Systems biology of resilience and optimal health: integrating Chinese and Western medicine perspectives

• Main Authors: Herman van Wietmarschen, Yan Schroën, Victor Kallen, Marvin Steijaert, Albert A. de Graaf, Ben van Ommen, Jan van der Greef
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-05-01
• Series: World Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Subjects: Health; Wellness; Resilience; Systems biology; Chinese diagnosis
• Online Access: http://www.wjtcm.org:8080/ch/reader/create_pdf.aspx?file_no=20170024&year_id=2017&quarter_id=1&flag=1

Western science has been strong in measuring details of biological systems such as gene expression levels and metabolite concentrations, and has generally followed a bottom up approach with regard to explaining biological phenomena. Chinese medicine in contrast has evolved as a top down approach in which body and mind is seen as a whole, a phenomenological approach based on the organization and dynamics of symptom patterns. Western and Chinese perspectives are developing towards a ‘middle out’ approach. Chinese medicine diagnosis, we will argue, allows bridging the gap between biologists and psychologists and offers new opportunities for the development of health monitoring tools and health promotion strategies.