Professor Liu Youzhang's Spleen-stomach Academic Thinking And Clinical Experience Research

Objectives and MethodsProfessor Liu Youzhang is a well-known specialist in the spleen-stomach theory. For inheriting famous veteran predecessor's academic experiences to develop Chinese medicine and benefit the on-coming learners and patients, the writer widely collects and reviews Professor Liu's spleen-stomach academic thinking and clinical experience, then systematically analyses and summarizes them in order to introduce Professors Liu's thinking from different perspectives.Content and ResultsHaving inherited the predecessor's experience with his long-term clinical researches, Professor Liu refines and develops the spleen-stomach theory. Theoretically, Professor Liu believes that spleen-stomach is the basis of life and good health, the source of illnesses, and the essential element in treatment and rehabilitation. Clinically, by integrating the characteristics of local medical treatments and the style of the southern region, Professor Liu clearly proposes theory of "Grasp the middle Jiao to reach the four limbs". He emphasizes the relationship between the spleen-stomach theory and the immune system with equal emphasis on disease prevention and treatment. On the clinical use of the most appropriate drugs, he specializes in combining dynamic and static medicines, and using Carminative medicines to cure spleen-stomach illnesses.This thesis systematically introduces Professor Liu's academic experiences with clinical cases illustrations and explanations on curing spleen-stomach illnesses such as chronic stomach diseases, dysphagia, diarrhea, spleen-stomach damp heat symptoms, etc. Professor Liu's spleen-stomach theory has been proved to be effective in curing other diseases. For example, He uses greater amount of Astragalus to strengthen the function of spleen. On curing eczema, he emphasizes activating the spleen and removing the damp. On curing acne, he clears the heat of lung and stomach with maintaining the body fluid. On curing hepatitis, he cures the liver diseases through the spleen-stomach. On curing headache, he employs the means of clearing and strengthening with the spleen-stomach theory. On curing gout, he emphasizes the spleen-stomach as well as nutritive diet for curing and prevention. On curing chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), he warms and strengthens the spleen and kidney focusing on the origin, and removes the phlegm and blood stasis to treat the symptoms, while strengthening and activating the spleen movement can cultivate the spleen-stomach to enhance the lung functions and thus prevent the formation of phlegm. This is the reflection of the idea of curing the diseases from the sources and origin. Lastly, the thesis illustrates not only what the writer has learnt from Professor Liu through practices and clinical research, but also Professor Liu's invaluable spleen-stomach theory.ConclusionsThe thesis reveals Professor Liu's academic wisdom, the spleen-stomach theory, from specific to general and from different perspectives. The on-coming learners can improve their treatment abilities to benefit the community by studying Professor Liu's thinking and clinical experience. Hopefully, doctors of Chinese medicine can inherit, promote and develop spleen-stomach theory deeply and make greater contributions to mankind.