Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Immunity
In the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the documentary records for the Chinese word "immune" was first seen in the 18th century in the book Formulas for the Immunity from Plague. "Plague" had been a common term used by ancient Chinese to refer to infectious diseases that affected a large population. Although the TCM terminology for immune came later than Western medicine, and the concrete context was different, but TCM already knew about the theory of immunology and and practice for infectious diseases from earlier dynasties. In chapter 72 of the Plain Questions, when the Yellow Emperor asked about the seasonal epidemic diseases, his chief advisor Qi Bo answered that in order to defend against those diseases, one should always keep his healthy energy abundant, and then the evils will not invade. The dialogue clearly shows that TCM regards "healthy energy" as the general defense mechanism of the body. Since then, it has abundant experience in various related aspects, with studies concentrating on febrile disease, cold damage, pestilential evil and measures of variolation (inoculation against smallpox) in the 16th century which was very progressive for the time. Generally, TCM immunology has its own unique characteristics listed below:
Holistic concept is the core of TCM immunology
Based a holistic view, TCM sees the body as an organic whole. Each body part is connected through the meridian system forming a complex set of interrelationships to keep the body regulated and balanced. This integral stability and harmony is the root of disease defense and health maintenance. Any disturbances in this equilibrium will cause disease or dysfunction. Every part of the body such as qi (vital energy), blood, body fluids, organs and meridians has its own particular role in protecting the body, they combine to build up a defense system and bring out their protective forces mutually, that physicians named as healthy energy (zheng qi) collectively. In other words, TCM considers immunity, the body’s defense, self-regulating and repair abilities, as a flow of qi (energy) inside the body, and is closely associated with the activities of the organs.Immune functions are manifested as healthy energy (zheng qi)
Under normal circumstances, the body depends on the immune system to fight against various infections and to clear up harmful materials in order to keep a clean internal environment. When the immune system functions normally, health can be maintained; otherwise disharmony will occur and give rise to illness. Similar to Western medicine, TCM also holds that the body has its own disease defense ability due to the existence of healthy energy (zheng qi). In chapter 72 of the Plain Questions, it states: "When healthy energy is well stored inside the body, no evils can cause interference." In chapter 33 it states: "Whenever the evils are gathered inside, a deficiency of healthy energy must be present." These statements imply that healthy energy is the body's natural resistance against disease, and disease is seen as the result of the disharmonious healthy energy within us. Occasionally, other TCM terms such as primordial qi, genuine qi or protective qi also refer to this kind of resistance. All of them embody the body's comprehensive immune functioning.
Immune modulation is a character TCM treatment
TCM holds that when healthy energy (zheng qi) is abundant, pathogenic forces cannot prevail. According to the yin yang theory, the body itself is regulated and adjusted continuously, keeping in equilibrium is an essential factor to carry on normal life activities. Once this equilibrium is disturbed, disease will result. Resuming internal harmony is the universal treatment goal of TCM. The overall therapeutic strategy is to replenish deficiencies and remove excesses of yin or yang aspect. The approaches are usually focused on holistic regulation and possession of dual modulation effects, which as stated above, are to remove excesses and replenish deficiencies, which are similar to modern understanding of our body's immune modulation effects. The dual modulation (or immune modulation) effects of TCM have the following characteristics.
- TCM focuses on mobilizing our own innate healing power; most of its remedies work on the whole being, not just on specific functions or structures. Their healing power is far beyong the physical level; they can also work on the level of qi (vital energy) that empowers us. Even when the body seems healthy and there are no outward symptoms, immune function can be affected with symptoms present internally. Herbal remedies can find and fix these imbalances even when they are not obvious to us.
- To support the balancing process, TCM uses different modulation methods, for example adjusting the body's yin and yang, qi (vital energy), blood or organ functions. They can rehabilitate the body to go from a hyper-functioning state to a normal state or from an under-functioning level back to a normal state. TCM has unique theories about this, categorizing the regulating properties into four actions; "to depress when stimulated", "to rise when collapsed", "to subdue when overwhelming" and "to nourish when deficient."
- In some ways, normal immune functions are enhanced and the internal pathogenic factors are eliminated with dual modulation effects. A complementary relationship is formed that reinforces healthy energy and repels evils.
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