Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Breakthrough Point in Integrative Medical Research: Challenge of Treating Overlapping Symptoms in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

  • Thinking and Methodology
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common disorders that are characterized by persistent and recurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Many patients with FGIDs have overlapping symptoms, which impaired the quality of life and ability to work of patients, and left a considerable impact on health-care systems and society. Chinese medicines (CMs) are commonly utilized by many patients with FGIDs. This article discusses the current status of diagnosis and treatment of FGIDs, the advantages and characteristics of CM treatment, and how integrated medicine can make a breakthrough in FGIDs diagnosis and treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ke MY. Functional gastrointestinal disorders are not just simple disorders of functions. Chin J Pract Intern Med (Chin) 2006;26:721–722.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cremonini F, Talley NJ. The overlap between functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome-a tale of one or two disorders?. Aliment Pharmacol Therapeutic 2004;20:40–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Masuy I, van Oudenhove L, Tack J. Review article: treatment options for functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Therapeutics 2019;49:1134–1172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tan N, Gwee KA, Tack J, Zhang M, LI Y, Chen M, et al. Herbal medicine in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: a systematic review with metaanalysis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020;35:544–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Xiong L, Gong X, Siah KTH, Pratap N, Ghoshal UC, Abdullah M, et al. Rome foundation Asian working team report: real world treatment experience of Asian patients with functional bowel disorders. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017;32:1450–1456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lv L, Wang FY, Ma XX, Li ZH, Huang SP, Shi ZH, et al. Efficacy and safety of Xiangsha Liujunzi Granules for functional dyspepsia: a multi-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. World J Gastroenterol 2017;30:5589–5601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Aziz I, Palsson OS, Törnblom H, Sperber AD, Whitehead WE, Simrén M. Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and associations for symptom-based Rome IV functional dyspepsia in adults in the USA, Canada, and the UK: a cross-sectional population-based study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018;3:252–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Rasmussen S, Jensen TH, Henriksen SL, Haastrup PF, Larsen PV, Jens Sondergaard, et al. Overlap of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome in the general population. Scandinavian J Gastroenterol 2015;50:162–169.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wang A, Liao XH, Xiong LS, Sui P, Chen MH. The clinical overlap between functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome based on Rome III criteria. BMC Gastroenterol 2008;8:1–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Von Wulffen M, Talley NJ, Hammer J, McMaster J, Holtmann G. Overlap of irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia in the clinical setting: prevalence and risk factors. Digest Dis Sci 2019;64:480–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. De Bortoli N, Martinucci I, Bellini M. Overlap of functional heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol 2013;19:5787.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ghoshal UC, Singh R. Frequency, and risk factors of functional gastro-intestinal disorders in a rural Indian population. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017;32:378–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Yao X, Yang YS, Cui LH, Gang S, Xiao LZ. The overlap of upper functional gastrointestinal disorders with irritable bowel syndrome in Chinese outpatients: a multicenter study. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016;31:1584–1593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lu CL, Lang HC, Chang FY, Chen CY, Luo JC, Wang SS, et al. Prevalence and health/social impacts of functional dyspepsia in Taiwan: a study based on the Rome criteria questionnaire survey assisted by endoscopic exclusion among a physical check-up population. Scand J Gastroenterol 2005;4:402–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Pleyer C, Bittner H, Locke III GR, Choung RS, Zinsmeister AR, Schleck CD, et al. Overdiagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease and underdiagnosis of functional dyspepsia in a USA community. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014;26:1163–1171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Song ZQ, Ke MY, Wang ZF, Liu XH, Fang XC. Dyspeptic symptomatology and pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia with and without overlapping symptoms: a comparative study. Chin J Gastroenterol 2006;11:458–461.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Koloski NA, Jones M, Talley NJ. Evidence that independent gut-to-brain and brain-to-gut pathways operate in the irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia: a 1-year population-based prospective study. Aliment Pharmacol Therapeutic 2016;44:592–600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pinto-Sanchez MI, Ford AC, Avila CA, Verdu EF, Collins SM, Morgan D. Anxiety and depression increase in a stepwise manner in parallel with multiple FGIDs and symptom severity and frequency. Am J Gastroenterol 2015;110:1038–1048.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Piacentino D, Cantarini R, Alfonsi M, Crudeli A, Vernia P, Biondi M. Psychopathological features of irritable bowel syndrome patients with and without functional dyspepsia: a cross sectional study. BMC Gastroenterol 2011;11:1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Savas LS, White DL, Wieman M, Daci K, Fitzgerald S, Laday Smith S, et al. irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia among women veterans: prevalence and association with psychological distress. Aliment Pharmacol Therapeutic 2009;29:115–125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ke MY, Song ZQ. New considerations on overlapping symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Chin J Gastroenterol 2006;11:449–450.

    Google Scholar 

  22. De Bortoli N, Tolone S, Frazzoni M, Martinucci I, Sgherri G, Albano E, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome: common overlapping gastrointestinal disorders. Annals Gastroenterol 2018;31:639.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Chandran S, Prakrithi SN, Mathur S, Rao T. A review of functional gastrointestinal disorders: a primer for mental health professionals. Arch Mental Health 2018;19:70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Morris-Yates A, Talley NJ, Boyce PM, Nandurkar BSJ, Gavin A. Evidence of a genetic contribution to functional bowel disorder. Am J Gastroenterol 1998;93:1311–1317.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, Ghoshal UC, Simren M, Tack J, et al. Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study. Gastroenterology 2021;160:99–114. e3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Peery AF, Dellon ES, Lund J, Crockett SD, McGowan CE, Bulsiewicz WJ, et al. Burden of gastrointestinal disease in the United States: 2012 update. Gastroenterology 2012;143:1179–1187. e3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zou DW. Development of gastrointestinal motility and functional gastrointestinal disorders in the past 40 years. Chin J Digest (Chin) 2021;41:145–148.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Liu Q, Shi Z, Zhang T, Jiang T, Luo X, Su X, et al. Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Xiao Yao San in functional gastrointestinal disorders: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Pharmacol 2022;12:821802.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Yang DY. Clinical observation on Simo Decoction for treating functional gastrointestinal disorders with Gan and Pi qi stagnation syndrome. Guangming J Chin Med (Chin) 2018;33:2535–2537.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Xu SP, Zha H, Hou XH, Gao Z, Zhang Y, Chen JDZ. Electroacupuncture accelerates solid gastric emptying in patients with functional dyspepsia. Gastroenterol 2004;126:A437.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Tang X, Zhang S, Hou X, Li ZH, Chen SN, Feng PM, et al. Postmarketing re-evaluation of Tongxiening Granules in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy and positive control trial. Chin J Integr Med 2019;25:887–894.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Liu BY, Wu J, Yan SY, Zhou KH, He LY, Fang JQ, et al. Electroacupuncture vs prucalopride for severe chronic constipation: a multicenter, randomized, controlled, noninferiority trial. Am J Gastroenterol 2021;116:1024–1035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Cremonini F. Standardized herbal treatments on functional bowel disorders: moving from putative mechanisms of action to controlled clinical trials. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014;26:893–900.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Xiao HT, Zhong L, Tsang SW, Lin ZS, Bian ZX. Traditional Chinese medicine formulas for irritable bowel syndrome: from ancient wisdoms to scientific understandings. Am J Chin Med 2015;43:1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Xiao YL, Li YW, Shu JC, Li Y, Xu JM, Liu DL, et al. The efficacy of oral Zhizhu Kuanzhong, a traditional Chinese medicine, in patients with postprandial distress syndrome. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019;34:526–531.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Cai FF, Zhou WJ, Wu R, Su SB. Systems biology approaches in the study of Chinese herbal formulae. Chin Med 2018;13:65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Lo HY, Li CC, Huang HC, Lin LJ, Hsiang CY, Ho TY. Application of transcriptomics in Chinese herbal medicine studies. J Tradit Complement Med 2012;2:105–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Spleen and Stomach Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China

    Xu-dong Tang & Xiang-xue Ma

Authors
  1. Xu-dong Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiang-xue Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xu-dong Tang.

Additional information

Supported by Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. ZYYCXTD-C-202010), National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2019YFC1709604)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tang, Xd., Ma, Xx. A Breakthrough Point in Integrative Medical Research: Challenge of Treating Overlapping Symptoms in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 28, 554–559 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3534-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-022-3534-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation