Origin About "Stuffy Fullness" In TCM

OBJECTIVE:The definition of stuffy fullness does not unified in modern times,as against partial contents in traditional understanding,there are some doubts.This article attempts to seek ancient origins about stuffy fullness through review study on traditional literature,and also inquires about connotation and extension in traditional stuffy fullness.Comparing with ancient concept,this paper could provide solutions about literature basis in modern definition of divarications and doubts.METHODS:Take the ancient literature by review research as main method.As the related sick names would be withdraw from literal meaning,these sicknesses would be studied in several aspects:theory origin,clinical development,and researched relationship,evolution between these diseases.Thus the stuffy fullness of ancient concept that is more understanding.RESULTS:1.The earliest concept of stuffy fullness origins from Huangdi's canon on medicine,but after verification,"stuffiness" and "fullness" are two separate concepts,which has its own development respectively after canon.They are not unified in one sickness until Ming and Qing Dynasties."Fullness" can be developed from "stuffiness",both belong to identical sick course in two different kinds of syndrome.But "fullness" and "stuffiness" have differentiation in Ming and Qing:both have puffy subjective symptom,but "fullness" has the similar swelling shape and pathogenic location is abdomen.2.Modern definition includes stuffy fullness of chest,moreover,it is inappropriate to name it as "chest stuffiness",such symptoms under ancient times are" chest obstruction","heartache".3.The modern definition of "stuffiness" can be seen in the chest,stomach cavity and abdomen,this is not match with ancient concept and connotation,because ancient "stuffy fullness" specialize "heart stuffiness", but when it occurs in abdomen,it can be treated from "middle fullness", when it occurs in chest,it can be treated from "chest obstruction".4.Comparing to western medicine,modern definition of stuffy fullness is too single.In fact,it includes not only stomach diseases,but also other digestive diseases:liver,bile,spleen and etc. 5.Ancient and modern times are of the view that "stuffiness" is not painful, this understanding is wrong:pain is inevitable but not serious.6.There are some traditional experience summarized from ancient literature, which can service for modern clinical differentiation:(1) To master pathogenesis of qi,blood,and body fluid assist not only understanding of stuffy fullness course,but also knowing of pathogenic products and different outcome.(2) To master "doctrine of six stagnation " in miscellaneous diseases help to distinguish more details in specific pathogenesis.