讲科学的中医，一直在求真的路上狂奔

在人类医学的漫漫长河中，中医宛如一朵绽放在东方古老大地上的奇葩，以其独特的魅力与深邃的智慧，历经数千年的风雨洗礼，依旧熠熠生辉。它远离了那些虚无缥缈的神话传说，如亚当夏娃造人、女娲造人之类的奇幻想象，而是将目光紧紧聚焦于大自然与人体自身的微妙关系，以“远取诸物，近取诸身”的睿智，开启了一场探索生命奥秘、顺应自然规律的伟大征程。

破神话之茧，立科学之基

中医学，堪称最早的人类医学科学典范。它摒弃了上帝造人、神仙造人等毫无科学依据的说法，而是沿着自然界自身发展的脉络，去探寻人类诞生的根源。就如同在茫茫大海中航行的船只，中医凭借着对自然规律的精准把握，找到了属于自己的方向。

早在几千年前的经典著作《内经》中，便明确指出：“人生于地，悬命于天，天地合气，命之曰人。”这一精辟论述，深刻地揭示了人体与自然界的紧密联系。人体虽生活于大地之上，但其生命却时刻离不开天的空气。呼吸，这一看似平常的生理活动，实则是生命得以延续的关键。古人将去世称为“咽气”，说人的死亡是“没气了”，一个朝代即将灭亡时也形容为“气数已尽”，这些生动形象的表述，无不凸显出“气”对于生命的重要性。人生一口气，这简单的道理，却蕴含着中医对人体与自然关系的深刻洞察。

中医对人体呼吸的重视，与西医有所不同。在中医的理论体系中，气与血的关系中，气占据着主动的动力地位，而血则相对安静。中医认为，血液的流动依赖于气的推动，正所谓“气行则血行，气滞则血瘀；气虚则无力推动血液运行，血液亦会淤滞”。这一理论并非凭空臆想，而是经过无数临床实践的验证。据相关统计，在中医治疗因气血不畅导致的各种疾病中，如痛经、冠心病等，通过调理气机，使气血运行恢复正常，有效率可达70%以上。这充分证明了中医理论的科学性和实用性。

观自然之变，悟阴阳之道

自然界里的气，并非静止不变，而是如潺潺溪流般流动不息，且有着温度的变化。这种变化的根源，在于日月星辰的旋转。太阳的出现，带来温暖与光明，气温随之升高；太阳隐匿，黑暗降临，气温便降低。四季的更替，更是大自然气变化的生动体现。春天，气温暖宜人，万物复苏；夏天，气炎热炽烈，生机勃勃；秋天，气凉爽清朗，硕果累累；冬天，气寒冷凛冽，万物蛰伏。

中国古人以其敏锐的观察力和卓越的总结能力，早早地划分出了四季，并进一步细化。5天为一候，3候为一气，即15天一个节气，6气为一季，全年共24个节气。在春秋战国之前，建立日历、“授民以时”便是古代国家元首的重要职责。因为违背农时，就如同逆水行舟，难以取得人民的信任，政权也难以稳固。这并非夸张之词，据历史记载，许多朝代的兴衰都与是否顺应农时有着密切的关系。那些重视农时、鼓励农耕的朝代，往往国力强盛、社会稳定；而忽视农时、横征暴敛的朝代，则常常民怨沸腾、政权动荡。

中国的农历，更是古人智慧的结晶。它不仅与农作物生长息息相关，中医还认为与人体的疾病发生与否、发生何种疾病都有着紧密的联系。在天气炎热之时，古人便能想到寒冬腊月，发出“夏至一阴生”的预报。夏至时节，酷热难耐，尚未数伏，但古人凭借对日晷影子的观察，知道此时已到了阳气最盛、即将转化的时刻，于是发出阴气增长的信号。同样，冬至时，刚开始数九，天气最为寒冷，然而阳气已悄然萌动，日晷影子达到最长后必将逐渐缩短，古人便发出“冬至一阳生”的预报。这种对阴阳气变化的精准预测，是古人经过多年客观观测得出的规律，年复一年，屡试不爽。据气象学家的研究，这种基于农历的天气预测，在某些地区的气候变化预测中，准确率可达60%以上。这充分展示了古人对自然规律的深刻理解和把握。

循自然之律，筑健康之基

既然人是自然界自身发展而形成的，那么人体也必然要按照自然界的阴阳变化来调整自己的节律。这就如同花朵随着季节的更替而绽放与凋零，人体只有顺应自然的变化，才能保持健康、预防疾病；反之，逆时而动，就如同在逆风中行走，举步维艰，容易生病、短寿。

《内经》中说：“人以天地之气生，四时之法成。”这深刻地阐述了人体与自然界阴阳变化的密切关系。人体出生之后，需要不断地与自然界交换物质，以维持生命的状态。古人称之为“天食人以五气，地食人以五味”。天的五气，即风、火、湿、燥、寒，它们构成了四季自然气候的主要因素；地的五味，即酸、苦、甘、辛、咸，是一切食物的基本要素。五气入鼻，藏在心肺；五味入口，先入肠胃。五气、五味可以代表对人体有益的万物，人的生存离不开它们。一旦离开，生命便如无源之水、无本之木，逐渐枯萎。

古人对自然怀着一种与生俱来的敬畏，深知“顺之者昌，逆之者亡”的道理。只有顺应自然界的变化，人类才能生得自由、活得滋润。具体到身体内部，气的内容进一步丰富起来。中医将人体划分为有形的物质与无形的功能，即形与气的关系。一个人必须形和气相平衡，才是健康的。如果一个人过于肥胖，一动就气短，没有力气，活动不灵便，中医称之为“形盛气衰”；如果一个人过度消瘦，虽然力气不小，行动灵活，但不丰满，甚至是皮包骨头，就叫做“气盛形衰”。据健康调查显示，在现代社会中，形盛气衰和气盛形衰的人群比例逐渐增加，这与人们不健康的生活方式、不顺应自然规律有着密切的关系。例如，长期熬夜、缺乏运动、饮食不均衡等，都会导致人体形气失衡，从而引发各种疾病。

中医，这朵扎根于自然沃土的科学之花，以其独特的理论体系和丰富的实践经验，为人类的健康事业做出了不可磨灭的贡献。它让我们明白，人类与自然是息息相关的整体，只有尊重自然、顺应自然，才能实现人与自然的和谐共生，让生命之花在自然的怀抱中绽放出更加绚烂的光彩。让我们珍惜这份古老的智慧，传承和发扬中医文化，让中医在新时代焕发出新的生机与活力。

作者简介：梁世杰 中医高年资主治医师，本科学历，从事中医临床工作24年，积累了较丰富的临床经验。师从首都医科大学附属北京中医院肝病科主任医师、著名老中医陈勇，侍诊多载，深得器重，尽得真传！擅用“商汤经方分类疗法”、专病专方结合“焦树德学术思想”“关幼波十纲辨证”学术思想治疗疑难杂症为特色。现任北京树德堂中医研究院研究员，北京中医药薪火传承新3+3工程—焦树德门人（陈勇）传承工作站研究员，国际易联易学与养生专委会常务理事，中国中医药研究促进会焦树德学术传承专业委员会委员，中国药文化研究会中医药慢病防治分会首批癌症领域入库专家。荣获2020年中国中医药研究促进会仲景医学分会举办的第八届医圣仲景南阳论坛“经方名医”荣誉称号。2023年首届京津冀“扁鹊杯”燕赵医学研究主题征文优秀奖获得者。事迹入选《当代科学家》杂志、《中华英才》杂志。

The Chinese medicine practitioner, who speaks of science, has been running wild on the road to truth.

In the long river of human medicine, Chinese medicine is like a marvel that blossomed on the ancient land of the East, and with its unique charm and deep wisdom, it has been baptized through thousands of years of rain and wind, and still shines. It is far removed from myths and legends such as Adam and Eve creating man, Fantastic visions such as the creation of human beings, instead, focus their attention strictly on the delicate relationship between nature and the human body itself, and with the wisdom of "taking away everything and taking away the body," they embarked on a great journey to explore the mystery of life and conform to the laws of nature.

Breaking the cocoon of myth and building the foundation of science

Chinese medicine is the earliest example of human medical science. It discarded the notion that God created man and gods created man, which has no scientific basis, and instead explored the roots of human birth along the lines of nature's own development. Like a ship sailing through the sea, Chinese medicine has found its own direction with its precise grasp of the laws of nature.

As early as thousands of years ago, in the classical text of the Inner Comedy, it is clearly stated: "People are born in the earth, and their destiny is in heaven, and the heavens and the earth align with the spirit, and they are destined to be called man." This elegant statement profoundly reveals the close connection between the human body and the natural world. Although the human body lives on the earth, its life cannot be kept without the air of the heaven. Breathing, a seemingly ordinary physical activity, is the key to life's continuation. The ancient people called death "the catchment of breath," said that human death is "no breath," and when a dynasty is about to die, it is described as "the end of the breath." These vivid expressions all underscore the importance of "the breath" to life. Life is a breath, and this simple principle contains the profound insight of traditional Chinese medicine into the relationship between the human body and nature.

The emphasis placed on human breathing in traditional Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine. In the theoretical system of Chinese medicine, in the relationship between qi and blood, qi occupies the active driving position, while blood is relatively quiet. TCM believes that the flow of blood depends on the promotion of the qi, as it is called“Blood travels when the air travels, and blood becomes bruised when the breath is stagnant; Hypoxia makes it impossible to move the blood, and the blood will become stagnant.” 。 This theory is not a figment of the imagination but has been validated by countless clinical practices. According to relevant statistics, in the treatment of TCM due to qi and blood disorders caused by a variety of diseases, such as dysmenorrhea, coronary heart disease, etc., through the conditioning of qi, qi and blood operation to restore normal, effective rate of up to 70%. This fully proves the scientific and practical nature of TCM theory.

Observe the changes of nature and understand the way of yin and yang

The gas in nature is not static, but flows like a continuous stream, and has a change in temperature. The root of this change lies in the rotation of the sun, moon and stars. The appearance of the sun brings warmth and light, and the temperature rises with it. The sun hides, darkness falls, and the temperature drops. The change of the four seasons is also a vivid expression of the changes in nature's atmosphere. In spring, the air is warm and pleasant, and everything recovers. In summer, the air is hot and vibrant; In autumn, the air is cool and clear and there are plenty of fruits. In winter, the air is cold and cold, and everything is dormant.

The ancient Chinese people, with their keen observation and their remarkable ability to summarize, early on divided the four seasons and further refined them. Five days are one waiting period, three waiting periods are one breath, that is, 15 days are one breath and 6 breaths are one season, for a total of 24 breaths throughout the year. Before the warring states of Spring and Autumn, the establishment of a calendar and "giving time to the people" were the important duties of ancient heads of state. Because going against the agricultural time is like going aboard against the water, it is difficult to gain the trust of the people and the stability of the regime. This is not an exaggeration; history shows that the rise and fall of many dynasties was closely related to their adherence to the agrarian era. Those dynasties that valued agricultural time and encouraged farming were often strong and socially stable. However, dynasties that ignored the agrarian era and engaged in a campaign of conquest and austerity often erupted in popular resentment and political instability.

The Chinese lunar calendar is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient people. It is not only related to crop growth, but traditional Chinese medicine also believes that it is closely related to whether or not diseases occur in the human body and what kinds of diseases occur. When the weather is hot, the ancients can think of the cold winter, issued a "Summer Solstice overcast" forecast. At the time of the Summer Solstice, the heat was unbearable and the sun had not yet reached its peak. However, by observing the shadow of the sundial, the ancients knew that the sun was at its peak and about to change, so they signaled the growth of yin. Similarly, at the winter solstice, when the number of nine is at first counted, the weather is the coldest, but the yang has quietly begun to stir, and the shadow of the sundial will gradually shorten after it reaches its longest, and the old people forecast that "the winter solstice is a yang." This accurate prediction of yin and yang changes is a rule developed by the ancient people after years of objective observation, and year after year, repeatedly tried and failed. According to a study by meteorologists, such lunar-based weather predictions can be more than 60 percent accurate in climate change predictions in some regions. This fully demonstrates the ancient people's deep understanding and grasp of the laws of nature.

Building the foundations of health by following the laws of nature

Since man was formed by nature's own development, the human body must adjust its rhythm in accordance with natural yin and yang changes. It is like flowers blossoming and falling with the seasons, and the human body can maintain health and prevent disease only if it responds to natural changes. On the other hand, moving against the times is like walking against the wind, making it difficult to walk, making you prone to illness and short life.

The Book of Internal Medicine says, "Man is born in the spirit of heaven and earth, and is accomplished by the laws of four heavens and four times." This profoundly illustrates the close relationship between yin and yang changes in the human body and nature. After the human body is born, it needs to constantly exchange material with the natural world to maintain the state of life. The ancient people called it "The heavens eat man with five breaths, and the earth eats man with five tastes." The five heavenly atmospheres, namely wind, fire, wet, dry and cold, constitute the main factors of the natural climate in the four seasons. The five tastes of the earth, i.e., sour, bitter, glycemic, bitter and salty, are the basic elements of all food. Five breaths enter the nose and are hidden in the heart and lungs; Inject all five flavors, enter the stomach first. The five breaths and five tastes can represent everything that is beneficial to the human body, and human beings cannot live without them. Once you leave, life wilts like a sourceless water and a wood without roots.

The ancient people had an innate reverence for nature and knew the truth that "those who obey will prosper and those who disobey will die." Only by following the changes of nature can human beings live freely and well. Specifically within the body, the content of the qi is further enriched. TCM divides the human body into tangible substances and intangible functions, that is, the relationship between form and qi. A person must have a balance of form and air to be healthy. If a person is overweight, his breath is short when he moves, he has no strength, and his activities are not easy, which Chinese medicine calls "strength and weakness"; If a person is overly thin, although the strength is not small and the movement is flexible, but not full, even skin covering bones, it is called "strength and physical decline." According to health surveys, in modern society, the proportion of people with good health and bad health is gradually increasing, which is closely related to people's unhealthy lifestyle and non-compliance with natural laws. For example, long-term staying up late, lack of exercise, and unbalanced diet all cause imbalance in the body, which can trigger various diseases.

Traditional Chinese medicine, a scientific flower rooted in the fertile soil of nature, has made an indelible contribution to human health with its unique theoretical system and rich practical experience. It allows us to understand that human beings and nature are closely related to each other, and only by respecting and conforming to nature can we achieve harmonious coexistence between human being and nature, and let the flowers of life bloom in the embrace of nature. Let us cherish this ancient wisdom, carry forward and promote traditional Chinese medicine culture, and let traditional Chinese Medicine shine new life and vitality in the new era.

Author Bio: Liang Shijie is a senior medical practitioner in traditional Chinese medicine with an undergraduate degree. He has been engaged in traditional medicine clinical work for 24 years and has accumulated a wealth of clinical experience. Following Chen Yong, chief physician of liver disease at Beijing Traditional Medicine Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, and renowned old Chinese medicine, he has been treated for many years and received great attention. He specializes in the treatment of difficult diseases using "conversational traditional therapy" and special treatments combined with the academic ideas of Jiao Shude and Guan Yubo's ten-level diagnosis.He is currently a researcher at the Shude Tang TCM Research Institute in Beijing, a fellow at the new 3 + 3 project of traditional Chinese medicine flame inheritance in Beijing - a scholar at the inheritance workstation of Jiao Shude's protégés (Chen Yong),He is a standing committee member of the International Expert Committee on E-learning and Health Care, a member of the Jiao Shude Academic Heritage Special Committee of the Chinese Association for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine Research, and the first cancer specialist to be included in the chapter of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Culture Research Association. Won the 2020 China Association for the Promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhongjing Medical Branch held the eighth session of the Medical Saint Zhongjing Nanyang Forum "Classic Prescription Famous Doctor" honorary title. The winner of the first Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei "Pingui Cup" Yanzhao Medical Research Essay Award in 2023. His work was featured in the journal Current Scientist and the journal Chinese Talent.