Gynecology and Gynecological Nursing Theories and Practices in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Review on the Ancient Literatures

Xiangeng Zhang, Hui Zhang, Xiaoli Liang, Qin Liu, Miqu Wang

.

DOI: 10.4236/cm.2011.23014                

Abstract

Objective: the study is aimed to introduce the developing history of gynecology and gynecological nursing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Study Design: the development of gynecology and gynecological nursing consists of six periods in Chinese history. They are: 1) budding stage represented by the inscriptions of Nü (female) on oracle bones; 2) physiological development stages of women; 3) specialized chapters of gynecology in TCM; 4) features of gynecological nursing; 5) monograph of gynecology and gynecological nursing; 6) integration of ancient gynecological nursing perceptions. Results: TCM has a profound understanding of gynecology and gynecological nursing. For period one, the inscriptions of Nü (female) on oracle bones is the symbol of the budding stage. For period two, physiogenesis stages of women are recorded in The Yellow Emperor of Classics of Inner Medicine. For period three, the specialized chapters of gynecology appeared, represented by Golden Chamber, Woman. For period four, the features of gynecological nursing were elaborated in Essential Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold including menstruation, depression, yin-dampness, and menopause. For period five, monographs of gynecology and gynecological nursing represented by Good Comprehensive Woman Formulae appeared. For period six, Integrative studies of gynecological nursing perceptions were carried out with the representation by Integrated Ancient and Modern Books. Conclusion: TCM gynecology and gynecological nursing harbors a long history of treating and nursing gynecological disorders. With therapeutic and nursing modalities, they are effective systems of un-derstanding and managing woman health as proven by medical literatures, clinical benefits and basic research studies.

Keywords

TCM Gynecology, TCM Gynecological Nursing, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	B. C. Maggie, “Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Diabetes,” Diabetes Spectrum, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2001, pp. 154-159. doi:10.2337/diaspect.14.3.154
[2]	J. P. Liu, M. Zhang, W. Y. Wang and S. Grimsgaard, "Chinese Herbal Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,” The Cochrane Collaboration Cochrane Reviews, No. 3, CD003642.
[3]	B. Zell, J. Hirata, A. Marcus, B. Ettinger, A. Pressman, K. Ettinger, et al., “Diagnosis of Symptomatic Postmeno-pausal Women by Traditional Chinese Medicine Practi-tioners,” Menopaus, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2007, pp. 129-134.
[4]	G. Maciocia, “Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine,” Oxford, Churchill Livingstione, 1998, pp. 3-4.
[5]	A. D. J. Lesley, “Hippocrates’ Woman: Reading the Female Body in Ancient Greece (Review),” Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Vol. 74, No. 4, 2000, pp. 812-813. doi:10.1353/bhm.2000.0173
[6]	M. Dumont, “Gynecology and Obstetrics in Ancient Rome,” Revue Francaice de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique, Vol. 87, No. 10, 1992, pp. 493-496, 499-505.
[7]	R. Haimov-Kochman, Y. Sciaky-Tamir and A. Hurwitz, “Reproduction Concepts and Practices in Ancient Egypt Mirrored by Modern Medicine,” European Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Vol. 123, No. 1, 2005, pp. 3-8.
[8]	A. N. Jadhav and K. K. Bhutani, “Ayurveda and Gynecological Disorders,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 97, No. 1, 2005, pp. 151-159. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.10.020
[9]	H. Zhang, C. E. Tan, H. Z. Wang, S. B. Xue and M. Q. Wang, “Study on the History of Traditional Chinese Medicine to Treat Diabetes,” European Journal of Integrative Medicine, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2010, pp. 41-46.
[10]	C. Smith, M. Coyle and R. J. Norman, “Influence of Acupuncture Stimulation on Pregnancy Rates for Women Undergoing Embryo Transfer,” Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 85, No. 5, 2006, pp. 1352-1358. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.12.015
[11]	Y. Zhang, “Textual Research on Medicine in Oracle In-Scriptions of the Shang (Yin) Period (c 16th-11th Century B.C.),” Chinese Journal of Medical History, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1986, pp. 15-23.
[12]	P. U. Unschuld, “Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: Nature, Knowledge, Imagery in an Ancient Chinese Medical Text,” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 1 , 2004, pp. 91-196.
[13]	Z. H. Wang and J. Kang, “Treating Gynecological Disorders by the Treatment of Liver in Golden Chamber,” Hebei Medicine, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1997, pp. 60-70.
[14]	B. Q. Shen, Y. Situ, J. L. Huang, X. M. Su, W. T. He, M. W. Zhang, et al., “A Clinical Study on the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Inflammation of Qi-Stagnation with Blood Stasis Syndrome by Penyanqing Capsule,” Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2005, pp. 249-254. doi:10.1007/BF02835784
[15]	X. Xu, H. Yin, D. Tang, L. Zhang and R. G. Gosden, “Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Infertility,” Human Fertility (Cambridge), Vol. 6, No. 4, 2003, pp. 161-168. doi:10.1080/1464770312331369433
[16]	J. J. Zheng, P. Lu and Y. Zhao, “Research on Tuina Treatment for Postpartum Hypolactation,” Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Vol. 29, No. 6, 2009, pp. 501-503.
[17]	T. K. S. Wong and S. Pang, “Holism and Caring: Nursing in the Chinese Health Care Culture Holistic,” Nursing Practice, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2000, pp. 12-21.
[18]	H. M. Langevin and J. A. Yandow, “Relationship of Acupuncture Points and Meridians to Connective Tissue Planes,” The Anatomical Record, Vol. 269, No. 6, 2002, pp. 257-265.
[19]	G. X. Chu and Q. Z. Li, “About ‘Xiang’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine,” Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Vol. 6, No. 3, 2008, pp. 249-252.
[20]	S. Andersson and T. Lundeberg, “Acupuncture—From Empiricism to Science: Functional Background to Acu-puncture Effects in Pain and Disease Pain and Disease,” Medical Hypotheses, Vol. 45, No. 3, 1995, pp. 271-281. doi:10.1016/0306-9877(95)90117-5
[21]	L. Venzke, J. F. Calvert Jr. and B. Gilbertson, “A Randomized Trial of Acupuncture for Vasomotor Symptoms in Post-Menopausal Women,” Complement Therapies in Medicine, Vol. 18, No. 2, 2010, pp. 59-66. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2010.02.002
[22]	N. N. Jin and K. Ma, “Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Factors of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Based on Cluster Analysis and Factor Analysis,” China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, Vol. 33, No. 13, 2008, pp. 1622-1625.
[23]	F. Qu and J. Zhou, “Electro-Acupuncture in Relieving Labor Pain,” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2007, pp. 125-130.
[24]	P. B. Simpson, “Family Beliefs about Diet and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Hong Kong Women with Breast Cancer,” Oncology Nursing Forum, Vol. 30, No. 5, 2003, pp. 834-840. doi:10.1188/03.ONF.834-840