Leaky Gut

In Western medicine, leaky gut syndrome is considered a pathological state in which the intestinal wall becomes permeable to bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles, resulting in systemic inflammation and hyper-immune responses (Fasano, A., 2012, "Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Diseases," Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology). Emerging research indicates a direct correlation between intestinal permeability, altered gut microbiota, and various chronic illnesses (Bischoff et al., 2014, "Intestinal Permeability–A New Target for Disease Prevention and Therapy," BMC Gastroenterology). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attributes leaky gut syndrome to imbalances like Spleen Qi and Yang deficiencies. A weakened spleen fails in its role of transporting 'food Qi' and transforming fluids effectively, while Yang deficiency causes cold-induced stagnation of blood and Qi (Liu, J. et al., 2016, "Spleen-Deficiency Syndrome in Irritable Bowel Syndrome," Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine). These divergent yet complementary perspectives offer a holistic lens through which to understand and address gastrointestinal permeability.