Association between bile acid metabolism and insomnia from the"all the eleven zang organs depend on the gallbladder"theory
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2157.2025.06.017
- VernacularTitle:从"凡十一脏取决于胆"理论探讨胆汁酸代谢与失眠相关性
- Author:
Zehan ZHANG
1
;
Yiyan LIU
;
Pinyi ZHOU
;
Yinying GAO
;
Jingyun ZHUANG
;
Feng LI
Author Information
1. 北京中医药大学中医学院 北京 100029
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
all the eleven zang organs depend on the gallbladder;
bile acid metabolism;
insomnia;
regulating the gallbladder to tranquilize mind
- From:
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;48(6):853-860
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Insomnia is a prevalent disorder characterized by difficulties in falling asleep or maintaining sleep.Chronic insomnia can severely impair physical and mental health,as well as quality of life.The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)theory,"all the eleven zang organs depend on the gallbladder,"is derived from the chapter of Discussion on Six-Plus-Six System and the Manifestations of Organs of Plain Questions.It highlights the pivotal role of the gallbladder in maintaining visceral function.The gallbladder governs decision-making and plays a central role in sleep regulation by modulating spleen-stomach transportation and transformation,dispersing qi movement throughout the body,harmonizing yin and yang,and modulating ying and wei systems.Research has demonstrated that bile acids correspond closely with the gallbladder's TCM functions of"governing the earth zang"and"regulating the eleven zang organs,"serving as a crucial material basis for gallbladder physiology.Dysregulation of bile acid metabolism may contribute to insomnia through multiple pathways,including gastrointestinal dysfunction,disruption of gut microbiota balance,induction of neuroinflammation,and circadian rhythm disturbances.This study proposes that bile acid metabolism disorder may constitute a key pathological mechanism linking gallbladder dysfunction—according to TCM theory—to insomnia.Based on clinical experience,novel therapeutic strategies are proposed under the framework of"regulating the gallbladder to tranquilize mind",including the use of gallbladder-related materials,prioritized application of liver-regulating herbs,and implementation of a sleep rhythm reconstruction protocol.
