Discussion on the biological connotations of the pathogenesis of "earth congestion and wood depletion" in anxiety based on "intestinal flora-bile acid metabolism"
10.3760/cma.j.cn115398-20241216-00185
- VernacularTitle:基于“肠道菌群-胆汁酸代谢”探讨焦虑“土壅木郁”病机的生物学内涵
- Author:
Yanan WANG
1
;
Yuehan SONG
;
Simin CHEN
;
Jiayi CHEN
;
Xinyi LYU
;
Jiahui HE
;
Kaiyue RU
;
Zijie CHEN
Author Information
1. 北京中医药大学2023级博士研究生，北京 102401
- Keywords:
Anxiety;
Intestinal flora;
Bile acid;
Soil congestion and wood depressions
- From:
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;47(10):1347-1352
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
In recent years, the relationship between intestinal flora dysbiosis and abnormal bile acid metabolism and anxiety has received widespread attention. This article discussed the biological mechanism of the pathogenesis of anxiety from the perspective of intestinal flora and bile acid metabolism, in order to provide new ideas and theoretical basis for the TCM prevention and treatment of anxiety. According to TCM, spleen and stomach belong to earth, liver and gallbladder belong to wood, when spleen qi is healthy, the normal distribution of water and grain essence can be achieved, so that the liver can be nourished, qi and blood is sufficient, and its excretory function is normal, and the bile is sufficient. Once the spleen is not healthy, the distribution of water and grain essence is good, affecting the metabolism of fluids, resulting in phlegm and dampness, the qi is not smooth, can affect the liver's excretory function; liver and wood depression for a long time, transgressing the spleen and earth, qi and blood lack of biochemical sources, the formation of soil congestion and wood depression of the pathological phenomenon will appear. From the viewpoint of modern medicine and molecular biology, changes in the structure of intestinal flora affect the organism through neurological, endocrine, immune and metabolic pathways, which is consistent with the pathogenesis of "congestion of the earth"; disorders in the metabolism of bile acids can lead to changes in neurotransmitters and synaptic structure in the brain, causing anxiety symptoms, which is consistent with the characteristics of "wood depression". The bile acid metabolism disorder can cause neurotransmitter and synaptic structure changes in the brain, causing anxiety symptoms, which is consistent with the characteristics of "wood depression". It is important to regulate the intestinal flora and bile acid metabolism pathway to ease the liver and strengthen the spleen to improve anxiety.
