Traditional Medicine Research Doi: 10.12032/TMR20200603187
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Traditional Medicine Research doi: 10.12032/TMR20200603187 Traditional Chinese Medicine The riddles of number nine in Chinese medicine processing method Xiang-Long Meng1#, Xiao-Yan Zhang1#, Cong Hu2, Xiao-Juan Su1, Shuo-Sheng Zhang1* 1College of Chinese Materia Medica and Food Engineering, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong 030619, China; 2School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China. #Xiang-Long Meng and Xiao-Yan Zhang are the co-first authors of this paper. *Corresponding to: Shuo-Sheng Zhang. College of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, No.121 University Street, Yuci District, Jinzhong 030619, China. E-Mail: [email protected]. Highlights This review discovers the aim and the molecular mechanism of “nine” processing of some representative Chinese medicinal materials prepared using the “nine times steaming and drying method” from the viewpoints of modern pharmacochemistry and pharmacology, to provide a theoretical support for the “nine” processing method of Chinese medicines. Tradition The “nine cycles of steaming and shining” method was first recorded in Lei Gong Pao Zhi Lun (Master Lei’s Discourse on Medicinal Processing), the earliest monograph on the science of processing in China written by the famous pharmacologist named Lei Xiao in Southern and Northern Dynasties (420−589 C.E.). It is a traditional Chinese medicine processing method and characterized by repeated steaming and shining. The primary purposes of this processing method can be summarized as follows: altering the properties of medicines, increasing the contents of effective ingredients or reducing the toxic ingredients, making the herbs digest-friendly, and conducing to the drying and preservation of medicines. Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr 1 doi: 10.12032/TMR20200603187 ARTICLE Abstract The “nine cycles of steaming and shining”, “nine making”, “nine turns” and “nine cycles of calcining and quenching” methods that are recorded and used since ancient times are merely one aspect of the unique processing methods of traditional Chinese medicine. Inducing the Chinese medicine processing method “nine cycles of steaming and shining” from historical review and summarizing the practical wisdom based on the canonical aspects of traditional Chinese medicine and the experiences of ancient Chinese medicine sages to promote the new development of traditional Chinese medicine. After the long-term and multiple “nine” processing, the materials of traditional Chinese medicine exhibit significant beneficial changes in terms of taste, efficacy, and chemical composition contents, thus emphasizing that Chinese medicine processing plays a significant role in their efficacy enhancement and toxicity reduction. Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Huangjing (Rhizoma Polygonati), Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), and Xixiancao (Herba Siegesbeckiae) are representatives of Chinese medicinal materials prepared using the “nine-system” processing method. This review discovers the aim and the molecular mechanism of “nine” processing of the abovementioned herbs from the viewpoints of modern pharmacochemistry and pharmacology to provide a theoretical support for the “nine” processing method of traditional Chinese medicine and to promote the international market of traditional Chinese medicine. Keywords: Nine cycles of steaming and shining, Chinese medicine processing, Historical review, Efficacy enhancement, Toxicity reduction Author contributions: Shuo-Sheng Zhang developed the idea for the study and directed the article; Xiang-Long Meng searched the literature and provided the overall framework of the article; Xiao-Yan Zhang collated and supplemented the literature and wrote this article; Cong Hu and Xiao-Juan Su further corrected the details and format; All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgments: This study was supported by a grant from The Key Technology Research for Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization of Shanxi Province (Zhendong Special Project, 2014ZD0302), The Key Research & Development Plan of Shanxi Province (Social Development Project, 201603D3112002 ), and Cultivate Scientific Research Excellence Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi (20190127). Abbreviations: TCM, traditional Chinese medicine. Competing interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. Citation: Meng XL, Zhang XY, Hu C, Su XJ, Zhang SS. The riddles of number nine in Chinese medicine processing method. Tradit Med Res. 2021;6(2):16. doi: 10.12032/TMR20200603187. Executive editor: Jing-Na Zhou. Submitted: 17 April 2020, Accepted: 04 June 2020, Online: 26 July 2020 © 2021 By Authors. Published by TMR Publishing Group Limited. This is an open access article under the CC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/). 2 Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr Traditional Medicine Research doi: 10.12032/TMR20200603187 is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) processing Background method and characterized by repeated steaming and shining. The primary purposes of this processing Numbers have been given profound significance as method can be summarized as follows: altering the they developed along with cultures over time. As properties of medicines, increasing or reducing the Arabic numerals entered China fairly late, ancient contents of effective ingredients or toxic ingredients, Chinese people generally counted things using making the herbs digest-friendly, and conducing to the Chinese characters, which was formulated into a drying and preservation of medicines [4–6]. This nine-character system, and “nine” was the biggest one. unique processing procedure plays a vital role in For example, from the Su Wen (Basic Questions) in rendering effectiveness to Chinese medicines, Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner reflecting the wisdom of ancient Chinese people. Classic; publication time is unknown), which is the Because the cycle number of processing is a key first of China’s four medical classics, written in Qin concept during the entire procedure, the ancient (221–260 B.C.E.) and Han (202 B.C.E. –220 C.E.) Chinese left the processing records of “nine cycles of Dynasties, “nine” was explained as “nine, the change steaming and shining”, “nine making”, etc. for the of Yang (bright and upward)” [1]. “Nine” contains the future generations. ideas of “tending to Yang (bright and upward) and This paper reviews the processing methods related avoiding Yin (negative and downward)” and “tending to the “nine cycles of steaming and shining” method to luck and avoiding evil” and was very popular and summarizes the processing methods and their among ancient Chinese. underlying mechanism of TCM, which can provide a In Chinese culture, “nine” is not only a number theoretical support for the inheritance and innovation character, but it also contains important cultural of modern Chinese medicine processing. significance. It represents the limits and the political power related to imperial power, official position, History of processing Heshouwu (Polygoni etiquette, and construction. For representing limits, Multiflori Radix) using the “nine cycles of The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic · Basic Questions steaming and shining” method has recorded that “the numbers in universe start with one and end in nine” [2]. In addition, there are several Polygoni Multiflori Radix, which is derived from the commonly used phrases, such as “nine cattle one hair” root of Fallopia multiflora Thunb, has a long history (represents a lot) and “outside of nine clouds” of use in TCM. The first usage record was published in (represents very high). The Nine Ding made by Yu (the Kai Bao Ben Cao (Materia Medica of the Kaibao Era; first emperor of Xia Dynasty (2070–1600 B.C.E.)) 973–974 C.E.) written by the famous medical demonstrated the supreme power of the emperor. scientists Liu Han, Ma Zhi, et al. in the Northern Song Moreover, in Chinese, “nine” and “permanence” have Dynasty (960–1127 C.E.), and the first record of the same pronunciation, and hence it also has the processing was published in Xian Shou Li Shang Xu meanings of “last forever” and “safe and successful”. Duan Mi Fang (Secrets of Treating Wounds and The cultural significance of “nine” is revealed through Bonesetting; 841–845 C.E.) written by the famous the entire classic Chinese medicine theory system. For medical scientist Lin Daoren (790–850 C.E.) in Tang example, in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, the Dynasty (618–907 C.E.), who described it as steaming “basic questions theory of three sections and nine with black beans [7]. Polygoni Multiflori Radix was times” has mentioned some medical terms such as classified as nourish medicine in the Ben Cao Gang “nine organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica; 1552–1578 C.E.) stomach, large intestine, small intestine, and bladder)” written by the famous medical scientist Li Shizhen [3]. (1518–1593 C.E.) in Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 C.E.) Chinese medicine processing comprises a series of [8]. In ancient times, the methods of processing traditional technologies that are used to process herbs Polygoni Multiflori Radix were boiling, steaming, into drinking pieces according to different shining, shining after steaming, frying, baking, requirements from medical treatment, modulation, stewing, washing, decocting, roasting, spraying, preparation, storage, and the herbs’ nature based on the drenching, and cooking.