Treatment of Acne Vulgaris Based on TCM Syndrome Differentiation: An Observation of 64 Cases with Lung-heat and Spleen-deficiency

[Objective] To observe the therapeutic effect of Qingfei Jianpi Decoction (QJD) for the treatment of acne vulgaris (AV) . [Methods] One hundred and five cases of AV were randomized into two groups: group A (n =64) was treated with QJD, a prescription medicine mainly composed of Herba Houttuyniae, Cortex Lycii, Cortex Moutan, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Fici Simplicissimae, Radix Flemingiae Philippinensis, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Poria, etc. , and group B (n=41) with tetracycline for 4 weeks. After treatment, the therapeutic effect, changes of facial lesion and signs, and side effects were observed. A 3-month follow-up was made for the cured patients to investigate the recurrence rate. [Results] Facial lesion and seborrheic degree were relieved in group A, the difference being significant as compared with those before treatment (P0.05) while insignificant compared with group B (P0.05 ) . The therapeutic effect was better in group A than that in group B (P0.05) . As for the side effects, diarrhea occurred in one case of group A, vertigo and nausea occurred in 6 of group A. The result of follow-up showed that the recurrence rate was lower in group A than that in group B (P0.05) . [Conclusion] QJD is an effective medicine for the treatment of AV, and its therapeutic mechanism is worth further researching.