Random Reading Notes, June 20, 1985

Random Reading Notes, June 20, 1985

1. Treatment of Lung Abscess

The book “Overview of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine” published by Shanxi People’s Publishing House discusses the treatment of this disease in three stages: ① Before pus formation: 20 g of fish mint, 20 g of Hemiphragma, 20 g of tiger’s tail, and 30 g of Platycodon grandiflorus; ② After pus formation and body temperature drops, add peach kernel, raw Coix seed, and winter melon seed to invigorate blood circulation and dissolve the pus cavity; ③ When there is no pus and no cough, focus on reinforcing the body’s defenses, using herbs such as Astragalus, Polygonatum odoratum, and Angelica sinensis—this is what traditional Chinese medicine calls “strengthening the body and consolidating the foundation.”

2. Treatment of Persistent Cough

This type of cough drains physical strength, leaving the bronchial smooth muscle fatigued and unable to effectively expel phlegm. The phlegm irritates the trachea, causing more coughing and creating a vicious cycle. Although the cough is a symptom, following the principle of treating the symptom first, choose Bai Bu to suppress the cough, pair it with Citrus aurantium to stimulate the fatigued bronchial smooth muscle, and add Aster tataricus to help expel phlegm, so that when phlegm is easily expelled, the cough diminishes. Therefore, Bai Bu, Citrus aurantium, and Aster tataricus are considered complementary cough-suppressing agents. Thus, this formula centers around these three herbs, adding Tian Dong, Mai Dong, She Gan, and Bai He, and is named “Two Winter, Bai Bu, She Zi, Citrus Aurantium.”

3. Treatment of Shock

Traditional Chinese medicine refers to this condition as “loss of yang,” and the main prescriptions are Shenfu Tang and Si Ni Tang. Modern pharmacological research confirms that Aconite has a clear cardiac-strengthening effect, while Huang Jing can substitute for ginseng to achieve the same effect at a lower cost. Therefore, a formula composed of 10 g of Aconite, 30 g of Huang Jing, and 6 g of licorice is called “Stabilizing Pressure Soup,” and clinical trials have shown that this soup has good therapeutic effects.

4. The rise of modern biology has brought new concepts to the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Organisms come in countless varieties and forms, but their basic components are all biological macromolecules such as proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids. Studying the relationship between the structure of these macromolecules and their biological functions is crucial for continuously uncovering the mysteries of life phenomena and improving disease prevention and treatment. In normal cells, there are two cyclic nucleotides: one is called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and the other is called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Under the catalysis of cyclase enzymes produced by the cell membrane, cAMP and cGMP are respectively broken down from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP). The former releases energy by breaking a high-energy phosphate bond. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate is a product released after adrenaline acts on β receptors, while cyclic guanosine monophosphate is a product released after acetylcholine acts on M receptors. There is a constant ratio between these two products, and this ratio determines the dynamic balance of the autonomic nervous system.

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In experimental studies on cyclic nucleotides, many significant findings have been made. For example, licorice can increase the cAMP content in gastric parietal cells, which may be why it serves as a harmonizing herb in traditional Chinese medicine; even a single ingredient of licorice can treat peptic ulcers and promote healing. Another important discovery is that cyclic nucleotides are crucial mediators of acupuncture stimulation: after acupuncture, acetylcholine levels decrease, leading to a corresponding drop in CGMP, thereby increasing the cAMP/CGMP ratio. This explains why a small silver needle can treat not only chronic diseases but also acute conditions such as acute appendicitis and acute bacillary dysentery. Acupuncture can both lower and raise blood pressure, inhibit and stimulate intestinal peristalsis—this is because different acupuncture techniques can modulate cyclic nucleotide levels, a phenomenon that bears many similarities to the yin-yang regulatory theory in traditional Chinese medicine. Indeed, the cyclic nucleotide regulation theory forms the material basis for the yin-yang doctrine of TCM. However, the substances regulating yin and yang within the body are by no means limited to cyclic nucleotides alone, nor can we simply equate the yin-yang dialectical unity with a cyclic nucleotide regulatory system.