The Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Targeting Intestinal Flora based on the Theory of “Phlegm” in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a prevalent metabolic disorder among postmenopausal women, posing significant threats to their health. Recent studies indicate a close association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the pathogenesis of PMOP. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), PMOP falls under the categories of “bone impediment” (gubi,) and “bone wilting” (guwei,). As stated in the classical tenet “Phlegm complicates numerous disorders” (Bai bing duo you jian tan zhe,), phlegm-pathogenicity (tan xie) is also recognized as a key pathogenic factor in PMOP. This review explores connections between gut microbiota, phlegm-pathogenicity, and PMOP in terms of etiology and pathogenesis, while identifying common ground between gut microbiota and TCM phlegm-pathogenicity theory. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for treating PMOP through TCM phlegm-resolving approaches.