Circadian Rhythmic Characteristics of Airway Mucus Hypersecretion and Time-Based Intervention Strategies of Traditional Chinese Medicine
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.17.007
- VernacularTitle:气道黏液高分泌的昼夜节律特征与中医药因时制宜干预策略
- Author:
Xiang PU
1
;
Yingqi HANG
1
;
Liqing LI
1
;
Li BAI
1
;
Mingyun WU
1
;
Jian'er YU
1
Author Information
1. Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Shanghai，200071
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
airway mucus hypersecretion;
circadian rhythm;
time-based intervention;
circadian clock genes
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(17):1840-1844
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Airway mucus hypersecretion exhibits distinct circadian rhythmic characteristics， and its occurrence and progression are temporally associated with the accumulation of phlegm-rheum during the night and the tendency for symptoms to emerge or worsen in the early morning. These characteristics are consistent with the decline of neuroendocrine activity and abnormalities in core circadian clock rhythms described in modern chronobiology. Based on this understanding， time-based intervention is applied in addition to conventional syndrome differentiation. During the period from shen （申） hour to hai （亥） hour （approximately 15：00-23：00）， phlegm-resolving and panting-relieving Chinese herbal medicinals can be administered in advance to reduce excessive phlegm accumulation during the night.Furthermore， a combined "time-pattern-medicine" therapeutic strategy is proposed. For attacks occurring mainly in the morning， treatment focuses on diffusing lung and resolving phlegm. For symptoms aggravated at night， emphasis is placed on clearing heat and resolving phlegm， and for episodes occurring after midnight， treatment should additionally consider both tonifying the kidney and promoting qi reception. In addition to pharmacological intervention， therapies that follow annual and daily rhythms， including winter disease treated in summer， and midnight-midday acupuncture， may also be incorporated to promote circadian rhythm coordination and maintain homeostasis of the body's biological clock.
