Advances in Traditional Chinese Medicine interventions for influenza A based on the gut-lung axis: modern evidence for the exterior-interior relationship between the lung and large intestine

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Source: Frontiers Medicine

Original: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1766424...

Published: 2026-02-25T00:00:00Z

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a common respiratory pathogen causing seasonal epidemics and severe infections with great health and economic burden. IAV infection disrupts the intestinal microbiota, and the resulting dysbiosis affects the state of the host both in the early and late stages of infection. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has shown significant potential in the treatment of IAV in recent years. This review is based on the TCM concept of the relationship between the outer and inner spaces of the lungs and colon, integrated with modern research on the gut-lung axis. Summarizes advances in mechanistic and preclinical evidence of Chinese herbal formulas, individual compounds, and polysaccharides in influenza A. Outlines research directions based on mechanisms and translational insights for future research.