中医的基本特点

The Basic Characteristics of TCM

中医以整体观念和阴阳五行学说为指导思想和理论方法，以脏腑经络学说为理论核心，以辨证论治为诊疗方法。与西医学相比，它的特点主要表现在整体观念和辨证论治两个方面。

The complete system of Traditional Chinese Medicine was formed with yin-yang and five elements theory being the guidance and theoretical method, viscera and meridian theories the theoretical core, and syndrome differentiation the way of disease treating. Compared with the Western medicine, TCM’s characteristic lies primarily in its holism and treatment based on syndrome differentiation.

整体观念：整体观念是中医学对人体本身的统一性和完整性，以及对人与自然界相互关系的整体认识。它认为，人体与外界环境是一个统一的有机的整体，而人体本身又是这一巨大体系的缩影，也是一个统一的有机整体。

Holism: The holism refers to the unity and integration of the body, and the relationship of the natural world to the human being. It holds that the body and the external environment together create an organic whole and that the body, while epitomizing the larger universe, is a unique organic whole by itself.

整体观念认为，人体是具有不同生理功能的各种脏腑组织和器官所组成的整体。他们相互作用，构成整体，并通过相互协调保持机体平衡。它们彼此之间在生理上相互联系、相互制约，共同维持其生理活动的协调平衡，在病理上又相互影响，产生复杂的病理反应。这种整体的联系或影响是以五脏为中心，通过经络系统的联络作用而实现的，具体表现在生理、病理、诊断和治疗等各个方面。

The holism of TCM holds that the body is the integration of various viscera, tissues and organs with separate physiological functions. They interact to make up an entire system and keep balance through physiological coordination. They are physiologically interrelated and mutually restricted to maintaining the physiologically coordinated activities of the body and produce pathologically complicated reactions. This integrated relationship is centered around the five zang-viscera and achieved through the connecting action of the meridian system, presenting itself in physiological, pathological, diagnostic, and therapeutic areas.

如中医生理学整体观认为，人体是一个动态平衡的产物，并通过阴阳对立统一、阴平阳秘等理论说明机体阴阳两方面之间的相对动态平衡，并用五行的生克㓡化理论来揭示脏腑系统之间相辅相成、制约调控的整体关系。

According to the holism of TCM, the body is the product of the dynamic balance, It uses the theories of unity of opposites of yin and yang and calm of yin and steadiness of yang to explain how the body keeps an dynamic balance between yin and yang. It reveals the holistic relationship of cooperation and coordination, interaction and regulation between the zang-viscera and the fu-viscera through the theory of generation and restraint of Five Elements.

辨证论治：辨证论治是中医的特有特征，是中医理论在临床实践中的具体应用。辨证论治的主旨就在于分析和辨别疾病的证候、讨论和确定治疗法则与具体治疗方法。辨证是治疗的前提和基础，论治是治愈疾病的手段和方法。

Treatment based upon syndrome differentiation: Treatment based upon syndrome differentiation is the distinguishing feature of TCM and represents the application of TCM theories in clinical practice. It mainly focuses on the analysis and differentiation of syndromes, discussion and determination of the treatment, and practice of specific therapies, in which syndrome differentiation is the premise and basis of treatment while treatment the medium and method of curing disease.医学 全在.线提供

辨证就是将四诊（望、闻、问、切)所收集的有关疾病资料，包括各种症状、体征等，加以分析、综合，判断为某种性质的“证候”，以探求疾病的本质。证与症是两个不同的概念。症是症状或体征，如头痛、咳嗽等。证或证候是指人体在疾病发展过程某一阶段所出现的一组有机联系症状的病理概括。它能够辩证地分析特定疾病的病变部位、原因、性质及其邪正关系，能够在一定程度上反映出疾病发展过程中某一阶段病理变化的本质，因此，“证”比“症状”能更全面、更深刻、更准确地揭示疾病的发展过程和本质。

Syndrome differentiation is a process where doctors analyze and summarize the relevant information gathered from the four diagnostic methods (inspection, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, and pulse feeling and palpation), including all symptoms and signs, make judgment of the properties of the syndromes based on this information, and probe into the essence of the disease. Syndrome is different from symptom in TCM. Symptom refers to the clinical manifestations of a disease, such as cough, vomiting. Syndrome, on the other hand, refers to the pathological generalization of a group of closely related symptoms on a given stage in the course of disease development. Since syndrome demonstrates the specific part, cause, and property of a disease and the relationship between healthy and pathogenic factors and reflects the essence of pathological changes at a given point of disease’s development, it can, rather than a symptom, provide a more comprehensive, further-reaching and more accurate view of the course and essence of a disease.