Mechanism of External Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on“Neurological-Endocrine-Immune Network” / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

With a clear efficacy in external treatment of diseases, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been widely applied in surgery, in acute, pediatric, gynecological, internal medicine and other departments. Its advantages include easy use, direct access to lesions, and prevent of the first-pass effect of the liver. However, its mechanism of action is still unclear, which impacts its clinical promotion. This article makes analysis and summary on the clinical application of TCM in external treatment of diseases, the characteristics of commonly used TCM in treatment of diseases, and the relationship of the common externally treated diseases and the "neurological-endocrine-immune network". The findings showed that TCM for external treatment were widely used, with exact curative effects; the pathogenesis of commonly used TCM for externally treating diseases is closely related to the "neuro-endocrine-immune network". Moreover, the modern pharmacological effects of TCM for externally treating diseases were found to be 100%related to the "neuro-endocrine-immune network". According to the analysis of the relationship between the common diseases externally treated with TCM and the "neuro-endocrine-immune network", the pathogenesis of the treatment with TCM is closely related to the "neuro-endocrine-immune network". Therefore, we believe that the "neuro-endocrine-immune network" system is probably one of the main mechanisms of action of TCMs for externally treating diseases. The verification of this mechanism requires the joint efforts of various departments in conducting clinical or experimental verification in the future, so as to provide a reference for clarifying the mechanism of TCM for external use, and basis for the promotion and application of TCM for external use.