The Research Review of Pathogenesis, Etiology, Therapeutical Principle and Method of NAFLD in TCM

In recent years, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing with a low-age tendency. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as an effective therapy of NAFLD. The study on its etiology, pathogenesis, therapeutic principles and methods can provide new perspectives for the TCM treatments. This paper summarizes the progress in etiology of NAFLD with TCM in recent years, which can be concluded in the improper diet, overwork, emotional disorder, kidney asthenia of the elderly, TCM constitution, delayed disease progression and six exogenous pathogenic factors. Based on the theory of deficiency as primary and excess as secondary, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is related to dysfunctions of the liver, spleen as well as kidney and pathological products of the phlegm, dampness and stagnant blood. In terms of the pathogenesis and etiology, the therapeutic principles and methods can be divided into three points. Firstly, treating the primary focuses on soothing the liver and fortifying the spleen, warming yang for diuresis, dispersing liver qi for relieving qi stagnation, warming kidney for elevating yang. Secondly, treating the secondary puts emphasis on resolving phlegm and eliminating turbid, activating blood and resolving stasis. Thirdly, treating both primary and secondary concentrates on soothing the liver and fortifying the spleen combined with activating blood and resolving stasis, dispersing liver qi for relieving qi stagnation combined with eliminating dampness and heat, purging liver and gallbladder combined with dissipating phlegm and removing blood stasis, strengthening spleen and replenishing qi combined with dissipating phlegm and removing blood stasis, invigorating spleen and kidney combined with resolving phlegm and eliminating turbid.