Overview of Pectoral Qi Theory and Modern Research Progress / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

ABSTRACT

In this paper, through a systematic review of literatures on pectoral qi theory, we summarized the defini-tion of pectoral qi, physiological function, deficiency-excess changes, clinical manifestations of pectoral qi deficiency and modern research progress of pectoral qi theory, in order to deepen the understanding of pectoral qi connotation. The connotations of pectoral qi have four major kinds of views. The pectoral qi is a combination of the natural fresh air inhaled by the lungs and the foodstuff essence-qi transformed by the spleen-stomach accumulated in the thorax. The substance of pectoral qi is heart-lung yang qi. Pectoral qi is the special title of acquired essences in the thorax. Pectoral qi accumulated in the thorax is the beating-qi beneath the left breast. Its physiological function includes flowing through the respiratory tract to promote the respiration movement of the lungs, permeating the heart and ves-sels to promote circulation of qi and blood, comprehensively regulating of the heart and lungs, controlling all qi and zang-fu, accumulating body fluids, resisting external evils, controlling mental activities, maintaining mental state healthy and vigorousness, controlling vision, hearing, sound, color, smell and movement, converging primordial qi to maintain the vigor and vitality. Disorders of pectoral qi are mainly manifested as deficiency or excess. Deficiency is mainly manifested in pectoral qi insufficiency, or pectoral qi sinking. Excess is mainly manifested in pectoral qi ob-struction, or pectoral qi counterflow. The common clinical manifestations of pectoral qi insufficiency include short-ness of breath and panting on exertion. The concomitant symptoms are pale or dim complexion, lassitude, lack of strength, shortage of breath and disinclination to talk, insomnia, dizziness, spontaneous sweating, emaciation, darkish tongue with thin and white fur, sunken thin or weak pulse. And it commonly superimposed with failing to circulation qi-blood of heart and lungs as chest distress, chest pain, palpitations, cyanosis, cough, expectoration, and hard stool. Spleen transportation and transformation dysfunction were manifested as poor appetite, loose stool, and abdominal dis-tension. Impairment of qi transformation due to yang deficiency is manifested as cold limbs, aversion to cold, edema, urination difficulty, and dry mouth. In addition, diseases which are treated with pectoral qi are give priority to the heart-lung diseases, and then gradually extend to diseases of other systems. At the same time, there are many reports on using pectoral qi theory in disease treatment. The essence of pectoral qi is also discussed from the perspective of modern medicine. Generally speaking, pectoral qi theory has been put forward early; however, the systematic study is difficult to meet the needs of clinical diagnosis and treatment. There are many problems which remain to be further studied and solved.