Document Detail


Tibetan medical interpretation of myelin lipids and multiple sclerosis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19743559     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Tibetan medicine integrates diet, lifestyle, herbs, and accessory therapies to increase health and longevity. A comparison of the three humor theory of Tibetan medicine and the three thermodynamic phase properties of myelin lipids exemplifies how integrating medical systems can increase understanding of complex chronic disabling conditions. As a correlative study to microscopically better understand multiple sclerosis (MS) from the view of Tibetan medicine, the physical disruption of central nervous system myelin membranes in MS is interpreted from the theory of the three humors (vital energies) of Tibetan medicine: rLung (Wind), MKhris pa (Bile), and Bad gen (Phlegm). The three classes of myelin lipids--phospholipids, sphingolipids, and cholesterol--are interpreted as one of three humors based on Langmuir isotherm thermodynamic measurements. The nature of rLung is movement or change. Myelin sphingolipids have rLung properties based on thermodynamic observations of changes in phase organization. MKhris pa is fire, energetic. Phospholipids have MKhris pa properties based on thermodynamic observations of being energetic membrane lipids with fast molecular motions and fluid-like properties. The nature of Bad gen is substance and form; it dominates body structure. Cholesterol relates to Bad gen because it dominates membrane structure. We propose a theoretical relationship whereby demyelination in MS is viewed as a continuum of imbalance of the three humors as understood in Tibetan medicine. Myelin lipid data is presented to support this theoretical relationship. Clinically, MS is, in general, a rLung-MKhrispa disorder in women and a Bad gen-MKhrispa disorder in men, with rLung-MKhrispa excess in both genders during exacerbation, inflammation, and demyelination. Studying Tibetan medicine in its traditional context will create an integrative model for the treatment of MS and other chronic conditions.
Authors:
Cynthia Husted; Lobsang Dhondup
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences     Volume:  1172     ISSN:  1749-6632     ISO Abbreviation:  Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.     Publication Date:  2009 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-09-10     Completed Date:  2009-09-25     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7506858     Medline TA:  Ann N Y Acad Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  278-96     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Global Institute for Tibetan Medicine, Norwalk, California, USA. husted@globaltibetmed.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Brain / metabolism,  radiography
Child
Child, Preschool
Humans
Lipids / analysis*,  chemistry
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional / methods*
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Myelin Sheath / chemistry*,  ultrastructure
Phospholipids / analysis,  metabolism
Sphingolipids / analysis,  chemistry
Thermodynamics
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Lipids; 0/Phospholipids; 0/Sphingolipids

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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