Treating Different Diseases With the Same Method—A Traditional Chinese Medicine Concept Analyzed for Its Biological Basis

Abstract

Introduction The fundamental theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) implies that when different diseases have the same pathogen, the syndromes of these individual diseases will be the same. “Treating different diseases with the same method” is a TCM principle suggesting that when different diseases have similar pathological changes during different stages of their development, the same method of treatment can be applied. Our study aims to analyze the concept “treating different diseases with the same method” from a molecular perspective, in order to clarify its biological basis and to objectively standardize future TCM syndrome research. Objective The TCM syndromes Qi deficiency and blood stasis have similar pathogenesis in relation to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. We aim to use big data technology and complex network theory to mine the genes specifically relevant to these TCM syndromes. This study aims to explore the correlation between the biological indicators of CHD and stroke from a scientific perspective. Methods Mining the relevant neuroendocrine-immune (NEI) genes by means of gene entity recognition, complex network construction, network integration, and decomposition to categorize relevant syndrome terms and establish a digital dictionary of gene specifically related to individual diseases. We analyzed the biological basis of “treating different diseases with the same method” from a molecular level using the TCMIP v2.0 platform in order to categorize the TCM syndromes most relevant to CHD and stroke. Results We found 46 genes were involved in the TCM syndromes of Qi deficiency and blood stasis of CHD and stroke. The same genes and their molecular mechanism also appeared to be in close relation to inflammatory response, apoptosis, and proliferation. Conclusion By using information extraction and complex network technology, we discovered the biological indicators of the TCM syndromes Qi deficiency and blood stasis of CHD and stroke. In the era of big data, our results can provide a new method for the researchers of TCM syndrome differentiation, as well as an effective and specific methodology for standardization of TCM.

Using the Symptom Patient Similarity Network to Explore the Difference between the Chinese and Western Medicine Pathways of Ischemic Stroke and its Comorbidities

“…Using a systems biology approach with the combination of computational analysis and animal experiment, Li et al [ 46 ] have found that “Cold ZHENG” and “Hot ZHENG” have their own corresponding genetic pathways. Zhai et al [ 47 ] found that 46 genes were involved in the Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome of both stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) by means of data mining, which also supported the existence of biological basis under TCM syndrome (“ZHENG” in Chinese). In our study, as mentioned before, the symptoms in M3 have corresponding syndrome LYHS and prescriptions in the theory of TCM.…”

“…Using a systems biology approach with the combination of computational analysis and animal experiment, Li et al [46] have found that "Cold ZHENG" and "Hot ZHENG" have their own corresponding genetic pathways. Zhai et al [47] found 8…”

Research status and prospects of acupuncture for prevention and treatment of chemo‐ and radiotherapy‐induced salivary gland dysfunction in head and neck cancer

“…According to the TCM theory, SGD (xerostomia and dysphagia) are caused by heat toxins, and the methods used to treat SGD are roughly the same. This concept is called "Yi Bing Tong Zhi" (same treatment for the same syndrome with different diseases) (Zhai et al, 2020). However, from the perspective of modern medicine, especially the scientific research design, although most of these tumors belong to squamous cell carcinoma, their pathogenesis is different.…”

BuqiTongluo Granule for Ischemic Stroke, Stable Angina Pectoris, Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy with Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis Syndrome: Rationale and Novel Basket Design

“…In Chinese Medicine (CM) theory, multiple diseases in different people may be treated in the same manner ( Zhai et al, 2020 ). Under this treatment principle, the same strategy is used to treat patients with multiple diseases who have the same syndrome (Zheng) ( Jiang et al, 2014 ).…”

“…We have adopted the concept of innovative basket trial design beyond the field of cancer research and have now developed a Phase II herbal trial protocol for treatment of patients with ischemic stroke, stable angina pectoris, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, who share the same syndrome target [Qi deficiency and blood stasis (QDBS) syndrome] for herbal therapy. QDBS syndrome is one of the basic CM syndromes that is most strongly related to various diseases, including vascular, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases, and guides the use of herbal medicine ( Zhai et al, 2020 ). It is a common and core pathogenesis of multiple diseases ( Li et al, 2007 ), with a cluster of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, reticence to speak, spontaneous sweating, pale or dark complexion, local stabbing pain, pale purple tongue, or pale dark tongue.…”