Hot and Cold Theory: Evidence in Systems Biology

Abstract

Systems biology is an emerging discipline in the post-genomic era, increasingly have been applied in bioscience and molecular medicine. The aim of this research field is a systems-level understanding of biological phenomena. In the same vein, a holistic approach to the classification of wellbeing and treatment of illnesses has been applied in traditional medicines. This chapter summarizes available research on biological differences between hot and cold in multiple traditional medicines by integrating modern biomedical data and concept-rich traditional medicines. In general, inflammation, immune-related pathways and higher metabolism are reported in hot individuals. While, lower metabolism have been observed in cold people. The interdisciplinary nature of systems biology studies can provide better insights into traditional medicines' physiopathology, fill the gap between traditional medicines and modern biological language, and facilitate drug discovery and individualized treatments.