Pathogenesis and treatment of atherosclerosis in traditional Chinese medicine from the"blood pathway originates from the liver"theory
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2157.2025.07.011
- VernacularTitle:从"血道由肝"理论探析动脉粥样硬化的病机与治疗
- Author:
Liang DONG
1
;
Lingli CHEN
;
Jie LI
Author Information
1. 湖南中医药大学 长沙 410006
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
atherosclerosis;
blood pathway originates from the liver;
pathogenesis;
treatment based on syndrome differentiation
- From:
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;48(7):966-972
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a degenerative vascular lesion characterized by chronic inflammation of the vessel wall and represents a crucial risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.Although Western medicine has made advances in anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering treatments,research into the dynamic progression of atherosclerosis and multi-target regulation remains limited.In traditional Chinese medicine,these conditions are classified as"vessel bi"and"pulse accumulation."This study is based on the"blood pathway originates from the liver"theory proposed by KE Qin in the Qing Dynasty in his The Annotated ′Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases′.The aim is to systematically elucidate the connotations of this theory and explore atherosclerosis pathogenesis and treatment.This condition originates in hepatic dysregulation,leading to qi stagnation and blood flow obstruction.It then progresses to disharmony between the liver and heart,where excessive wood and fire injure the vessels.This result in the accumulation of phlegm and blood stasis,causing abnormal qi transformation and lipid stagnation.The underlying deficiency lies in liver and kidney yin deficiency,where essence depletion leads to blood thickening and vessel atrophy,ultimately forming a complex pathology characterized by deficiency in origin and excess at the surface.Therapeutic strategies should prioritize dispersing the liver and regulating the blood,while integrating a multi-faceted approach that includes"dispersing stagnated liver qi for relieving qi stagnation to promote qi flow,invigorating blood and eliminating stasis to open the meridians,transforming phlegm and draining turbidity to clarify the source,nourishing the liver and kidneys to strengthen the foundation,and softening the liver and clearing the heart to harmonize yin and yang."This integrative strategy of"dispersing,dissipating,supplementing,clearing,and harmonizing"offers a novel perspective for the dynamic prevention and multi-target regulation of atherosclerosis,combining both theoretical and practical aspects.
