The Theoretical Study Of "Sorrow" In Qing Zhi (Emotions)

Qing Zhi is a special noun in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) including 7 Qing and5 Zhi. Sorrow is considered as one of the five Qing Zhi in “the Canon of Internal Medicine”and corresponds to the lung of the five internal organs. The Zhi of lung is expressed as sorrow.This study analyzes the theoretical connotations of sorrow of Qing Zhi in TCM by reviewing and summarizing the theory of sorrow in Qing Zhi of ancient and modern literatures. The study aims to provide enlightenment and thoughts for the TCM treatment of diseases related with sorrow by exploring the relationship between sorrow and internal organs and therapies on the basis of related medical cases and typical sorrow symptoms.Sorrow, within a certain extent, is normal emotions of human beings, which may cause uncomfortable psychological experience and influence people's normal life and social contact.The over extent of sorrow will lead to many different diseases. The study is to enlighten the research on sorrow and promote the prevention and treatment of related diseases. The deep research of sorrow in emotions is of great meaning and value. Based on the methodology of TCM, history and philology, we compile many classics and modern papers published in important medical journals.The connotations and scope of sorrow in TCM is a gradually developing process. TCM physicians in different dynasties give explanations in different perspectives and enrich the connotations of sorrow. The author gives a systematic review of sorrow from etiology,pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, treatment and health maintenance.In line with holism in TCM, the study connect the subject of sorrow- human, with heaven and earth together: heaven, earth and human is an organic entirety. Human is influenced by environment, such as the changes of heaven and earth, including natural and social environment. These are external factors for sorrow. However, human will be influenced by nature and nurture factors from the moment he comes to the world.From the point of Qi in TCM, the study illustrate the influences of Qi on sorrow and theinfluences of sorrow generation and changes on Qi. With systematic review, we see that sorrow is closely related with other emotions in Qing Zhi and sorrow can cause changes in many internal organs and lead to many different diseases. In some extent, many clinical manifestation of diseases reflect sorrow as well. We need to consider the effect and influence of Qing Zhi factors in treatment of these diseases, which may be a complexion of multiple Qing Zhi factors. It is psychological changes of patients that should be focused when we treat sorrow and its related diseases by TCM comprehensive treatment. The holism of TCM is important that we should make use of TCM advantages and characteristics, carry out syndrome differentiation and treatment, and apply the TCM basic theory into clinical treatment to guide clinical practice and enhance effect.