In fact, every worker who is keen on TCM research is seriously thinking: how to study TCM theory? What are the reasons why we can't achieve breakthrough results and progress? How can we achieve breakthrough results and progress? Therefore, the author intends to start with "breakthrough achievements" and gradually expound the direction of theoretical research of traditional Chinese medicine. From the above evaluation of basic theoretical research of TCM, it is not difficult to see that "achieving breakthrough results" is the most urgent and ambiguous good wish of theoretical research of TCM. The reason why we say "I don't know" is that "breakthrough achievements" are like "delicious things" that children often want, and individual differences are very great. It is hard to say that the right medicine is given to them, and the result is as difficult to be recognized as the curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine. The goal determines the strategy, so before establishing the research direction of TCM theory, we must first make clear the goal of TCM theory research, so as to establish a recognized "breakthrough achievement"
There are different opinions on the goal of theoretical research of traditional Chinese medicine, and one research result can not be ignored. From 65438 to 0999, the Ministry of Science and Technology and state administration of traditional chinese medicine jointly carried out the research on the soft topic of "Research on the Development Strategy of Science and Technology in modern traditional chinese medicine". More than 100 experts and scholars from all over the country participated in more than 10 seminars, analyzed the problems and challenges faced by the medical field today, and put forward the guiding ideology and objectives of the modernization development strategy of traditional Chinese medicine in the middle of 2 1 century. Among them, from 200 1 to 20 15, the research on basic theory of TCM is divided into two stages: (1) from 2001to 2005, the stage goal is "inheritance and innovation of basic theory of TCM". Systematically sort out TCM syndromes, zang-xiang, meridians, therapeutic principles, prescriptions and basic theories, dig deep into research, grasp its theoretical essence, reveal its profound connotation, and strengthen its guiding role in disease prevention and treatment. On the basis of unifying professional terms, clarifying the concept connotation and theoretical level, we use modern scientific theories and methods to explore its scientific basis, create new theories, develop and innovate the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, and enrich the contents and research fields of modern life science. "(2) The goal of 2006-2015 is to improve the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine must break through the original framework, fully clarify the scientific connotation of the theory through inheritance, transplantation and innovation, so as to update and improve the theory and practice, and initially improve from the classic to the modern theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine. And with the needs of social medical care and the changes of disease spectrum, medical model and ecological environment, Chinese medicine will sum up and sublimate from the accumulation of a large number of new facts and experiences, produce new theories, and realize the transcendence of tradition. " The first draft of this study has been reviewed, revised and evaluated by dozens of academicians of the two academies, famous experts and scholars of traditional Chinese medicine and key Chinese medicine colleges and institutes. In May of 20001year, it passed the acceptance of the expert group and gave high praise. It can be seen that the scientific and authoritative nature of the research results is beyond doubt.
In a word, establishing new theories, innovating basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, breaking through the original framework and perfecting the basic theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine are the short-term goals of basic theoretical research of traditional Chinese medicine. In other words, the establishment of the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine can be said to be the ultimate embodiment of the breakthrough research results of Chinese medicine theory. The characteristic of modern Chinese medicine theory system is the standard that determines whether there is a "breakthrough" in the current theoretical research of Chinese medicine. At a time when the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine is still in dispute and everyone's measurement standards are not uniform, blindly pursuing "breakthrough" is a manifestation of quick success and instant benefit, wasting financial resources and meaningless. Only by defining the direction and working hard in this direction can we achieve a real "breakthrough."
The theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine (relative to the modern theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine) has been comprehensively expounded, and the earliest existing traditional Chinese medicine document is Huangdi Neijing. Neijing reflects the theoretical principles and academic thoughts of traditional Chinese medicine and lays the foundation for the development of traditional Chinese medicine. The theoretical system of Neijing includes yin-yang theory, five elements theory, viscera-state theory, meridian theory, etiology and pathogenesis theory, disease syndrome, diagnosis method, treatment principle, health preservation and luck theory. Many famous doctors and medical schools in the history of Chinese medicine basically developed from the theoretical system of Neijing in terms of their academic thoughts and inheritance, so they regarded Neijing as the "Sect of Physicians". So what is the "theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine"? Literally, the understanding of "modernity" is a key to understand the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine. The word "modern" in Chinese dictionaries refers to "the present era (China refers to 19 19- now)". Because there is no breakthrough in the research of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine, the current theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine is not called "modern theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine", so this is definitely not the meaning of "modern" in the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine. Compared with "modern medicine" which refers to western medicine in general, the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine should be the theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine, because "modernization" means "making it have the level of modern advanced science and technology", that is, establishing the theoretical system of Chinese medicine with the level of modern advanced science and technology. What are the characteristics of this theoretical system, what are the differences and connections with the current theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine, what terms are used to explain its theory, and what standards are used to measure the advanced degree of its science and technology ... By analogy, the more detailed the description and explanation of "modern traditional chinese medicine's theoretical system", the grand blueprint will appear in front of us, and the development of traditional Chinese medicine theory will have a clear goal. The research work of traditional Chinese medicine theory will not only lose its focus, but also be more motivated. The "theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine" should be established by "breaking through the original framework", so what is the "original framework" of Chinese medicine is also one of the topics to be studied. If you don't know where the old and dead frames are, you won't be targeted, let alone break through, that is, you can't "break through" until you know yourself. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the outstanding problems in the research field of basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine are mainly as follows: the collation and research of theories and viewpoints in classic documents of traditional Chinese medicine are basically in a decentralized and spontaneous state, and there is no unified plan; Lack of in-depth exploration and systematic research on the academic connotation and internal scientific laws of the basic theory of TCM, failure to carry out discipline construction according to the scientific paradigm, and lack of standardization of the basic theory of TCM have caused some shortcomings, such as vague connotation, unclear concept and different interpretations. Therefore, the primary task of the research on the basic theory of TCM is to deepen the academic connotation of the basic theory of TCM, so as to improve the overall academic level of the basic theory of TCM.
In addition, what needs to be studied is what is left in the original framework of Chinese medicine? To what extent can the established theoretical system of modern Chinese medicine still be called Chinese medicine theory? That is, inherit something. At this point, the current understanding is that as long as we adhere to the characteristics of Chinese medicine, no matter what theories, methods and technologies are adopted to study and develop Chinese medicine, it will promote the academic development of Chinese medicine. In other words, the most basic requirement for the inheritance of traditional Chinese medicine is to retain the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine. What are the characteristics of Chinese medicine? What are the characteristics of the theoretical system of TCM? In the theoretical research of traditional Chinese medicine, these problems are ultimately the understanding and evaluation of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine. Only on the basis of a comprehensive and profound understanding of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine, an objective and non-academic value-oriented evaluation can accurately summarize the characteristics of the theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine.
The more difficult question is, how will we deal with the characteristics that some theoretical systems of traditional Chinese medicine are incompatible with modern science? For example, some scholars pointed out that the original theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine exposed defects and deficiencies in many aspects, and even seriously lagged behind the development of traditional Chinese medicine. One of its manifestations is the defects in philosophical guiding ideology and cognitive methods. The theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, which originated from ancient philosophy, constitutes the framework of the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine. With the exposure of its own defects, its guiding significance is questioned. Another scholar pointed out: "In terms of basic theory, the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine are based on the theory of viscera and meridians, the theory of essence and qi, and the theory of correspondence between man and nature." In short, "the current crisis faced by TCM theory is closely related to some characteristics of TCM theory itself, and of course it is also related to the development of human science, especially the influence and infiltration of modern medicine on TCM. But the latter only plays a triggering role in the crisis. " Therefore, it is very important to establish a new theoretical system with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine and unified with modern science. On the basis of studying the essence of the basic theory of TCM, we should study how to correctly handle the relationship between the characteristics of TCM and modern science. The third philosophical view of TCM: similarity view (fractal view).
The Second Philosophical View of TCM —— Dialectical View
The first philosophical view-the holistic view of yin-yang fractal set, five-element fractal set and meridian fractal dimension