Clinical application of acupuncture and Chinese materia medica in the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction under the mode of traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

In China, Chinese materia medica and acupuncture have been applied as effective methods for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction for several thousand years. In fact, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially acupuncture, has been gradually accepted by practitioners and patients all over the world. However, due to lack of systematic and comprehensive review articles, the effects of acupuncture and Chinese materia medica under the TCM mode have not been clearly elaborated. Therefore, in this review, we discussed the potential clinical value of acupuncture and Chinese materia medica in the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction under the TCM model. Articles published in the past 10 years were searched with "acupuncture," "gastrointestinal dysfunction," "gastrointestinal disorders," and other relevant keywords. In the following review, the author expounded the effects of TCM on gastrointestinal function and its potential value from the perspective of acupuncture for gastrointestinal dysfunction, Chinese materia medica for gastrointestinal dysfunction, and the combination of acupuncture and Chinese materia medica.