To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion in the treatment of spleen stomach weakness syndrome of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG).

The 98 CAG patients admitted to the Zhaoqing Gaoyao District People’s Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 who met the selection criteria were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table method, with 49 in each group. The control group received conventional western medicine treatment, and the observation group was treated with Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion on the basis of the control group. TCM symptom scores were performed before and after treatment, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA, and the levels of serum motilin (MLT), gastrin-17 (G17) and gastrin (gas) were detected by radioimmunoassay, the safety of medication was observed and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.

The total effective rate was 93.9% (46/49) in the observation group and 71.4% (35/49) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (χ²=8.611, P=0.043). After treatment, the scores of epigastric burning, fullness in stomach, dull appetite, dry mouth and bitter mouth, shortness of breath and unwillingness to speak, general lassitude, pale tongue, small and weak pulse in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t=12.061, 7.331, 6.869, 5.975, 5.208, 10.567, 8.738, 8.631, respectively, all Ps<0.01), and the levels of serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly lower than those in the control group (t=8.573,13.423,12.099, respectively, all Ps <0.01). After treatment, the level of serum MLT (154.52 ± 26.25 ng/L vs. 180.26 ± 28.13 ng/L, t=4.488) in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.01); the levels of G17 (14.28 ± 1.75 pmol/Lvs. 10.28 ± 1.06 pmol/L, t=-7.966) and GAS (24.73 ± 3.42 ng/L vs. 19.02 ± 3.38 ng/L, t=-13.115) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=-7.966 and -13.115, respectively, all Ps<0.01). During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions was 8.16% (4/49) in the observation group and 6.12% (3/49) in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (χ²=0.152, P=0.695).

Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion can alleviate the clinical symptoms of CAG patients with spleen stomach weakness syndrome, regulate the level of inflammatory cytokines, promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and improve the clinical curative effect.

Gastritis, atrophic; Spleen stomach weakness; Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction; Suspended moxibustion therapy