From the perspective of α-diversity, this study did not observe significant changes in the α-diversity indices before and after the intervention. β-diversity analysis and ANOSIM tests showed no statistically significant differences in gut microbial community structure among the three groups (P > 0.05). These results indicate that the intervention with Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 did not cause substantial changes in gut microbiota diversity or overall structure. This may be due to the small sample size and high individual variability, which could have masked the effects of the intervention on α-diversity. Additionally, the relatively short intervention period might mean that the regulatory effects of Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 on gut microbial richness and diversity require a longer time to manifest. The core function of Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 may be to modulate the abundance of specific microbial taxa rather than simply increasing microbial diversity. This "trend towards recovery" aligns with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, which emphasizes "strengthening the body's defenses and gradual adjustment," in contrast to the rapid bactericidal effects of Western antibiotics. This finding is consistent with the conclusions of Liu et al. (2022), who found that TCM interventions in COPD patients primarily involved targeted regulation of specific microbial taxa rather than significant changes in microbial diversity. This highlights the unique advantages of TCM in treating chronic diseases, emphasizing its approach of "individualized treatment and precise regulation."