Introduction: why TCM for NAFLD?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 25% of the global adult population – approximately 1.9 billion people. The spectrum ranges from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD is the fastest-growing indication for liver transplantation in women.
Conventional treatments (lifestyle intervention, weight loss, pioglitazone, vitamin E, GLP-1 agonists) have limitations: limited efficacy, side effects, and no approved medication for NASH in the EU/USA.
In China, TCM interventions – particularly herbal formulas such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (六味地黄丸), Yinchenhao Tang (茵陈蒿汤), Xiao Yao San (逍遥散), and acupuncture – have been used for centuries for phlegm-damp, liver-qi stagnation, spleen-qi deficiency, and liver-kidney yin deficiency.
Modern research reveals that TCM:
- Improves insulin resistance
- Modulates gut microbiota
- Normalizes lipid metabolism
- Reduces hepatic steatosis
- Inhibits liver fibrosis
This article integrates the latest insights and provides practical treatment protocols for TCM practitioners.
