Objective: To study the indication and clinical efficacy of Biqi capsule (BC) in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: One hundred and forty-two RA patients were randomly divided into the BC treated group and the control group treated with nimesulide tablet (NT). There were 36 patients with dampness-heat blockage syndrome type and 35 patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome type in each group. The treatment course lasted for 8 weeks.
Results: The total effective rate in the BC group was 66.2% (47 cases), while that in the control group was 60.6% (43 cases). The total effective rate in the patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome type in the BC group was 91.4%, superior to that with dampness-heat blockage type (41.7%). Only one patient showed mild adverse reaction in the BC group.
Conclusion: BC is a kind of safe and effective herble medicine for treatment of RA, especially for those of Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome type.