Traditional Chinese Medicine: Scientific Basis for Its Use (Drug Discovery, Volume 31)

This is a volume that will provide a mechanism-based approach to understanding Chinese medicine for both Western and Eastern scientists. Topics covered will include: an introduction to the theory and practice of Chinese traditional medicine, East meets West in practice, historical perspectives, systems biology as a bridge between Western medicine and TCM, the theory and practice of patient examination, materials used in TCM, perspectives in chemical fingerprinting, safety issues, SAR analysis of plant derived compounds, treatment of psychiatric illnesses, treatment of stroke, clinical success with TCM when Western medicine fails and TCM in the treatment of cancer. The readership will be both Western and Eastern scientists from both industry and academia who are working in medicinal chemistry. Traditional Chinese Medicine Has A Strong Scientific Basis, But The Science Of These Important Preparations Is Often Rarely Discussed. Western Approaches Often Simplify Traditional Chinese Medicine To Drug Discovery In Chinese Plants, However, The Majority Of Traditional Chinese Medications Use Complex Mixtures Of Plant Extracts, Rather Than Single Purified Drugs. The Combination Of Different Extracts Is Based On Yin, Yang And Chi Theories, Which Are Often Poorly Understood In The West. Yin And Yang Are Known To Be The Balance Of Agonists And Antagonists, Whereas Chi Derives From Signalling Pr. The Traditional And Scientific Bases For Traditional Chinese Medicine : Communication Between Traditional Practitioners, Physicians And Scientists / James D. Adams, Jr. And Eric J. Lien -- Structure-activity Relationship Analysis Of Plant-derived Compounds / Eric J. Lien, Linda L. Lien And James D. Adams -- Huang Di Nei Jing And The Treatment Of Low Back Pain / Minchen Wang (vince) -- Understanding Ch'i : The Life-force Energy That Determines Vitality, Health And Wellbeing / Marcia R. Babcock -- When Modern Computational Systems Biology Meets Traditional Chinese Medicine / Calvin Yu-chian Chen -- Modern Drug Discovery From Chinese Materia Medica Used In Traditional Chinese Medicine / Kuo-hsiung Lee, Susan L. Morris-natschke, Joshua Brattlie, Jingxi Xie And Eileen Belding -- Pi3k-akt Signaling In Cell Growth And Metabolism / Yang Li, Anketse Kassa And Bangyan L. Stiles -- The Scientific Evidence For Using Astragalus In Human Diseases / William C.s. Cho -- Traditional Chinese Medicine : Anti-inflammation For Cancer Prevention / Constance L. L. Saw, Chee L. Saw And Lita S.t. Chew -- Treatment Of Stroke With Dan Shen, Salvia Miltiorrhiza / James David Adams, Jr. -- Drug Discovery From Traditional Chinese Medicine For Neurogenesis : Implications For Stroke And Neurodegenerative Diseases / Jiangang Shen And Xingmiao Chen -- Medicinal Uses Of Seaweed In Traditional Chinese Medicine / Eri Oshima -- The Preventive Effect Of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs On Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / Zhijun Wang, Patrick Chan And Jeffrey Wang -- Translational Approach To Treating Diabetes Using Acupuncture Or Electroacupuncture / Philip V. Peplow And G. David Baxter. Edited By James David Adams, Jr., Eric J. Lien. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Traditional Chinese medicine has a strong scientific basis, but the science of these important preparations is often rarely discussed. Western approaches often simplify traditional Chinese medicine to drug discovery in Chinese plants, however, the majority of traditional Chinese medications use complex mixtures of plant extracts, rather than single purified drugs. The combination of different extracts is based on yin, yang and chi theories, which are often poorly understood in the West. Yin and yang are known to be the balance of agonists and antagonists, whereas chi derives from signalling processes in the body and regulates bodily functions. Traditional Chinese medical practitioners understand that yin, yang and chi constantly interact in the body to maintain health. Western medical practitioners understand how to use agonists and antagonists and how to modify signalling processes, but generally do not accept the use of complex plant extracts to perform these functions. Aimed at medical scientists, and including detailed explanations of the theories behind the science, this text may help researchers to understand Chinese medical practitioners and to communicate more effectively with them. It will also lead to greater acceptance of traditional medications in the West. Presenting a clear rationale for the use of traditional Chinese medications in Western medical facilities, it enables scientists to find new directions in experimental design and encourage examination of these useful, but often poorly understood, preparations in clinical trials.