Theoretical Exploration of Same "Etiology-Mechanism-Syndrome-Treatment-Prevention" in Insomnia and Skin Aging
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250443
- VernacularTitle:失眠与皮肤衰老异病同“因-机-证-治-防”的理论探赜
- Author:
Bo XU
1
;
Miao ZHU
1
;
Kang SUN
1
;
Yuan PENG
1
;
Ping WANG
1
;
Li YANG
1
Author Information
1. National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）High Level Key Construction Discipline Neijing Studies of TCM，Hubei University of Chinese Medicine，Wuhan 430065，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
insomnia;
skin aging;
same treatment for different diseases;
"etiology-mechanism-syndrome-treatment-prevention";
theoretical exploration
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(10):72-78
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Sleep， skin， and health are closely interconnected. Clinically， insomnia has a high incidence and is often accompanied by or secondary to skin aging. The two conditions exhibit "different diseases with the same syndrome"， significantly affecting the physical and mental health of the Chinese population. Preventing and treating skin aging by improving insomnia is an important strategy， with the principle of "treating different diseases with the same approach" serving as a crucial therapeutic guideline. However， effective clinical prevention and treatment methods for both conditions remain lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has a profound theoretical foundation and notable efficacy in the concurrent treatment of insomnia and skin aging， yet there are few reports on the etiology， pathogenesis， therapeutic principles， and treatment methods of their shared treatment， warranting further exploration. Based on holistic view and syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM， this study systematically investigates the theoretical origins of the shared manifestations of insomnia and skin aging from multiple dimensions， including etiology， pathological location， pathogenesis， disease nature， and prevention and treatment strategies. As early as Huangdi's Internal Classic （Huangdi Neijing）， it was recognized that mental clarity during the day， sound sleep at night， and firm， healthy skin are key indicators of external health， whereas daytime lethargy， poor sleep quality， and dry， withered skin are prominent signs of aging. Maintaining mental clarity during the day and restful sleep at night is essential for skin integrity and healthy aging. Later medical scholars proposed that the common etiology of insomnia and skin aging lies in "internal-external interactions"， with the pathological location involving "the five organ systems". The primary pathogenesis includes "deficiency， fire， stagnation， phlegm， and blood stasis"， while the disease nature is often characterized by "a combination of deficiency and excess". Treatment should be guided by syndrome differentiation， following the principle of balancing Yin and Yang. This theoretical exploration enriches and advances TCM understanding of disease onset and prevention， providing theoretical guidance for the clinical prevention and treatment of insomnia-associated skin aging and contributing to the realization of the "Healthy China" initiative.
