Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis

Treatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are foundational to their theoretical, methodological, formulaic, and pharmacological systems, significantly contributing to syndrome differentiation and therapy. The principle of “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” is a common th...

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Main Authors: Donglin Yu, Junxi Shen, Liwen Li, Qi Long, Shiqin Xie, Mengsi Zhou, Qianghong Tian, Ying Cai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1523708/full
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author Donglin Yu
Junxi Shen
Liwen Li
Qi Long
Shiqin Xie
Mengsi Zhou
Qianghong Tian
Ying Cai
author_facet Donglin Yu
Junxi Shen
Liwen Li
Qi Long
Shiqin Xie
Mengsi Zhou
Qianghong Tian
Ying Cai
author_sort Donglin Yu
collection DOAJ
description Treatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are foundational to their theoretical, methodological, formulaic, and pharmacological systems, significantly contributing to syndrome differentiation and therapy. The principle of “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” is a common therapeutic approach in TCM. The core concept is “promoting the dispersion and drainage of water dampness, regulating urination to relieve diarrhea,” yet its scientific underpinning remains unclear. Modern medical treatment for watery diarrhea primarily focuses on electrolyte replenishment, as diuretics may lead to dehydration and other side effects. Some reports suggest that this TCM approach lacks scientific validity. Microecology, an area associated with the origins of TCM, is closely related to the development, diagnosis, and treatment of diarrhea. The renal-intestinal axis offers a molecular biological basis for examining associated pathological mechanisms, advancing therapeutic targets such as “treating the intestine to address kidney issues” and highlighting the interactions within the “renal-intestinal microbiota-liquid metabolism” framework, thus providing an endogenous mechanism to support “treating the intestine through the kidney.” An increasing number of studies have shown that the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, as unique mediators, are involved in the physiological and pathological changes of the body. Therefore, this study explores the relationship between fluid metabolism and diarrhea from the perspective of the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, aiming to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” therapeutic approach and to clarify the scientific basis for treating diarrhea via the renal-intestinal axis. This research provides new insights for the study of TCM microbiology.
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spelling doaj-art-6517c96a965540d8aeff4bcda8710a3e2025-08-20T02:45:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-01-011410.3389/fcimb.2024.15237081523708Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axisDonglin YuJunxi ShenLiwen LiQi LongShiqin XieMengsi ZhouQianghong TianYing CaiTreatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are foundational to their theoretical, methodological, formulaic, and pharmacological systems, significantly contributing to syndrome differentiation and therapy. The principle of “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” is a common therapeutic approach in TCM. The core concept is “promoting the dispersion and drainage of water dampness, regulating urination to relieve diarrhea,” yet its scientific underpinning remains unclear. Modern medical treatment for watery diarrhea primarily focuses on electrolyte replenishment, as diuretics may lead to dehydration and other side effects. Some reports suggest that this TCM approach lacks scientific validity. Microecology, an area associated with the origins of TCM, is closely related to the development, diagnosis, and treatment of diarrhea. The renal-intestinal axis offers a molecular biological basis for examining associated pathological mechanisms, advancing therapeutic targets such as “treating the intestine to address kidney issues” and highlighting the interactions within the “renal-intestinal microbiota-liquid metabolism” framework, thus providing an endogenous mechanism to support “treating the intestine through the kidney.” An increasing number of studies have shown that the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, as unique mediators, are involved in the physiological and pathological changes of the body. Therefore, this study explores the relationship between fluid metabolism and diarrhea from the perspective of the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, aiming to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” therapeutic approach and to clarify the scientific basis for treating diarrhea via the renal-intestinal axis. This research provides new insights for the study of TCM microbiology.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1523708/fullrenal-intestinal axispromoting urination to regulate bowel movementsdiarrheaintestinal microbiotaTCMfluid metabolism
spellingShingle Donglin Yu
Junxi Shen
Liwen Li
Qi Long
Shiqin Xie
Mengsi Zhou
Qianghong Tian
Ying Cai
Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
renal-intestinal axis
promoting urination to regulate bowel movements
diarrhea
intestinal microbiota
TCM
fluid metabolism
title Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis
title_full Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis
title_fullStr Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis
title_short Investigating the biological significance of the TCM principle “promoting urination to regulate bowel movements” through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal-intestinal axis
title_sort investigating the biological significance of the tcm principle promoting urination to regulate bowel movements through the influence of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites on the renal intestinal axis
topic renal-intestinal axis
promoting urination to regulate bowel movements
diarrhea
intestinal microbiota
TCM
fluid metabolism
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1523708/full
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