains why the symptom occurs, 13 so that the pattern is based on a limited subset of patterns that could explain the origin of the symptom. 8,10 To understand the role of symptoms in deciding the pattern in a specific system of practice, literature reviews and surveys of practice need to be conducted. A survey of general practice can identify the frequency of types of practice and distribution of diagnostic patterns, whereas a survey related to a specific symptom might yield a more limited distribution of diagnostic patterns that are related to that symptom.…”