Mechanisms and Treatment Efficacy of Massage: An Exploration through the Lens of the Gut-Brain Axis Theory

脑肠轴理论为阐释中医推拿疗效提供了现代科学依据。本文从脑肠轴的神经–免疫–内分泌网络及肠道菌群调控视角切入，浅析了推拿通过刺激迷走神经、调节5-HT及脑肠肽释放、重构肠道微生态等途径改善脑功能与胃肠互动的机制。同时结合中医经络、气机升降理论及脏腑功能整体观，佐证了推拿对多脏腑的协同调节作用。然而，现有研究在分子机制及临床证据等级上仍存局限，未来通过多组学技术的应用，以期实现对推拿治疗效应的深层次机制研究，为加强推拿的治疗效应提供更加科学、有效的方法。The gut-brain axis theory has established a modern scientific framework for interpreting the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese massage. This review examines the mechanisms by which massage therapy improves cerebral-gastrointestinal interactions through three principal pathways: vagus nerve stimulation, modulation of 5-HT and gut-brain peptide secretion, and intestinal microbiome reconstruction, as viewed through the neuro-immune-endocrine network and gut microbiota regulation within the gut-brain axis paradigm. The analysis integrates fundamental TCM concepts including meridian theory, qi dynamics, and the holistic perspective of visceral functions, highlighting its synergistic regulatory effects on multiple visceral systems. Current limitations persist in elucidating molecular mechanisms and hierarchical clinical evidence. Future investigations employing multi-omics technologies are anticipated to reveal deeper therapeutic mechanisms, thereby advancing scientific methodologies to enhance the clinical efficacy of massage interventions.