Interstitial lung disease associated with Sjögren syndrome belongs to the category of "arthralgia caused by dryness pathogen" in traditional Chinese medicine

and it is generally believed that its pathogenesis is centered on internal dryness

which is caused by internal heat and burning of body fluid due to the lack of innate endowment or external dryness. The metabolism of water and grain essence is slow

and excessive accumulation of grain essence or abnormal transportation and transformation can lead to turbidity

and the accumulation of turbidity is the basis for the development of turbid poison. Turbid poison has the characteristics of poisonous evil

its nature is harsh

it is more likely to consume qi and blood

and it has the characteristics of agglutination

stagnation and filth. Turbid poison can be classified as a class of original poison. The original base of its transformation is turbidity from the grain essence. If the grain essence is transformed into a mellow and moist essence

alienation is brewed into the turbidity of corruption. The formation of turbid poison caused by spleen deficiency is a process of gradual accumulation

which can damage the internal organs and is complex and easily recurring. We believe that deficiency of the spleen and stomach is the source of dryness and that turbid poison with phlegm and blood stasis in the middle jiao and lung channels is the key factor aggravating the dryness. The theory of turbid poison of spleen and stomach covers the whole disease process. In the early stage

the spleen and stomach are deficient and the turbidity gathers at the beginning

which hinders qi and injures body fluid. In the middle stage

the turbidity breeds turbid poison

which leads to heat with phlegm and blood stasis. In the late stage

the turbid poison accumulates to form a mass

which can damage various organs. Clinical treatment should be based on the degree of turbid poison

blocking the source of turbid poison in the early stage

paying attention to the protection of body fluid

dredging the meridians by detoxification in the middle and late stage and taking in energy to restore the vital qi. The symptoms and signs of interstitial lung disease associated with Sjögren syndrome are consistent with the characteristics of turbid poison invading the human body. The theory of turbid poison of spleen and stomach can provide a new idea for the differentiation and treatment of this disease in traditional Chinese medicine.