H. pylori

In Western medicine, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is identified as a bacterium that incites inflammation and ulcers in the stomach and small intestines, primarily transmitted through direct contact with saliva, stool, and vomit (Malfertheiner et al., 2017; Gastroenterology). The bacterium becomes pathogenic through a series of steps, such as survival in stomach acid, movement toward epithelial cells, attaching via adhesins, and ultimately causing tissue damage through toxin release (Cover & Blaser, 2009, Journal of Clinical Investigation). In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attributes the condition to a Spleen imbalance, specifically an invasion of pathogenic Qi and a deficiency in vital Qi (Xia et al., 2011, Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine). TCM also suggests damp-heat conditions in the spleen and stomach, which provide a conducive environment for bacterial growth. Disharmonies can manifest in five patterns: spleen and stomach deficiency, damp-heat, stomach Yin deficiency, liver-stomach discord, and blood stasis in the stomach.