A historical evaluation of Chinese tongue diagnosis in the treatment of septicemic plague in the pre-antibiotic era, and as a new direction for revolutionary clinical research applications.
10.1016/j.joim.2018.04.001
- Author:
Ioannis SOLOS
1
;
Yuan LIANG
2
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Guangzhou Zhongxing Sports Trauma Hospital, Guangzhou 510405, China.
2. Institute of Basic Theory in Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China. Electronic address: zhongyijichu7@126.com.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Chinese medicine;
Literature research;
Tongue diagnosis;
Yersinia pestis
- MeSH:
China;
Diagnosis, Differential;
History, Ancient;
Humans;
Medicine in Literature;
history;
Plague;
diagnosis;
history;
microbiology;
therapy;
Tongue;
chemistry;
Yersinia pestis;
physiology
- From:
Journal of Integrative Medicine
2018;16(3):141-146
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Chinese tongue diagnosis was initially developed to quickly and efficiently diagnose and prescribe medicine, while at the same time allowing the doctor to have minimal contact with the patient. At the time of its compiling, the spread of Yersinia pestis, often causing septicaemia and gangrene of the extremities, may have discouraged doctors to come in direct contact with their patients and take the pulse. However, in recent decades, modern developments in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as the spread of antibiotics in conjunction with the advancements of microbiology, have overshadowed the original purpose of this methodology. Nevertheless, the fast approaching post-antibiotic era and the development of artificial intelligence may hold new applications for tongue diagnosis. This article focuses on the historical development of what is the world's earliest tongue diagnosis monograph, and discusses the directions that such knowledge may be used in future clinical research.
