Pathogenesis Evolution of Depression from the Perspective of"Earth Stagnation and Wood Depression"and the Intervention Mechanism of Xiaoyao San Based on the"Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis"
TONG Jiaxi
MA Qingyu
HAO Wenzhi
LIU Yueyun
LI Xiaojuan
CHEN Jiaxu
Abstract：Currently,the incidence of depression is increasing annually,placing it among the top global burden of diseases.In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),depression is classified under the category of"depression syndrome",with"earth stagnation and wood depression"being a key link in the evolution of its deficiency-excess pathogenesis.Modern research has found that gut microbiota dysbiosis can affect the emotional regulation function of the limbic system through neural,endocrine,immune,and metabolic pathways of the"microbiota-gut-brain axis"(MGBA),thereby inducing depression.The mapping and coupling between the pathogenesis of"earth stagnation and wood depression"and the biological mechanism of"gut microbiota-limbic system dysfunction"provide a new perspective on the modern scientific connotation of depression pathogenesis.The classic formula Xiaoyao San,adhering to the therapeutic principle of"fortifying the earth to nourish the wood",can alleviate depressive symptoms by correcting MGBA imbalances.This paper aims to integrate the TCM pathogenesis theory of"earth stagnation and wood depression"with the scientific connotation of the MGBA,systematically explaining the multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms of Xiaoyao San in intervening in the MGBA to treat depression.It provides new insights and perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of depression in both TCM and Western medicine.
Keywords：Microbiota-gut-brain axis(MGBA)Earth stagnation and wood depressionXiaoyao SanDepressionGut microbiotaLimbic system
Publication Date：2026-03-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-31(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 562-566 )