Current Status，Challenges，and Strategies of Basic Research on the Brain-Gut Interaction Theory for Spleen and Stomach Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.05.010
- VernacularTitle:中医脾胃病脑肠互动原理的基础研究现状、问题及策略
- Author:
Ting CHEN
1
;
Jinxia ZHU
2
;
Xiaohua HOU
3
;
Xiaoli ZHANG
2
;
Lifei ZHENG
2
;
Lei ZHANG
3
;
Xinxin WANG
1
;
Xuan LI
1
;
Xudong TANG
1
Author Information
1. Institute of Spleen and Stomach Diseases，Xiyuan Hospital，China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences，Beijing，100091
2. School of Basic Medical Sciences，Capital Medical University
3. Union Hospital，Tongji Medical College，Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
brain-gut interaction;
brain-gut axis;
spleen and stomach diseases;
zang-fu organs （脏腑） theory;
brain-gut peptides;
gut microbiota
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(5):517-522
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The brain-gut interaction theory is a multidimensional integrative concept based on the brain-gut axis， involving neural， endocrine， and immune regulatory networks as well as the gut microbiota. Zang-fu organs （脏腑） theory in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） shows a high degree of consistency with the brain-gut interaction theory， and the core functions such as the spleen and stomach governing the ascending of the clear and descending of the turbid， the liver governing the free flow of qi， and the heart governing mental and emotional activities are closely associated with the multi-level regulatory mechanisms of the brain-gut axis. TCM therapy can modulate brain-gut interactions through multiple pathways in the treatment of spleen and stomach diseases， including the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone secretion， neurotransmitter levels， the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， immune homeostasis and inflammatory responses， as well as the gut microecology. However， current basic research on the brain-gut interaction theory in TCM for spleen and stomach diseases still faces several challenges， such as difficulties in integrating TCM spleen-stomach theory with modern pathophysiology， lack of innovation in research concepts， and limitations in research methodologies. It is therefore proposed that multidisciplinary collaboration， multi-omics technologies， and targeted research approaches should be adopted to provide more comprehensive methods for basic research on TCM spleen and stomach diseases， thereby promoting the in-depth development of brain-gut interaction theory.
