| Yunqi theory is a subject which is used to explore the rule of nature and climates changes and its influence on the physiology and pathogenesis of human. For two thousand years, yunqi theory has been applied to analyze the etiology and pathogenesis of disease and provide reference for clinical practice based on pattern differentiation. Huang Di Nei Jing(黄帝内经)was rich of etiology and pathogenesis theory, which guided the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor to recognize the pathogenesis and syndrome characteristic of diseases, and then mastered the rule of treating diseases. According to large amounts of medical theory records and case reports from ancient TCM physicians’books, there is a close relationship between gan zhi yun qi(干支运气)and the TCM pattern of diseases.1ObjectiveInternal medical records and the meteorological data from corresponding period were used to explore the correlation between gan zhi yun qi and the disease pattern, aiming to provide reference for the application of gan zhi yun qi in TCM clinical practice. The details includes:(1)To explore the correlation among distribution of six qi (六气) pattern and five organs(五脏) pattern of diseases and gan zhi yun qi, check whether the correlation is exist and how it should be.(2)To explore the correlation between climate factors (including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, and vapor pressure) and six qi patterns (wind, cold, heat, wet, dryness and hot).2Materials and MethodsData sources:Internal medical record data range from2000to2011was provided by Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Meteorological data was provided by Beijing Observatory, including the daily average data of temperature, precipitation, vapor pressure, relative humidity and wind speed.Extraction of data:Basic information including the diagnosis, pattern and treatment time was extracted from internal disease data of medical records which met the inclusion criteria of the research. Diseases data which contained the patterns of six qi or five organs would be classified and calculated respectively, the meteorological data was classified by the six stages of one year.Correlation analysis of five yun and TCM pattern:Firstly,12years were divided into yin-gan (阴干) group and yang-gan (阴干) group according to their yin-yang belongings, and then the difference of pattern distribution was compared between the two groups. Secondly, 12years were divided into wood-yun, fre-yun, earth-yun, gold-yun and water-yun group according to their five elements belongings, and then the difference of pattern distribution was compared among the five groups. Thirdly,12years were divided into high and low incidence of patterns year group according to the five-yun theory of Huang Di Nei Jing, and then the difference of pattern distribution was compared between the two groups.Correlation analysis of six qi and TCM pattern:Firstly, we compared the distribution of pattern in the first half(qi of si tian,司天之气)and second half(qi of zai quan,在泉之气)of a year, and find which was the domain to the whole year, so as to evaluate the influence of si tian and zai quan on diseases and their patterns. Secondly,12years were divided into Taiyang, Jueyin, Shaoyin, Taiyin, Shaoyang and Yangming group according to kinds of qi of si tian, and then the difference of pattern distribution was compared between the six groups. Thirdly,12years were divided into high and low incidence of patterns according to the six qi theory of Huang Di Nei Jing, and then the difference of pattern distribution was compared between the two groups. Lastly, we also divide12years into six groups according to six host qi(主气)or guest qi(客气),and then the difference of pattern distribution was compared between the six groups respectively.Correlation analysis of cooperative yun-qi (运气同化) and TCM pattern:We explored the distribution characteristic of six qi and five organs patterns in cooperative yun-qi year (including cold and fire), and compared the difference of patterns between the cooperative yun-qi year group and non-cooperative yun-qi year group.Correlation analysis of six qi pattern and meteorological factors:Every year was divided into six stages (one stage was further divided into four solar terms) according to twenty-four solar terms in China, so we get72results of pattern distribution. Correspondingly, the average of temperature, wind speed, precipitation, relative humidity and vapor pressure in each stage were calculated, so we get360results of meteorological factors. Then we analyze the relationship among the patterns and meteorological factors by partial correlation.Statistical methods:Microsoft Excel2010was used to conduct the descriptive statistics, and SPSS17.0was used to conduct t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square test, correlation analysis, goodness of fit test and non-parametric tests.3ResultsCorrelation of five yun and TCM pattern:There is no significant statistical difference in distribution of TCM pattern of yin-gan and yang-gan group, nor five elements group (wood yun, fire yun, earth yun, golden yun and water yun). It is difficult to predict the clinical TCM patterns changes by using the five yun theory alone to deduce incidence of diseases’pattern. Correlation of six qi and TCM pattern:The distribution of TCM patterns showed regularity to a certain extent according to si tian and zai quan. Si tian had a greater impact to the whole year’s pattern distribution than zai quan. The distribution of patterns including cold, summer-heat, dryness, fire, heart, spleen and kidney might be affected by si tian of the host climatic qi in the first half of a year. The incidence of summer-heat pattern concentrated in the fourth stage of a year, and heart pattern concentrated in the first stage; other patterns concentrated in fifth stage, showed no corresponding relationship with host qi with the same belongings.Correlation of cooperative yun-qi year and TCM pattern:In the cooperative yun-qi cold year, the incidence of wind, cold and damp pattern and liver pattern was higher than non-cooperative cold year, the incidence of dryness, fire and heat pattern and lung pattern was lower than in non-cooperative cold year. In the cooperative yun-qi fire year, the incidence of heat pattern was higher than in non-cooperative fire year, and the cold pattern was lower than in non-cooperative fire year.Correlation of six qi pattern and meteorological factors:Some patterns showed close relationship with corresponding climate factors, such as summer-heat pattern with the fourth stage’s temperature, fire pattern with the fifth stage’s temperature, and heat pattern with the second stage’s temperature. The above correlations were positive with statistical significance. Some patterns showed close relationship with indirect climate factors, like cold pattern with the last stage’s precipitation, damp pattern with the first stage’s wind speed, were negative correlation with statistical significance. Others didn’t found any correlation.4ConclusionThe incidence of pattern of diseases has a certain correlation with gan zhi yun qi, and different parts of gan zhi yun qi have different influence on patterns. The correlation of six qi pattern with gan zhi yun qi is closer than five organs pattern with gan zhi yun qi. The influence on the pattern of diseases varies widely in five yun, six qi and cooperative yun-qi: cooperative Yun-qi is the most important influencing factor of diseases and their patterns, the second is six qi, and the last is five yun. TCM’s six qi pattern like wind, cold, summer-heat, damp, dryness, fire and hot, has a certain correlation with meteorological factors like temperature, precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity and vapor pressure.As for the value ofyunqi theory, we should hold a dialectical attitude. On the premise of the commanding of common rule and calculation method of yunqi theory, we should analyze the effect of yunqi theory on disease varies from circumstances, local conditions and individuals. We suggest that, multi-center and prospective study with larger sample size and longer observation period should be conducted in future, and the targeting disease should be relevant with climate change. From the perspective of five yun, host qi, guest qi (si tian and zai quan) and cooperative yun-qi, to analyze the correlation of gan zhi yun qi and TCM patterns individually or overall, so as to provide reference for the application of yunqi theory in TCM’s clinical practice. |
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