II. Clinical Models of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Internal Medicine

II. Clinical Models of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Internal Medicine

1. Proposal of the Model

Both domestic and international scholars have published numerous reports and papers on the theoretical foundations and clinical research of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Especially over the past decade, various regions have held a series of academic conferences on this topic, creating a vibrant atmosphere of diverse opinions and vigorous debate. However, when it comes to practical implementation in clinical settings, the question remains: can a concrete clinical model for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine be proposed? Such a model would serve as both the standard procedure for daily ward and outpatient care and the guiding protocol for documenting integrated traditional Chinese and Western medical records. Addressing this issue is of forward-looking significance for advancing the cause of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. It was precisely with this vision in mind that Pei Zhengxue meticulously conceived and proposed the "Sixteen-Character Method" for clinical work in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine: Western diagnosis, Chinese differentiation, herbal medicine as the mainstay, Western medicine as the auxiliary. In 1984, this method was first implemented in the Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine at the Gansu Provincial Institute of New Medicine, becoming the established guideline for inpatient and outpatient clinical practice in that department. Eight years of clinical practice proved that this method could unify the thinking of all traditional Chinese and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medical staff and effectively address three key aspects: the integration of macro and micro perspectives, the combination of holistic and local perspectives, and the fusion of pathogen and body response perspectives. Starting in 1990, with strong support from the Gansu Provincial Health Department, an annual provincial training course for resident physicians in traditional Chinese hospitals was organized, focusing on the "Sixteen-Character Method." Through lectures on common and frequently occurring diseases, the clinical practices of inpatient departments in 73 traditional Chinese hospitals across the province were noticeably improved under the guidance of the "Sixteen-Character Method." Physicians generally believed that this method had universal guiding significance for clinical practice in traditional Chinese hospitals, hence the nickname "Sixteen-Character Policy." In July 1987 and August 1990, Pei Zhengxue was invited to deliver academic presentations on the "Sixteen-Character Method" at national academic conferences in Beijing, Kunming, Guiyang, and Dalian, receiving widespread recognition from his peers. In April 1992, Pei Zhengxue led a group of experts in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine from the five northwestern provinces to jointly compile a book titled "Practical Internal Medicine of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine." At the plenary editorial meeting held in Lanzhou, the editorial committee unanimously approved the outline, format, and detailed rules drafted by him, while also determining that the guiding principle for compiling the book would be the "Sixteen-Character Policy" of "Western diagnosis, Chinese differentiation, herbal medicine as the mainstay, Western medicine as the auxiliary," which had been proven effective through years of practice.

2. Content and Significance of the Model

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After 1949, Chinese researchers in the field of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine conducted a series of experimental studies on the "kidney," discovering that, in addition to its functions within the urinary system, the kidney primarily represents the functions of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal cortex system and the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal system. This finding provided experimental evidence for the traditional Chinese medical view that the kidney is the "root of congenital essence" and the "foundation of life." As a result, a clinical argument formed through logical reasoning was elevated to a theory supported by scientific experimentation, undoubtedly serving as a significant boost to the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

In summary, employing an integrated approach of traditional Chinese and Western medicine to study traditional Chinese medicine can enrich and enhance both its content and technical level, thereby powerfully advancing the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

III. Applying Advanced Theories from Modern Disciplines to Study Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gradually Achieving Modernization

Modern science has become highly specialized, with natural science forming a multi-layered, interwoven network system composed of closely linked and mutually permeating disciplines. As an applied science that studies human life phenomena and seeks effective means to combat disease, traditional Chinese medicine, like Western medicine, should also be regarded as a link within this network system. We must conduct research on traditional Chinese medicine from this perspective; otherwise, it will not be able to keep pace with the times. The theoretical foundation of traditional Chinese medicine is built upon a macroscopic framework, where the laws governing human life and disease are understood holistically. However, relatively speaking, there is a lack of detailed descriptions of the finer aspects of the whole, which reflects the insufficient differentiation of the traditional Chinese medical theoretical system. Practical experience in the development of natural science shows that breakthroughs in the fundamental theories of traditional Chinese medicine cannot be achieved through the efforts of medical professionals alone; extensive collaboration across multiple disciplines—such as biology, physics, molecular biology, quantum chemistry, and quantum biology—is essential to make progress. The "Inner Canon of Medicine" is a classic work of traditional Chinese medical theory; in terms of its content, it covers not only physiology, pathology, treatment methods, and prescriptions but also astronomy, geography, mathematics, biology, psychology, and other fields. Some say that the "Inner Canon of Medicine" is an encyclopedia that synthesizes the achievements of various disciplines of its time. This statement is not without merit. Research on such an encyclopedic work must draw upon the methodologies of modern scientific disciplines—including cybernetics, information theory, and systems theory—to achieve meaningful results. The same applies to the study of works such as the "Shanghan Lun" and the "Jingui Yaolue."

Section 2: The Urgent Task of Advancing Traditional Chinese Medical Scholarship