Study On The Syndrome Differentiation And Treatment Of Lijie Disease Originated In Synopsis Of The Golden Chamber

Lijie disease(acute athritis) is commonly seen in clinic with joint pain all over the body, restricted extension and flexion, or even swelling and deformed joints as its chief symptoms. As Lijie is an ancient name, it is seldom so called clinically. However, Chinese medicine practitioners all through the history have paid much attention to it. Relative literature has proved that the understanding and empirical experience of some ancient doctors as well as their syndrome differentiation and treatment on relative diseases nowadays are of great value for reference. This study mainly aims to analyze the description on syndrome differention and treatment of Lijie disease by ancient Chinese medicine doctors, further probe into its therapies nowadays, and therefore provide beneficial clinical reference with clear clues on the treatment of Lijie disease.Objective:This study aims to better utilize the theory from Zhang Zhongjing to prevent and treat arthritis by means of probation into the origin of syndrome differention and treatment of Lijie disease.Method:Based on the description on Lijie disease in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, modern advanced computer network was employed to sum up corelated description by ancient Chinese medicine practitioners in the retrospective literature method, and China Periodical Network and Weipu Full-text Periodical Network were two main retrieval sources. This study was carried out in the following aspects: 1. to expain the name of the disease from its origin, 2. to expound the origin of its etiology and pathology, 3. to explain its origin of syndrome differentiation, 4. to expound on its origin of treament with herbal medicine and decotion, 5. to probe into its contemporary studiesResults:1. Lijie disease was initially named by Zhang Zhongjing in Synopsis of the Golden Chambe, who initiated the syndrome differentiation and treatment of Lijie disease with detailed explanation in an exclusive chapter. From then on till Qing dynasty, various names such as Lijie wind, White tiger Lijie, windy pain and arrow wind were once given to this disease. Nowadays, the majority of Chinese medicine practitioners hold that Lijie disease is different from common Bi syndrome, and some even recommend some other names like obstinate arthralgia for better description of the characteristics and nature of this disease. 2. Zhang Zhongjing has clearly pointed out in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber that deficiency of liver and kidney and insufficient qi and blood are Lijie disease's internal pathogenesis, while pathogenic factors of wind, cold, dampness are its external pathogenesis. This is of great clinical significance in the guidance of its syndrome differentiation. Later generation of doctors sticked to their own view on Lijie disease after Zhang Zhongjing and therefore enriched the knowledge of Lijie disease.. For example, its etiology and pathology has been further supplemented with other internal and external pathogenesises. Also, its therapeutic principles are amended to dispel pathogenic factors in the period of onset, and to cultivate qi and blood, harmonize yin and yang, tonify liver and kidney in catabasis, ect. All these have contributed to the better curative effect of this disease.3 Two decotions established by Zhang Zhongjing for the treatment of Lijie disease are Guizhi Shaoyao Zhimu Tang(Decoction of Ramulus Cinnamomi, Radix Paeoniae and Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) and Wutou Tang (Radix Aconitis Decoction), which are strongly recommended by contemporary Chinese Medicine doctors and have been proved to be scientific by a lot of clinical practice and experimental studies.Conclusion:Syndrome differentiation and treatment of Lijie disease have developed a lot since the age of Zhang Zhongjing in its denomination, understanding of etiology and pathology, syndromes,therapeutic principles,decotions and herbal medicine. The decotions established both by Zhang Zhongjing and other ancient Chinese medicine doctors are still of great positive significance in the guidance of syndrome differentiation and treatment of this disease. Ancient decotions in Jin Gui Yao Lve(Synopsis of the Golden Chamber) or other empirical decotions from later generations, as well as contemporary thrapeutic principles, newly invented decotions are all deserved further study and investigation.