Stomach function harmonization

"Stomach function harmonization" (He Wei) is a foundational therapeutic principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rather than a discrete molecular target such as a receptor or enzyme. It refers to the restoration of the stomach's normal physiological state, particularly its 'descending' Qi function and coordination with the liver system. Modern pharmacological studies of herbal formulations that 'harmonize the stomach,' such as He-Wei-Decoction and Wei-Mi-Shu, indicate that they achieve therapeutic effects by modulating a complex network of targets. These include the IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis, TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathways, and various mucosal protective factors like COX-2 and Bcl-2 (PubMed: 41083380; Dove Medical Press, 2026). This holistic strategy is primarily employed to treat chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and gastric ulcers by reducing inflammation, promoting tissue repair, and normalizing gastrointestinal motility (PMC: 10452311).

Other names

Harmonizing the stomachHe WeiStomach harmonizationHe Wei Jiang NiSoothing the liver and harmonizing the stomach

Multi-targeted modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways (e.g., IL-6/STAT3, TLR4/NF-kappaB), inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhancement of gastric mucosal integrity via regulation of apoptotic and proliferative markers.