Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Peripheral Neurologic Complications of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine on peripheral neurologic complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS).【Methods】Fifty-nine patients with peripheral neurologic complications of AIDS were divided into groups A and B.Group A(N=36) was treated with oral use of modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction and external application of decoction of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis,Fructus Cnidii,Semen Persicae,Rhizoma Chuanxiong,Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Herba Menthae.Group B(N=23) received vitamin B_1 an B_(12) and energy mixture.The therapeutic effects in the two groups were evaluated after 2-month treatment.【Results】In group A,15 were markedly effective,17 effective,4 ineffective,and the total effective rate was 88.89%;in group B,5 were markedly effective,7 effective,11 ineffective,and the total effective rate was 52.17%.The therapeutic effect in group A was superior to that in group B(P0.01).【Conclusion】Chinese herbal medicine with the actions of strengthening Qi and activating blood,dredging meridians and collaterals can relieve the peripheral neuropathy in patients with AIDS.