Inheritance and Current Research Status of Major Spleen-Stomach Theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.01.014
- VernacularTitle:中医重要脾胃理论的传承及病证研究现状
- Author:
Ling HU
1
;
Fengyun WANG
2
;
Xudong TANG
2
;
Beihua ZHANG
2
;
Yunkai DAI
3
;
Xu CHEN
4
;
Shiqi LI
5
Author Information
1. Science and Technology Innovation Center，Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine，Guangzhou，510405
2. Institute of Gastroenterology，Xiyuan Hospital，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
3. The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
4. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
5. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
spleen-stomach theory;
spleen deficiency syndrome;
spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome;
liver-spleen disharmony syndrome
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(1):87-94
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
This paper systematically reviews the core concepts and lines of theoretical inheritance of major spleen-stomach theories in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， including spleen deficiency theory， spleen-stomach damp-heat theory， and liver-spleen disharmony theory. It is found that these theories have all undergone a developmental trajectory characterized by classical foundation， refinement of therapeutic methods， systematization of pathogenesis， and modern innovation. The evolution of spleen-stomach theory has achieved a shift from a singular focus on tonifying the spleen to regulating dynamic middle-jiao （焦） balance， and from localized spleen-stomach regulation to the circular movement of qi involving all five zang organs. In terms of modern disease-syndrome integrative research， spleen deficiency syndrome is shown to be closely associated with impairment of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier， metabolic disorders， and gene polymorphisms related to Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases. Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is closely linked to hyperactive energy metabolism， inflammatory cytokines， and abnormal expression of aquaporins. Liver-spleen disharmony syndrome is mainly associated with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis and microbiota-related metabolic disorders. It is proposed that future research on spleen-stomach diseases and syndromes should further elucidate their potential multidimensional differential biological characteristics， thereby promoting the modernization of the TCM discipline of spleen-stomach studies.
