The Research progress of the Vessel-Collateral Theory and Organ Fibrosis |Biomedgrid

The Vessel-Collateral Theory is a kind of disease model theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine, that describes changes in the vascular microenvironment and microcirculatory disorders. According to this theory, the body's qi and blood run through the channels of meridians to infuse all organs and tissues of the body. And when this channel is affected by various pathological factors, its function is impaired. Fibrosis is a common pathological pathway for liver, kidney, lung and other organs to progress to end-stage diseases. Microcirculation is a place where blood, material metabolism and energy exchange are carried out by microvessels as the main structure; at the structural level, modern medicine considers microcirculation as having the characteristics of network structure, diffuse distribution, mutual penetration and fluid flow. A number of studies have confirmed that organ fibrosis is associated with sclerosis, rarefaction and decreased perfusion of the capillary network. This alteration in the vascular microenvironment is similar to the Vessel-Collateral Theory, which is called Accumulation in category of traditional Chinese medicine. The formation of accumulation is closely related to the Qi and Blood in the meridians. A variety of pathogenic factors affect the transit of Qi and Blood, causing collateral disease and eventually the accumulation of organ fibrosis. Many herbal prescriptions formed under the guidance of Vessel-Collateral Theory all work by activating blood circulation and are related to improving microcirculation, so we do an overview to dig more single and compound prescriptions to improve organ fibrosis.