Harmonize middle burner

"Harmonize middle burner" (He Zhong) is a therapeutic principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focused on restoring the functional balance of the "Middle Jiao," which primarily comprises the Spleen and Stomach systems. This strategy is employed to treat disharmony characterized by symptoms such as epigastric fullness, nausea, and digestive irregularities, often resulting from a combination of cold and heat or deficiency and excess within the digestive tract. While the term describes the pharmacological effect of various herbal formulas, it does not refer to a single protein, receptor, or discrete molecular entity in Western pharmacology. Modern research into formulas that harmonize the middle burner, such as Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang, suggests they exert multi-target effects including the regulation of gastrointestinal motility, modulation of the gut microbiota, and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, "harmonize middle burner" is classified as a clinical action or therapeutic strategy rather than a specific biological target for drug development.

Other names

He ZhongHarmonize the Spleen and StomachHarmonizing the Middle JiaoRegulating the Middle BurnerHe Zhong Jiao

Restoration of the ascending and descending Qi dynamics of the Spleen and Stomach, resolving cold-heat complexes, and regulating gastrointestinal mucosal integrity.