Functional Somatic Syndromes: Emerging Biomedical Models and Traditional Chinese Medicine - PubMed (original) (raw)

Functional Somatic Syndromes: Emerging Biomedical Models and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Steven Tan et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004.

Abstract

The so-called functional somatic syndromes comprise a group of disorders that are primarily symptom-based, multisystemic in presentation and probably involve alterations in mind-brain-body interactions. The emerging neurobiological models of allostasis/allostatic load and of the emotional motor system show striking similarities with concepts used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to understand the functional somatic disorders and their underlying pathogenesis. These models incorporate a macroscopic perspective, accounting for the toll of acute and chronic traumas, physical and emotional stressors and the complex interactions between the mind, brain and body. The convergence of these biomedical models with the ancient paradigm of TCM may provide a new insight into scientifically verifiable diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these common disorders.

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Figures

<b>Figure 1</b>

**Figure 1

The Emotional Motor System. The EMS refers to a parallel set of outputs from limbic and paralimbic circuits, which generate distinct patterns of body functions (‘body map’) associated with specific emotions (fear, anger, joy, etc). These outputs occur in the form of autonomic nervous system responses, sensory modulations and HPA axis responses. Feedback from the body to the EMS in the form of afferent nerve signals and neuroendocrine signals modify EMS responses. Ascending outputs to cortical regions of the brain generate patterns of vigilance, arousal and attention. The conscious perception of emotional feelings may or may not be associated with activities of the EMS (modified from Mayer et al. 2001) (44).

<b>Figure 2</b>

**Figure 2

Interaction of genetic factors with early life events to generate vulnerabilities for stress-sensitive disorders. Genetic predisposition (presumably multigenetic traits) interacts with prenatal and early life stressors to program the stress responsiveness (or resilience towards stress) of the adult organism. This enhanced stress responsiveness pertains to both psychological and physical stressors. Perpetuating factors that play a role in the chronicity of symptoms include symptom-related fears and anxiety (modified from Mayer and Collins, 2002) (45).

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