Research Advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

Abstract

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a common and recurrent digestive system disorder characterized by reduced gastric mucosal glands, thinning of the mucosa, and varying degrees of intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia. This condition is considered a critical transitional stage from normal gastric mucosa to gastric cancer, making its early prevention and treatment crucial for interrupting the inflammation-to-cancer progression. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has demonstrated unique advantages in preventing and treating CAG. It not only effectively alleviates clinical symptoms and slows disease progression but also achieves pathological reversal of gastric mucosal changes to some extent, thereby improving patients’ quality of life. This paper systematically reviews domestic and international research on TCM treatment for CAG over the past five years. It examines etiology and pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation and classification, therapeutic principles and methods, as well as various treatment modalities including herbal formulas and acupuncture. The study summarizes clinical efficacy and delves into the underlying mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory effects, immune regulation, mucosal repair promotion, and signaling pathway modulation. The aim is to provide theoretical foundations and clinical references for the integrated prevention and treatment of CAG through both TCM and Western medicine.