Professor Shen Shuwen’s Experience in Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease based on the Theory of “Tonifying Deficiency, Remove Stagnation, Descending as well as Moistening”

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent disease in the diagnosis and treatment of internal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. In the face of the challenges posed by modern medicine’s limited drug treatment options and high-risk adverse reactions, traditional Chinese medicine offers advantages in terms of better efficacy and broader application prospects. Professor Shen Shuwen summarized clinical experience and proposed that the pathological characteristics of GERD lie in three aspects: “deficiency, impediment, and reflux”. In terms of treatment, he emphasized” tonifying deficiency, remove stagnation, descending as well as moistening”. His clinical efficacy has been quite fruitful. This article reveals Professor Shen Shuwen’s unique academic thoughts and underlying traditional Chinese medicine theories by organizing his experience in prescribing herbal formulas for the treatment of GERD.