Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine (동의생리병리학회지)

The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and The Society of Pathology in Korean Medicine (대한동의생리학회·한의병리학회)
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Mechanistic Exploration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review of Randomized Controlled Trials within the Last Five Years

자폐 스펙트럼 장애의 중의학 치료에 대한 기전탐색: 최근 5개년 무작위 배정 임상연구 중심의 서술적 고찰

  • Jaehee Sim (Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University) ;
  • Bo-in Kwon (Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University) ;
  • Yeonju Woo (Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University) ;
  • Joo-Hee Kim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University) ;
  • Jin-woo Suh (Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University) ;
  • Dong Hyuk Lee (Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University)
  • 심재희 (상지대학교 한의과대학 해부학교실) ;
  • 권보인 (상지대학교 한의과대학 병리학교실) ;
  • 우연주 (상지대학교 한의과대학 생리학교실) ;
  • 김주희 (상지대학교 한의과대학 침구의학교실) ;
  • 서진우 (상지대학교 한의과대학 한방신경정신과학교실) ;
  • 이동혁 (상지대학교 한의과대학 해부학교실)
  • Received : 2026.01.26
  • Accepted : 2026.02.19
  • Published : 2026.02.25
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Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and repetitive behaviors. As definitive treatments have yet to be established, there is a significant unmet need for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). The objective of this study was to investigate the current status and therapeutic mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) involving ASD patients over the past five years. We conducted a comprehensive search of ASD-related TCM RCTs on the CNKI database on December 29, 2025. Following the search, studies were manually selected based on the inclusion criteria. Finally, 14 studies that explored therapeutic mechanisms were included for this analysis. Acupuncture-related research accounted for the majority at 78%, with scalp acupuncture being the most frequently utilized technique. Additionally, various specialized acupuncture methods and acupoint selection based on TCM pattern identification were employed. Herbal medicine studies utilized formulas such as Modified Guipi decoction and Zengye Chengqi decoction, while other modalities including Chuna (manual therapy) and thread-embedding therapy were also identified. Clinical instruments such as Child Autism Rating Scale(CARS) and Autism Behavior Checklist(ABC) served as the primary tools for quantifying ASD symptoms. All included studies demonstrated more significant symptomatic improvement in the treatment groups compared to the control groups following intervention. Regarding the exploration of TCM mechanisms, the most prevalent research themes included the modulation of neurotransmitters, anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects, synaptic remodeling, and the regulation of the gut-brain axis microbiota. Furthermore, the use of neuroimaging techniques was identified to investigate the enhancement of white matter microstructure and changes in brain functional microstates. Future research should incorporate larger sample sizes, more homogeneous participant groups, and cutting-edge technologies-including advanced neuroimaging-to deepen our understanding of ASD and further elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms of Traditional Korean Medicine methodologies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 보건복지부의 재원으로 한국보건산업진흥원의 보건의료기술연구개발사업 지원에 의하여 이루어진 것입니다 (RS-2024-00443159). 이 성과는 정부(과학기술정보통신부)의 재원으로 한국기초과학 지원연구원 국가연구시설장비진흥센터의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구입니다(RS-2024-00403722). 또한 2025년도 교육부 및 강원특별자치도의 재원으로 강원 RISE센터의 지원을 받아 수행된 지역혁신중심 대학지원체계(RISE)의 결과물입니다(2025-RISE-10-005).

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