The phenomenon of "Chinese cultural aphasia" in college English education in China is typically represented by "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cultural aphasia" in English learning among students in TCM colleges and universities, which is mainly caused by insufficient driving force for input and production in both teaching and learning. Based on the production-oriented approach, this study designs a teaching model oriented by "TCM culture" production in the ESP course of Introducing TCM Culture in English and conducts a practice research according to the teaching process of driving, facilitating, and evaluating. The practice research shows that the application of this model has effectively integrated "national sentiment" and "national consciousness" into the teaching and learning of the TCM ESP course, improved the TCM culture production ability among students, realized the educational effect of foreign language teaching, and promoted the teaching and research practice of teachers.

Background: Based on the theory of"five Zang-organs corresponding to the seasons"in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), physiological functions including emotions vary with the seasons. We aimed to investigate the seasonal photoperiod effects of melatonin (MT) released from the pineal gland on the MT receptor (MTR)-Gs/Gi-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus.Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: control, operation (surgery with pineal gland removal), and pseudo-operation groups (same surgery as operation group but without removing pineal gland), and fed at specific time across the four seasons. The levels of MTR, adenylate cyclase (AC), cAMP, PKA, and CREB in the hippocampus were analyzed using ELISA. The concentrations of Gs and Gi were analyzed using Western blot. The expression of CREB mRNA was detected by PCR. Results: For intragroup comparisons, compared with spring, the levels of Gs/Gi in the control group were higher in summer, autumn, and winter (P=.009 in summer;P<.001 in autumn and winter);the levels of MTR, cAMP, PKA, and CREB in the control group were significantly higher in autumn and winter than in spring (all P<.001). The levels of MTR, cAMP, PKA, and CREB in each season were significantly lower in the operation group than in the control group (all P < .05). Significant differences were noted in Gs/Gi levels between the operation group and control group in spring, autumn, and winter (all P<.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that MTR-Gs/Gi-cAMP-PKA-CREB signaling pathway is involved in the seasonal photoperiod effects of the pineal gland on the hippocampus and may underpin seasonal changes in emotions. It can support the prevention and treatment of the seasonal onset of mental dis-orders, and enrich the theory of"five Zang-organs corresponding to the seasons".