Mingmen Fire Exhaustion and the Tumor Microenvironment: A Hypothesis Connecting Traditional Tonic Therapy to Modern Oncology

Abstract

Objective: To construct a systematic explanatory hypothesis model based on the theory of Mingmen Fire Exhaustion and advances in tumor microenvironment (TME) research. Methods: By integrating the TCM Mingmen theory with modern TME research, this study analyzes the issue at the metabolic, immunological, and microcirculatory levels. Results: Mingmen Fire Exhaustion may participate in TME formation through systemic energy metabolism disorders, neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network dysfunction, and microcirculatory perfusion insufficiency; the TME may in turn exacerbate systemic functional imbalance through feedback mechanisms. Conclusion: The proposed “Mingmen Fire Exhaustion–TME” hierarchical hypothesis provides a theoretical framework for the Mingmen-warming tonic approach, yet requires further experimental and clinical validation.