Zhiguo Zhao, PhD
Department of Acupuncture and Massage, Hebei Medical University,
Shijiazhuang 050091 P. R. China
The incidence of malignant cancer is increasing gradually in recent years, and cancer has become as a major risk for human well-being. According to WHO updated statistics, an estimated 80 to 100 million cancer cases were diagnosed globally and an approximately 10 million cancer cases are expected in China. Health care professionals are facing challenges. Nevertheless, Traditional Chinese Medicine may take full advantages of fighting against cancers and more attentions should be paid accordingly. Currently, cancer has emerged as a major public health problem, it is universally accepted that early diagnosis and treatment of cancer is essential and likely to be an important research topic. Even after cancer diagnosed, the appropriate cancer therapy and palliative care have potential impact on higher survival rate and better quality of life for suffering of patients. Therefore, developing a new and reliable approach facilitating cancer diagnosis and therapy has always been an important task in medical field. The Anticancer Products Department of Shanghai Green Valley Holding Corporation is able to develop an interactive distance diagnosis system, MT Life which is based on TCM Meridian and applied for cancer diagnosis and treatment. To date, it is a promising approach to managing cancer care. The following information is available.
Cancer etiology and pathogenesis
From the point of view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, cancer etiology and pathogenesis of is much complicated. Various schools of physician may have a different understanding. Based on different dynasties TCM classics and various schools of thought as well as an integration of clinical practice expertise, it was concluded that cancer etiology and pathogenesis can be a result of six evils’ exterior attack, unbalanced emotional status, improper diet and non-acclimatization, turbid phlegm obstruction, Qi and blood stagnation, internal heat toxin blockage and deficiency of genuine Qi etc. [1]. However, generally speaking, it was falling within four categories of deficiency, toxin, phlegm and stagnation; especially they were always interdependent on each other and linked with each other for a disorder with complications and symptoms. Phlegm obstruction and blood stasis as well as internal toxin and deficiency state are likely to be the fundamental pathogenesis other than direct or indirect involved carcinogenetic factors, such as six evils, seven emotions and improper diet. Clinically, the differentiation relationship between internal heat-toxin blockages and genuine Qi deficiency should be considered, because of the more exuberant heat-toxin, more consuming Qi and injuring Yin, while further genuine Qi impairment beyond the control of evils Qi formation. Consequently, it is liable to be unhealthy cycle.
Fundamentals for MT system
TCM diagnostics is mostly dependent on syndromes differentiation and treatment, the most commonly used differentiation patterns such as eight principle differentiation, etiology differentiation, Six meridians differentiation, Twelve channels differentiation, Qi-Xue-Jing Ye differentiation, Zang-Fu differentiation, Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue, and San-Jiao differentiation [2]. Syndromes differentiation based on theory of channels and collaterals is originated from “The Miraculous Pivot · Meridian ” (Lingshu · Jingmai) which stated, “so important are the meridians and collaterals which determine life and death in the treatment of all diseases and the regulation of deficiency and excess conditions that won’t be blockages.” The primary disease of a meridian was also discussed, such as “diseases arising when it is stirred” and “diseases produced by this”. Physiologically, twelve regular channels have certain running courses that connect with the interior Zang-Fu organs and exterior body surface. Pathologically, the diseases of the Zang-Fu organs can be reflected on the body surface with affected energy Qi flow, and the exogenous pathological factors through the transmission of channels and collaterals can affect interior Zang-Fu organs energy Qi circulation as well. By measuring skin conductivity of Meridian electrical property (RYODORAKU), the data will be analyzed, and clinical diagnosis can be made according to symptoms that are related to those courses and their respective Zang-Fu organs, namely a reference approach for syndrome differentiation of meridians.
MT Life applied Meridian electrical property (RYODORAKU) theory and selected 12 points are most of 12 regular channels “primary meridians”, except 2 points but are relatively similar locations. This is correspondence to “diseases of five organs should be reflected on the twelve primary meridians” in “Lingshu · Jiuzhenshieryuan” and “all diseases of five Zang and six Fu should be affected by the primary meridians” in “Nanjing · Liushiliu Nan”. The selected test points are following: Lung Meridian-Taiyuan (LU-9), Pericardium Meridian- Daling (P-7), Heart Meridian-Shenmen (H-7), Small Intestine Meridian-Hand-Wangu (SI-4), San Jiao Meridian- Yangchi (SJ-4), Large Intestine Meridian- Yangxi (LI-S), Spleen Meridian-Taibai (SP-3), Liver Meridian-Taichong (L-3), Kidney Meridian-Taixi (K-3), Urinary Bladder Meridian-Shugu (B-65), Gall Bladder Meridian-Qiuxu (GB-40), Stomach Meridian-Chongyang (S-42). A total of 24 points are tested on the right and the left sides of the body [3]. An established computer program systems are adopted for data collection and analysis to create a preliminary report, clinical doctors can interpret the report and further effective individualized treatment will be determined accordingly.
Use direction and Cautions of MT Life
MT Life is composed of both hardware and software modules. The hardware comprises of several probes which connect with a computer, while software module is a newly developed program which features a solution of data collecting, online uploading and downloading as well as report printing. It is complete with user-friendly menu-driven programming interactive interface making it easy to use and simple to operate.
Definitely, to ensure an accurate and reliable result, the following factors should be identified carefully. Firstly, precise clinical data of individual subject must be collected and clearly stated, such as factors like consumption of food, physical and mental state etc. Secondly, site environment conditions must be strictly controlled, such as room temperature and humidity. Thirdly, the points must be precisely positioned and ideally, relative humidity on the skin of probe applied points must stay constant.
The MT-Life Diagnostic Meridian System can provide quantitative data and interpretive diagnosis. It is able to be early detection of abnormalities of meridian biomedical information even before the individual presents any symptoms of certain disorders, thus it is predictive test for best prevention and health care. For diseases with high mortality rates, for example, nephropathies, hepatopathies, tumors, stroke, and myocardial infarction, it enables non-harmful, non-toxic, free of side effect and non-invasive detection of otherwise undetectable pathology changes before the appearance of clinical disease. It takes only 5 minutes to probe 24 points and perceives physical conditions, thus reveals correspondence diseases and/or a must-have health warning. It is worthy of extensive clinical application.
To date, MT-Life system has been adopted for cancer patients choosing appropriate therapeutic agents, and to some extent it has had significant impact on this concerned issue. TCM has profound clinical experience in cancer therapy, and the achievements made in the past 40 years has proven that TCM has become an alternative option for cancer therapy other than conventional surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy [4]. In the future, advanced modern technologies, such as immunomodulation, molecular biology and gene engineering experimental tools and methods will be applied for ongoing mechanisms investigation of intermediate and advanced tumor benefit from Chinese herbal medicines. It is also recommended that properly designed TCM syndrome differentiation system study objective and method will make TCM cancer therapy more effective based on combination of TCM fundamentals and expertise as well as modern oncology. Meanwhile, how to establish a standard guideline for overall evaluation TCM cancer therapy efficacy is expecting a great impact on developing and advocating TCM caner therapy. We do believe, MT-Life system will play an important and pivotal role through the courses of TCM cancer therapy.
Reference
1. Yang Z, Chen XX. A preliminary approach to cause and pathogenesis of tumor. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2002, 29(4):197-198.
2. Ren GR. Importance should be attached to TCM treatment of malignant tumor during middle and late Phases. Jiangsu Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2001, 22(5):4-5
3. Li N., Wang HJ. Development of miniature meridian detector. Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research 2005, 23 (3):170-173
4. Wang Y. Clinical progress in TCM cancer therapy. Anhui Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal 2004,8(3):224-225
Correspondence to: Zhiguo Zhao, PhD, Department of Acupuncture and Massage,
Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050091 P.R.China
Email: zzg720626@hotmail.com