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Expecting the holistic regulation from Chinese medicine based on the “solar system” hypothesis of ischemic heart disease

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Abstract

Stenosis of the coronary artery has been considered as an essential component of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Consequently, revascularization [e.g., percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass] has been the primary therapeutic approach to IHD. Such strategy has indeed revolutionized the management of IHD patients. However, not all patients with myocardial ischemia have visible coronary stenosis. Moreover, cardiovascular events occur in nearly 20% patients with stable coronary artery disease who have undergone PCI. The recently proposed “solar system” hypothesis of IHD postulates that coronary stenosis is only one (albeit important) of its features. Mechanistic contribution and clinical implication of multiple pathophysiological processes beyond coronary stenosis are highlighted in this hypothesis. On the basis of a holistic regulation and individualized medicine, Chinese medicine (CM) has been used in the real-world setting to manage a variety of diseases, including IHD, for more than two thousands years. In this article, we summarize the evidence of CM that supports the “solar system” IHD hypothesis, and argue for a comprehensive approach to IHD. At the theoretical level, the central features of this approach include a holistic view of disease and human subjects, as well as individualized medicine. At the practical level, this approach emphasizes anoxia-tolerance and self-healing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China

    Jing Luo  (罗 静)

  2. Clinical Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    An-lu Wang  (王安璐)

  3. Cardiovascular Diseases Center, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China

    Hao Xu  (徐 浩), Da-zhuo Shi  (史大卓) & Ke-ji Chen  (陈可冀)

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  1. Jing Luo  (罗 静)
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  2. An-lu Wang  (王安璐)
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  3. Hao Xu  (徐 浩)
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  4. Da-zhuo Shi  (史大卓)
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  5. Ke-ji Chen  (陈可冀)
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hao Xu  (徐 浩) or Da-zhuo Shi  (史大卓).

Additional information

Supported by the Twelve Five-Year Plan of China (No. 2013BAI02B01 and 2013BAI13B01)

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Luo, J., Wang, Al., Xu, H. et al. Expecting the holistic regulation from Chinese medicine based on the “solar system” hypothesis of ischemic heart disease. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 805–810 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2267-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2267-x

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