Ultra-weak photon emission as a potential tool for evaluating the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes

BackgroundTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) for thousands of years. The holistic view TCM the “multitarget” characteristics have unique advantages in prevention treatment T2DM. syndrome differentiation are effective T2DM; however, currently, therapeutic effect is generally evaluated by asking patients' subjective feelings, or checking changes relevant indicators. main problems that patient's descriptions unclear subjective, although self-reported symptoms may improved significantly, indicators sometimes not obvious, which cannot truly reflect TCM. Therefore, it urgent develop a novel, sensitive, noninvasive method quantitatively evaluate TCM.MethodsIn this study, ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) was measured at four sites hands T2DM patients with Qi-Yin deficiency before after 1 weeks UPE intensity spectral distribution were calculated analyzed using results these sites. Spearman's correlation coefficient quantify between parameters scores TCM.ResultsThe decreased gradually course significantly lower than treatment. ratio counts wavelength ranges 495–550 nm 550–610 higher negatively correlated corresponding so degree improvement could be characterized (495–550 nm/550–610 nm).ConclusionsThe can shown level UPE. potential tool evaluating