The "Treatise on the spleen and stomach" (
Pí Wèi Lùn) as the first record of multiple sclerosis in the medical literature
- A hypothesis based on the analysis of clinical presentation and herbal medicine.
J Tradit Complement Med 2020;
10:288-300. [PMID:
32670824 PMCID:
PMC7340878 DOI:
10.1016/j.jtcme.2020.02.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
The “Treatise on the spleen and stomach” (Pí Wèi Lùn) is the work of the scholar and physician Li Gao (Jin-Yuan dynasties, 1115–1368 C.E., China). Li Gao described a clinical presentation that today would fall under the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and proposed the treatment with herbal medicine and nutritional guidelines. The PWL is well known for its application in the treatment of MS and autoimmune conditions. However, this theoretical “MS” has not yet been analyzed through a scientific investigation, and research on its herbal formulations for MS is scant.
Methods
We analyzed the PWL “MS” clinical presentation considering biomedical diagnostic criteria and neurological correlates. To support our review, we searched Pubmed for studies on the PWL main herbal formulas and their herbs/isolates used for the believed “MS” which treated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)/MS.
Results
We found a very close correlation between the PWL “MS” and the current MS diagnosis. Twenty four studies on the herbs-isolates showed significant amelioration of EAE, neuronal damage, and demyelination.
Discussion
Collectively, Astragali radix, Ginseng radix, Glycyrrhizae radix, and berberine containing Phellodendri cortex reduced the severity of EAE through different signaling pathways and mechanisms of action. These herbs provided a wide range of properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microglial activation, anti-infiltration of leukocytes, apoptotic/anti-apoptotic balance, and neuronal protection.
Conclusion
Our review proposes that the PWL is the first record of MS in the medical literature. Its formulas and herbs-isolates offer a fertile area for MS research and an invaluable potential for its treatment.
We propose that the Pí Wèi Lùn is the first record of MS in the medical literature.
All twenty four studies on the PWL’s selected herbs/isolates showed improvement of EAE.
Different signaling pathways/mechanisms of action provided synergistic properties.
In the PWL, the gastrointestinal system is key for MS and science supports it.
The PWL offers a fertile area of research and enormous potential for MS treatment.
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