Analysis of the Pathogenesis of “Ocular Diseases with Depression” Based on the Xuanfu Theory
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: “目病多郁”是中医眼科的重要临床现象，指情志失调与目疾发生发展的密切关联，属中医学“郁证”“内障”范畴。现代医学对情志性眼病的治疗存在机制阐释不足的局限性，而玄府理论为“目病多郁”的辨治提供了新思路。本文基于玄府“气液流通之门户”的特性，结合目窍“肝气所主、清阳所注”的生理特点，系统阐释“情志失调 → 肝失疏泄 → 玄府挛急 → 神光受遏”的病理链条，提出气郁为始、形郁为变、神光受遏为其核心病机演变规律。通过分析玄府“形态至微、功能至专、开阖至敏”的三重特性，确立“疏肝解郁、开通玄府、防变固本”的治疗原则：以风药轻扬开启玄府枢机，疏肝药调畅气机，配合活血化痰药防形郁之变，佐以调神药物助神光发越。从玄府动态开阖角度阐释情志性眼病病机，为临床从微观气液代谢层面干预目窍功能提供理论依据。“Ocular diseases with depression” is an important clinical phenomenon in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ophthalmology, referring to the close relationship between emotional disorders and the occurrence and development of eye diseases, which belongs to the category of “depression syndrome” and “internal obstruction” in TCM. Modern medicine has limitations in explaining the mechanisms of emotional-related eye diseases, while the Xuanfu theory provides new insights for their diagnosis and treatment. Based on the characteristics of Xuanfu as the “gateway for the circulation of qi and fluid” and combined with the physiological features of the eyes being “governed by liver qi and nourished by clear yang”, this paper systematically explains the pathological chain of “emotional disorders → liver qi stagnation → Xuanfu spasm → inhibition of divine light”, proposing that qi stagnation is the initial stage, physical stagnation is the transformation stage, and inhibition of divine light is the final stage as the core pathogenesis evolution pattern. By analyzing the three characteristics of Xuanfu—“extremely minute in form, highly specialized in function, and sensitive in opening and closing”—the treatment principles of “soothing the liver to relieve depression, opening Xuanfu, and preventing pathological changes” are established: using wind herbs to open Xuanfu, liver-soothing herbs to regulate qi, combined with blood-activating and phlegm-resolving herbs to prevent physical stagnation, supplemented with spirit-regulating herbs to promote the emission of divine light. This study interprets the pathogenesis of emotional-related eye diseases from the perspective of dynamic opening and closing of Xuanfu, providing a theoretical basis for clinical intervention in ocular function at the micro level of qi and fluid metabolism.
Source: Advances in Clinical Medicine
Author: 卓林 马
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4410833261