Researches On The Theory Of Dryness In Chinese Medicine

The theory of Dryness is an important part of the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). It has a long history and rich content. Many doctors have paid much attention to this theory. So this research summarizes the theory of Dryness based on historical doctrines.There are different characters about the theroy of Dryness in different periods.From the pre-Qin days to Han Dynasty, the theory of Dryness is shaping up. The doctors of this period deduced that Dryness is a cause of desease based the dry weather, so the concept and theory of Dryness came into being reflected in Huang Di Nei Jing. The last years of East Han Dynasty, docter Zhang Zhong-jing described the pathogenesis of Dryness, and put forward the therapeutical principle and method in his book.From Jin to Tang Dynasty, the theory of Dryness has gotten succesion and development. The medicine books of this period posed many viewpoints on pathogenesis theory of Dryness and many therapeutical methods and prescriptions, made improvements on what has already been achieved.From Song to Yuan Dynasty, the theory of Dryness has been blazed new trails. Influenced by doctrine of Yun-Qi, etiological theory of Dryness made many progress. Many viewpoints on pathogenesis theory of Dryness appeared, such as explaining pathogenesis of Dryness based on doctrine of viscera state, posing the theroy of Yin Dryness. The therapeutical principle and method of Dryness were growing richer day by day. During the period of Jin and Yuan Dynasty, doctor Lin Wan-su made the biggest contribution to theory of Dryness. He explained meaning and nature of Dryness,and posed cause and sort and the therapeutical principle and method of Dryness disease in a systematic way based his etiological and pathogecal theory of Six Qi.From Ming to Qing Dynasty, the theory of Dryness has been finished. During Ming dynasty, this theory devided into two parts, the theory of internal Dryness and external Dryness.During Qing dynasty, the etiological theory of Dryness developped rapidly following the rapid advance in doctrine of seasonal febrile disease.The theory of external Dryness devided into two parts, the theory of febrile Dryness and cooling Dryness. After Qing Dynasty, the theory field of Dryness was clear, the theory frame of Dryness was definite, the theory content of Dryness was perfect day by day.Guided by the theoretical thoughts, in order to make full use of the method of philology, this article is going to summarize the the theory of Dryness as followed:The theory of Dryness includes the theory of external Dryness and internal Dryness. The theory of external Dryness regard dryness as a cause of disease, researches its law of happening, nature, characteristics, progress, clinic, and therapy. The theory of internal Dryness studies pathogenesis of disease with internal injury simular to external Dryness.1.Theory of external DrynessHappening:There are three conditions for the happening of dryness pathogens. The first, the change of dryness can't grow in step with season. The second, the change of dryness grows very strongly and rapidly. The third, the resistance to disease is weakened.Characteristics:Dryness pathogens is easy to use up the body fluid. Dryness pathogens will injury slung at first when it enters body from the upper part. Dryness pathogens is harsh and raw, so it will injury liver. Dryness pathogens is hard and restraining, so it will stem Qi flow.Nature:The nature of dryness is similar to Jin of Five Element, so its nature will embody in the course of generation and restriction among five elements.When it is the generational element, it will be cool. When it is the restrictional element, it will be hot.Progress:Dryness pathogens enters body from mouth and nose, then it will transfer within triple energizer, from upper to lower energizer, from Qi to blood phase.Therapy:One of the general principles is to treat it with bitter and warm herb, the other is with moist herb. We shoud treat it according to the difference of generational and restrictional Qi respectively, based the progress of triple energizer. Deal with the cases in defferent ways, according to specific conditions.2. Theory of internal DrynessCause of formation:The direct factor that leads to internal Dryness is short of body fluid.There are two causes of lacking bady fluid. One because the body fluid is depleted in case of disease,so this shortage is absolute.The other because the carriage of body fluid is stemed, so the shortage is relative.Progress of pathogenesis:There are the dryness of blood generating wind, the dryness of blood generating hemostagnant, the dryness of kidney generating unrestrain, the limit of dryness generating damp, and so on.Clinical manifestation:There two kinds of syndrome, the original one and the changed one.The former includes syndrome which because body fluid depleted and syndrome which because carriage of body fluid is stemed. The latter includes syndroms led by pathogenesis of internal Dryness when it further developed.Therapy:The principles is to treat it with moist herb. The method comprises two, one is for the original syndrome, the other is for the changed syndrome. The former includes moisturizing dryness by nourishing Yin, by disspating dampness,by eliminating stasis, and so on.This article is going to illuminate the dryness theory systematically, expose the connotation of dryness theory in depth, promote the development of clinical practice in dryness illness.