Real-World Efficacy Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with Sancai Pricking Method in the Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(ME/CFS)

WANG Ziyi; XU Mingyan; MA Yuxia; WANG Liyuan; ZHU Weining

doi:10.16295/j.cnki.0257-358x.2025.12.010

Abstract：Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction(柴胡加龙骨牡蛎汤)combined with Sancai pricking method in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome(ME/CFS)based on real-world evaluation.Methods:The diagnosis and treatment data of 400 patients with ME/CFS were collected and divided into the acupuncture group and the combination of acupuncture and medication group(combination group)according to the treatment methods.Patients in the acupuncture group were treated with Sancai pricking method,while those in the combination group were treated with oral administration of modified Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction on the basis of the Sancai pricking method.After 1∶1 propensity score matching(PSM),the baselines of the two groups were balanced and comparable.The fatigue scale-14(FS-14)score,the symptom checklist 90(SCL-90)score,fatigue syndrome mini-symptom score scale(SG)score,the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score,the improvement of clinical symptoms and safety of the two groups of patients before and after treatment were compared.Results:After correction by PSM,91 patients with baseline equilibrium in terms of age,gender,body mass index,disease duration,educational level,basic medical history,history of depression,smoking and drinking history,FS-14 score,SCL-90 score,SG score and TCM syndrome score were successfully matched in each group(P＞0.05).Compared with those before treatment,the FS-14 score,SG score and TCM syndrome score of both groups decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the SCL-90 score of the combination group decreased(P＜0.05)after treatment.In the intergroup comparison,after treatment,the FS-14 score,SCL-90 score and TCM syndrome score of the combination group were lower than those of the acupuncture group(P＜0.05).In terms of symptom improvement,after treatment,the incidence epigastric or hypochondriac pain,abdominal distension,general heaviness,fatigue and weakness,numbness or pain in limbs in the combination group was lower than that before treatment(P＜0.05),the incedence of abdominal distension,general heaviness,fatigue and weakness,numbness or pain in limbs in the combination group was lower than that in the acupuncture group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,no adverse reactions occurred in either group.Conclusion:Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction combined with Sancai pricking method has a good clinical efficacy in the treatment of ME/CFS.It can effectively reduce the FS-14 score,SCL-90 score and TCM syndrome score,relieve clinical symptoms and has good safety.