Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Study About Common Chronic Diabetic Complications

Purpose By comprehending information about chronic diabetic complications from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) literatures, and collaborating with modern and clinical knowledge, the research was in order to analyze each diabetic chronic complication from TCM scope of view. By comparing with modern diagnosis and-treatment, there was hope to integrate ancient TCM wisdom into modern clinical practice. By collecting and analyzing ancient TCM works, the research also targeted to review the historical transition of TCM dealing with chronic diabetic complications. Finally, by collecting information of ancient TCM prescriptions for chronic diabetic complications, and data analyzing, the research was to find out the most frequent use of herbs for each complication.Method There were two study methods in this research:literature study and data analysis. Literature study included ancient TCM literatures, with the year 1911 marked as the lower limit, amounting more than 160 books. By collecting, sorting out and analyzing useful information about chronic diabetic complications, it was to clarify from historical perspective how the ancient TCM managed to understand diabetic chronic complication. And by collecting information of each chronic complication, the research was to find out the name, pathogenesis, clinical features, syndromes, treatment, prescriptions, herbs, prognosis, prevention, case study, etc. of each complication, in terms of TCM. And the information was to be written as a guide to deal with chronic diabetic complications.By collecting information of prescriptions and herbs for chronic diabetic complications, and building up database about names of prescriptions and herbs, dosage, origin, etc. using Microsoft Excel 2007, the research was to find out the high tendency of particular use of drugs via frequency analysis. Results According to TCM, the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy was related to kidney, mostly owning to deficiency of kidney, spleen, liver, Qi, blood, Yin and Yang, also blood stasis, phlegm, toxin and damn heat.15 syndromes were found out. It was discovered that ancient TCM emphasized on improving spleen and kidney and diuresis to treat the disease.The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy was related to eye, as well as spleen, liver and kidney, mostly owning to deficiency of Qi, Yin and Yang, also blood stasis and phlegm.10 syndromes were summarized. It was discovered ancient TCM emphasized on improving spleen, liver and kidney, replenishing qi, improving blood circulation and removing phlegm to treat the disease.The pathogenesis of diabetic foot was mainly related to deficiency of Qi, blood, Yin and Yang, also damn heat, toxin, and blood stasis.6 syndromes were summarized. The ancient TCM emphasized on replenishing Qi and blood to treat the disease.The pathogenesis of diabetic heart disease was related to deficiency of Qi, blood, Yin and Yang of the heart, and also cold, phlegm, stasis of blood and water.9 syndromes were summarized. The Ancient TCM emphasized on replenishing Qi and blood, also sedation to treat the disease.The pathogenesis of cerebral vascular disease related to diabetes was mainly associated with deficiency of Yin of liver and kidney, rising up of Yang, Qi and blood, combining with phlegm, heat and wind.10 syndromes were found out. The ancient TCM emphasized on replenishing Qi and blood, combining with replenishing Yin and lowering Yang, clearing heat of liver, removing phlegm and wind to treat the disease.The pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was mainly related to deficiency of Qi, blood and Yin, as well as blood stasis and blockage of phlegm.9 syndromes were discovered. The ancient TCM emphasized on replenishing Qi, blood, Yin and kidney to treat the disease.Other complications were also described from TCM point of view. Conclusion The research reviewed more than 6 kinds of chronic diabetic complications. The names, pathogenesis, clinical features, syndromes, treatment and herbs of each kind were reviewed. The research was written as a guide to treatment of chronic diabetic complications, providing a good amount of TCM discussions about the complications. Finally it reminded the importance of replenishing Qi, blood, Yin and Yang to treat them.