Wang treated 48 cases of anxiety neurosis with a formula called Ning Shen Ding Zhi Tang. The formula consisted of: Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu, Fu Ling, Tai Zi Shen, Suan Zhao Ren, Hu Po, Dang Gui, Gou Qi Zi, Shi Chang Pu, Wu Wei Zi, and Zhi Gan Cao. The herbal treatment was supplemented by psychological care (e.g., comforting and explanation), and one unit of treatment lasted 7 days. The results: 36 cases significantly improved, 10 cases improved, and 2 cases did not respond to the treatment, with a total effective rate of 95.8%.( 2)
The formula Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang was used in one study to treat 32 cases of neurosis. It significantly improved restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, tendency towards fatigue, and insecure feelings, etc. Compared to another group treated with both the herbal formula and anti-anxiety Western medicine, the treatment with the herbal formula alone was more effective (with a total effective rate of 81.3%).( 3) Shao treated 236 cases of neurasthenia and anxiety neurosis according to TCM's differentiation theory: patients with stagnation of the liver-qi were treated with Chai Hu, Bai Shao, Yuan Hu Suo, Xiang Fu, Qin Pi, Dang Gui, Zhi Zi, Dan Pi, Zhen Zhu Mu, Fu Ling, and Ci Shi; patients with heart and spleen deficiencies were treated with Dang Shen, Bai Zhu, Chuan Xiong, Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Huang Qi, Yuan Zhi, Fu Ling, Zao Ren, Long Yan Rou, and Gan Cao; patients suffering from melancholy were treated with Gan Cao, Xiao Mai, Bo Zi Ren, Zao Ren, He Huan Pi, Fu Shen, and Da Zhao; and patients with blood stasis due to qi deficiency were treated with Huang Qi, Yu Jin, Bai Zhu, Yuan Zhi, Chang Pu, Fu Ling, Yi Mu Cao, Ji Xue Teng, Zao Ren, and Fo Shou. The results: the treatment was effective on 75.3% of the neurasthenia patients, and effective on 80% of the anxiety neurosis patients.( 4) Xu used the formula Jia Wei Xiao Yao San to treat 42 cases of liver-qi stagnation manifested as melancholy and anxiety, and reported a total effective rate of 97.62% (73.80% significantly effective, and 2.38% did not respond to the treatment).( 5) Li, et al. treated 90 cases of anxiety and depression with a formula called Bao Nao Ning. The formula consisted of: Dan Nan Xing, Hu Po, Fu Shen, Shi Chang Pu, Huang Jing, Dang Shen, etc., and one unit of treatment lasted 1-3 weeks. The results: the effective rates for anxiety, palpitation, depression, and insomnia were 96.4%, 90%, 87.3%, and 78.1%, respectively.( 6) Zhao, et al. used a formula called Yi Lu Kang to treat 90 cases of neurotic anxiety and another 90 cases of neurotic depression. The formula consisted of Chen Xiang, Yu Jin, Chai Hu, Mu Xiang, Fo Shou, Shan Yao, Chang, Niu Huang, Zhu Sha, Hu Po, Zao Ren, and Yuan Zhi. Two comparison groups were treated with amitriptyline and alprazolam, respectively. The treatment lasted 30 days. The results: of the neurotic anxiety patients, 61 were resolved, 12 significantly improved, 8 improved, and 9 did not respond to the treatment; of the neurotic depression patients, the corresponding numbers were 31, 16, 24, and 19; both sets of numbers were significantly different from those of the comparison groups (P<0.01).( 7) Liu, et al. used a Chinese patent medicine called Shen An Kang Jiao Rang to treat 121 cases of neurasthenia and anxiety due to stagnation of the liver-qi and fire hyperactivity. A comparison group of 61 cases was treated with Shu Le An Ding. The results: the treatment was effective on 78.51% of the neurasthenia patients, and effective on 68.85% of the anxiety patients.( 8) |