A major cause of both acute and chronic gastritis is infection of the stomach mucosa by a bacterial species named Helicobacter pylori. Usually, this bacterium first infects the stomach antrum (stomach mucosa without acid-producing cells) acutely and may progress to infect most or all of the stomach's mucosa over time (chronic gastritis) and remain there for years. This infection generates an initial strong inflammatory response and eventually, a long-term chronic inflammation with intestinal cell changes may develop. Another major cause of acute and chronic gastritis is the use (and overuse) of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Our TCM clinical practice has showed that integration of Chinese medicine and western medicine is a very good choice for this disease. When treating chronic erosive gastritis, Chinese doctors will take everything into consideration. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, there are some patterns of syndrome that lead to chronic erosive gastritis.
1. Pattern of Liver Fire Invading Stomach
2. Pattern of Spleen Qi Deficiency
3. Pattern of Excessive Heat Invading Stomach
4. Pattern of Stagnation of Blood