Effect of modified Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction in the treatment of cold-wet type lumbar disc herniation

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of modified Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction in the treatment of cold-wet type lumbar disc herniation(LDH), and its mechanism.

MethodsA total of 130 patients with cold-wet type LDH were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group(65 cases in each group).The control group was treated with conventional treatments such as western medicine and traction, and the observation group was additionally treated with modified Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction based on the control group for 6 weeks.The Oswestry dysfunction index(ODI), pain visual analogue(VAS) score, JOA Low Back Pain Score, levels of serum pain mediator and inflammatory factors, and TCM syndrome score in two groups before and after treatment were compared, and the comprehensive efficacy in two groups was evaluated.

ResultsAfter treatment, the VAS score and ODI significantly decreased, and the JOA score significantly increased in two groups compared with before treatment(P < 0.01).After treatment, the VAS score and ODI in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group, and the JOA score in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group(P < 0.01).After treatment, the serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), prostaglandin E2(PEG2), and serotonin(5-HT)significantly decreased in two groups, and wich in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group(P < 0.01).After treatment, the scores of TCM syndromes(such as waist and leg pain, cold pain increasing, unfavorable flexion and extension, numbness and coldness, nighttime pain) in two groups significantly decreased, and which in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group(P < 0.01).The total effective rate in observation group(91.11%) was significantly higher than that in control group(77.78%)(P < 0.05).

ConclusionsOn the basis of conventional treatment, the treatment of modified Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction can effectively improve the symptoms of cold-wet type LDH low back pain, and improve the short-term curative effect, which may be related to the decreasing of inflammatory reaction and pain medium level induced by modified Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction.