1.Mechanism of NAFLD-associated Intestinal Barrier Damage and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention Strategies Based on "Turbid Pathogenic Factors Entering the Blood" Theory
Haoyang QIN ; Lei LUO ; Mengge LI ; Xueqian KONG ; Fanghua ZHANG ; Zhongqin DANG ; Zhibo DANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):277-287
Intestinal barrier damage is a prominent feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and serves as a critical factor driving the progression from simple fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. The "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory integrates classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles with contemporary disease evolution trends and research findings. It posits that endogenous turbid pathogenic factors within the body infiltrate the blood vessels, leading to impure and viscous blood quality, thereby triggering various diseases. Based on this theory, this article elucidated the pathogenic mechanism of NAFLD-associated intestinal barrier damage. It argued that in NAFLD, the liver loses its dredging function, and the spleen becomes obstructed and dysfunctional. Moreover, essential nutrients fail to be properly transformed, resulting in the internal generation of turbid pathogenic factors. This subsequently initiates a series of pathological changes, namely, "infiltration of phlegm-turbidity into the blood, eroding the intestinal mucosa", "infiltration of glucose-turbidity into the blood, macerating and eroding the intestinal mucosa", "infiltration of heat-turbidity into the blood, scorching and eroding the intestinal mucosa", and "infiltration of stasis-turbidity into the blood, stagnating and eroding the intestinal mucosa", ultimately causing intestinal barrier damage. Furthermore, guided by the "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory, this article explored TCM intervention strategies: employing medicinals targeting the liver meridian to address the root cause and reduce the generation and deposition of turbid pathogenic factors in the liver, administering blood-system medicinals to clear the blood and purge turbidity, thereby intercepting the progression of the disease mechanism, and applying tonifying medicinals to bolster healthy Qi and defend against turbid invasion, allowing the damaged intestinal mucosa to gradually heal. This article presented novel theoretical and medicinal perspectives for analyzing NAFLD-associated intestinal barrier damage based on the "turbid pathogenic factors entering the blood" theory, aiming to provide new entry points and broader horizons for related research and clinical practice.
2.Mechanisms of Metabolic Imbalance in MAFLD with T2DM from Theory of Middle Energizer Acting as a Balance and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention Strategies
Haoyang QIN ; Mengge LI ; Lei LUO ; Xueqian KONG ; Fanghua ZHANG ; Zhongqin DANG ; Zhibo DANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):244-253
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a high comorbidity rate, emerging as a major global public health issue. The concept that the middle energizer acting as a balance refers to the role of the middle energizer in maintaining the balance of Qi and blood, dryness and dampness, as well as water and fire (Yin and Yang) in the human body. The core feature of MAFLD with T2DM is the metabolic imbalance, which is closely related to the dysfunction of the middle energizer's balancing role. This article explores the mechanisms of metabolic imbalance in MAFLD with T2DM from the perspective of the middle energizer acting as a balance, proposing that middle energizer dysfunction is the root cause. Qi movement, dryness-dampness, and ministerial fire are the two ends of the balance. MAFLD with T2DM is accompanied by various seemingly contradictory pathological states and imbalances, such as "Qi stagnation and failure of free movement vs. Qi dispersion without retention", "damp-turbidity obstruction vs. internal dryness and fluid consumption", and "ministerial fire decline vs. hyperactivity and scorching". On this basis, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention strategies and their microscopic mechanisms are discussed. For the root cause of middle energizer imbalance, wind-dispelling herbs and Qi-replenishing and middle energizer-invigorating herbs are used to restore the balancing role of the middle energizer (delaying glucose and lipid absorption, restoring intestinal homeostasis, and ameliorating insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and adipocytes). For the secondary imbalances, pungent-dispersing and liver-soothing herbs combined with sour-astringent herbs are used to balance Qi movement (alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes and impaired glucose transport in tissue cells). Bitter-warm and dampness-draining herbs combined with sweet-cold and moistening herbs are used to balance dryness and dampness (reducing hepatic steatosis, cellular hyperosmotic dehydration, and intracellular metabolic disorders). Yang-lifting and warm-invigorating herbs combined with clearing-descending and Yin-nourishing herbs are used to balance ministerial fire (ameliorating hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis processes and alleviating systemic chronic inflammation and related damage). According to the theory of the middle energizer acting as a balance, this article explores the mechanisms of metabolic imbalance in MAFLD with T2DM and TCM intervention strategies, providing new insights and a framework for related scientific research and clinical practice.
3.Mechanisms of Metabolic Imbalance in MAFLD with T2DM from Theory of Middle Energizer Acting as a Balance and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention Strategies
Haoyang QIN ; Mengge LI ; Lei LUO ; Xueqian KONG ; Fanghua ZHANG ; Zhongqin DANG ; Zhibo DANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):244-253
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a high comorbidity rate, emerging as a major global public health issue. The concept that the middle energizer acting as a balance refers to the role of the middle energizer in maintaining the balance of Qi and blood, dryness and dampness, as well as water and fire (Yin and Yang) in the human body. The core feature of MAFLD with T2DM is the metabolic imbalance, which is closely related to the dysfunction of the middle energizer's balancing role. This article explores the mechanisms of metabolic imbalance in MAFLD with T2DM from the perspective of the middle energizer acting as a balance, proposing that middle energizer dysfunction is the root cause. Qi movement, dryness-dampness, and ministerial fire are the two ends of the balance. MAFLD with T2DM is accompanied by various seemingly contradictory pathological states and imbalances, such as "Qi stagnation and failure of free movement vs. Qi dispersion without retention", "damp-turbidity obstruction vs. internal dryness and fluid consumption", and "ministerial fire decline vs. hyperactivity and scorching". On this basis, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention strategies and their microscopic mechanisms are discussed. For the root cause of middle energizer imbalance, wind-dispelling herbs and Qi-replenishing and middle energizer-invigorating herbs are used to restore the balancing role of the middle energizer (delaying glucose and lipid absorption, restoring intestinal homeostasis, and ameliorating insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and adipocytes). For the secondary imbalances, pungent-dispersing and liver-soothing herbs combined with sour-astringent herbs are used to balance Qi movement (alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes and impaired glucose transport in tissue cells). Bitter-warm and dampness-draining herbs combined with sweet-cold and moistening herbs are used to balance dryness and dampness (reducing hepatic steatosis, cellular hyperosmotic dehydration, and intracellular metabolic disorders). Yang-lifting and warm-invigorating herbs combined with clearing-descending and Yin-nourishing herbs are used to balance ministerial fire (ameliorating hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis processes and alleviating systemic chronic inflammation and related damage). According to the theory of the middle energizer acting as a balance, this article explores the mechanisms of metabolic imbalance in MAFLD with T2DM and TCM intervention strategies, providing new insights and a framework for related scientific research and clinical practice.
4.Therapeutic Observation of Acupoint Application for Stroke Due to Qi Deficiency and Blood Stagnation
Yinxia WU ; Xueqian KONG ; Yuanru TANG
Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2016;35(5):504-506
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint application based on the formula ofBu Yang Huan Wu decoction in treating stroke due to qi deficiency and blood stagnation.Method Totally 109 patients with stroke due to qi deficiency and blood stagnation were randomized into a treatment group of 55 cases and a control group of 54 cases. In addition to the basic treatment, the treatment group was intervened by acupoint application based on formula ofBu Yang Huan Wu decoction at Dazhui (GV 14), Zusanli (ST 36), and Xuanzhong (GB ), while the control group received relevant health education. The symptom and syndrome score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Barthel Index (BI) were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacies and relapse rates were compared.Result The symptom and syndrome score of TCM, NIHSS score, and BI score were significantly different from that before treatment in both groups (P<0.01). The changes of the TCM symptom and syndrome score, NIHSS score, and BI score in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 88.2% in the treatment group versus 69.2% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Four cases in the treatment group got relapsed, accounting for 7.8%; 7 cases got relapsed in the control group, accounting for 13.5%. There was no significant difference in comparing the relapse rate between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Acupoint application is an effective method in treating stroke due to qi deficiency and blood stagnation.

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