Clinical efficacy of Anchang Decoction in treatment of liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Anchang Decoction in the treatment of the liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome of diarrhea- predominant irritable bowel syndrome( IBS- D) based on the evaluation of therapeutic effect on traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) syndrome,as well as the role of liver- soothing treatment in the liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome of IBS- D,and to provide a basis of evidence-based medicine for TCM treatment of IBS- D. Methods: A total of 120 IBS- D patients with the syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency were randomized into four groups: group A( Anchang Decoction group),group B( Tongxieyaofang group),group C( Chaihu Shugan Powder group),and group D( pinaverium bromide group). Each group was given the corresponding drug therapy,and the course of the treatment was 4 weeks. The patients’ symptoms and signs were recorded and TCM syndrome scores were obtained before and after treatment. Results: The groups A,B,and D had significant reductions in TCM syndrome scores after treatment( all P 0. 05). Group A had a significantly better overall outcome than groups B and C( both P 0. 05). Conclusion: Anchang Decoction has good clinical efficacy in the treatment of the liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome of IBS- D,suggesting that liver- soothing treatment plays an important role in the treatment of IBS- D.