苍术及其有效成分的消化系统药理作用主要包括抗胃溃疡、促进胃排空、调节胃肠推进运动、抗腹泻、利胆和保肝以及提高消化吸收功能作用。苍术可通过阻断H₂受体抑制胃酸分泌，抑制胃组织炎性因子过度表达产生抗胃溃疡作用。苍术还可通过阻断5-羟色胺受体，提高血清和胃组织的胃泌素、三叶因子水平，增加胃黏膜血流量，促进胃黏膜生长和修复，产生抗溃疡作用。而苍术促进胃排空和胃肠推进运动主要与其抑制中枢促皮质素释放因子的释放和刺激迷走神经以及促进胃肠激素胃泌素、胃动素释放，抑制血管活性肠肽释放和5-羟色胺-3受体，提高胃肠组织Cajal间质细胞数量有关。抗炎作用是苍术抗腹泻的主要机制。

The pharmacologic action of Atractylodis Rhizoma and its effective constituents in digestive system includes mainly anti-ulcer activity, acceleration of gastric emptying, regulation of gastrointestinal propellant movement, antidiarrheal effect, choleretic effect, hepatoprotection, and promotion of digestive and absorptive function. Atractylodis Rhizoma decreases gastric acid secretion via blockade of H₂-receptor, and inhibits overexpression of inflammatory cytokines in gastric tissues to produce anti-ulcer effect. Atractylodis Rhizoma increases gastric mucosal blood flow, and improves growth and reparation of gastric mucosa to produce anti-ulcer effect by blockade of 5-TH receptor, and elevating levels of gastrin and trefoil factor in serum and gastric tissues. Atractylodis Rhizoma accelerating gastric emptying and gastrointestinal propellant movement is relative to decreasing release of central corticotropin-releasing factor, and stimulating vagal nerve, and promoting secretion of gastrin and motilin, and inhibiting secretion of vasoactive intestinal peptide, and blocking 5-HT-3receptor, and increasing amount of interstitial cell of Cajal.