There is a large room for traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are the most common diseases in gastroenterology clinics. The incidence rate of FGIDs is 34.6% according to a Western epidemiological survey. FGID is of extensive concern to the domestic and international medical science field because of its high incidence rate among the common populations, affecting the living quality of sufferers to different extents, and also because of the high expenses of diagnosis and treatment. Until now, the pathogenesis of FGIDs remains unclear. Disorders of gastrointestinal motility (DGIMs), organ hypersensitivity, brain-gut interactions, mucosal inflammation and immune, psychological and social factors are generally accepted as the causes of FGIDs. At present, there is no satisfactory treatment in Western medicine, merely symptomatic treatments and combination therapy. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the cause of FGIDs is closely connected with the functional disorder of the liver and spleen. The basic pathogenesis is stagnation of liver qi and dysfunction of the spleen in transportation. A holistic view and syndrome differentiation have been applied to the treatment of FGIDs to regulate organ function and achieve balance of yin and yang, which is the healthy condition of the body. A lot of clinical researches have shown that the curative effect of TCM in FGIDs treatment is significant.