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American Journal of  Medical 
Science and Innovation (AJMSI) 

Analysis on the Effect and Safety of  Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Decoction in Treating Reflux 
Esophagitis

Hui Wang1, Siyan Xu2, Yutong Ge1, MinMin Gu1, Meng Ye1, Panpan Liu3*

Volume 4 Issue 1, Year 2025
ISSN: 2836-8509 (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajmsi.v4i1.4142
https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajmsi

Article Information ABSTRACT

Received: December 01, 2024
Accepted: January 04, 2025
Published: June 28, 2025

To analyze the efficacy and safety of  Baihe Wu Yao Xiexin Decoction in the treatment of  
reflux esophagitis. Methods: A total of  80 patients with reflux esophagitis were selected from 
June 2021 to June 2023. Patients were randomly divided into a observation group, with 40 
cases in each group. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine, and 
the observation group was treated with Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Decoction. The therapeutic 
effect, TCM symptom score and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. 
Results: In terms of  treatment effect, the total effective rate of  observation group was 
97.50% higher than that of  control group (80.00%), P < 0.05. In terms of  TCM symptom 
score, the observation group had heartburn (0.89±0.20) score, acid reflux (0.79±0.17) score, 
constipation (0.67±0.14) score, dry mouth and bitter mouth (0.77±0.19) score, emotional 
distress (0.73±0.13) score, and pain in the two hypochasm (0.84±0.15) score. They were 
lower than (1.00±0.25) points, (0.90±0.21) points, (0.78±0.17) points, (0.87±0.18) points, 
(0.83±0.19) points and (0.95±0.23) points in the control group, respectively, P < 0.05. In 
terms of  adverse reactions, the total incidence of  5.00% in the observation group was 
lower than 25.00% in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In the treatment of  reflux 
esophagitis, the use of  Baihe Wu drug Xiexin decoction can improve the total effective rate, 
alleviate symptoms, reduce adverse reactions, the effect and safety are very ideal.

Keywords
Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Tang 
Modified, Effect, Esophagitis, 
Reflux, Security

1 School of  Health Science and Nursing, Shanghai Sipo Polytechnic, 1408 Chengnan Road, Shanghai 201399, China
2 International Sakharov Environmental Institute, Belarusian State University, Minsk 220070, Republic of  Belarus
3 Pingdingshan Hospital of  Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pingdingshan 467000, China
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: 745596840@qq.com

INTRODUCTION
Among digestive system diseases, reflux esophagitis has 
a high incidence rate and can cause symptoms such as 
burning pain behind the sternum, acid reflux, dysphagia, 
and abdominal distension (Songlin et al., 2022). Western 
medicine research believes that the occurrence of  this 
disease is mainly caused by factors such as weakened 
esophageal mucosal barrier function, reduced esophageal 
acid clearance ability, and weakened anti-acid reflux 
mechanism. Therefore, gastrointestinal motility drugs, 
acid-suppressing drugs, and proton pump inhibitors are 
generally used in treatment, but the overall efficacy is 
general and the adverse reactions are high (Qin et al., 2020). 
Traditional Chinese medicine research believes that this 
type of  disease should be classified as esophageal reflux, 
acid reflux, and noisy, mainly due to improper diet and 
external evil invading the stomach, which affects the spleen 
and stomach transportation and transformation functions, 
causing abnormal visceral and liver and gallbladder function. 
Therefore, in treatment, the method of  harmonizing the 
stomach and relieving reflux and clearing the liver and 
purging fire should be adopted (Min, 2022). Based on 
this, this article selected 80 patients with reflux esophagitis 
from June 2021 to June 2023, and analyzed the effect and 
safety of  modified Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Decoction in the 
treatment of  reflux esophagitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
General Information
80 patients with reflux esophagitis were selected from 

June 2021 to June 2023. The patients were randomly 
divided into a control group and an observation group, 
with 40 cases in each group. In the control group, the 
patient gender was 23 males and 17 females, with a 
minimum age of  24 and a maximum of  68 years old, with 
an average age of  (47.52±3.38) years; in the observation 
group, the patient gender was 21 males and 19 females, 
with a minimum age of  25. years old, with a maximum 
age of  69 years and an average age of  (47.66±3.23) 
years. In the above indicators, there was no significant 
difference between the two groups, P>0.05. The study 
was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee.

Inclusion Criteria
All patients meet the diagnostic criteria for reflux 
esophagitis, all have clear symptoms, and the patients and 
their families have been informed of  the research content 
and their consent has been obtained.

Exclusion Criteria
Pregnant or lactating female patients, patients with 
malignant tumors, patients with liver and kidney 
dysfunction, patients with other severe digestive system 
diseases, and patients with allergies to the drugs used in 
the study.

Method
Control Group
The control group received conventional western 
medicine treatment. The medications were: Rabeprazole 



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sodium enteric-coated tablets (Figure 1), manufacturer: 
Hainan Shuanghe Pharmaceutical, approval number: 
National Medicine Standard H20133326, oral, 2 times a 
day, 20 mg each time. Domperidone tablets (Figure 2), 
manufacturer: Shanxi Baotai Pharmaceutical, approval 
number: National Medicine Standard H20010245, oral, 3 
times a day, 10 mg each time, 30 minutes before meals. 
Use continuously for 1 month.

day, decocted in water to 300ml, taken twice a day in the 
morning and evening. On this basis, for patients with 
liver qi stagnation and emotional depression, add 10g of  
Prunella vulgaris and 10g of  Gentiana; for patients with 
obvious heartburn symptoms, add 10g of  dandelion and 
10g of  forsythia; for patients with severe acid reflux, add 
15g of  calcined corrugated seeds and 15g of  calcined 
cuttlefish bone. Use continuously for 1 month.

Figure 1: Rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets and 
chemical formula

Figure 2: Domperidone tablets and chemical formula

Figure 3: Basic formula of  Chinese medicine Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Decoction

Observation Group
The observation group was treated with traditional 
Chinese medicine Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Decoction. The 
prescription is: 30g of  lily, 15g of  licorice, 15g of  French 
pinellia, 10g of  jujube, 10g of  ginseng, 10g of  stir-fried 
scutellaria, 10g of  Sichuan coptis, 10g of  lindera, and 6g 
of  dried ginger. See Figure 3 for details. One dose per 



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Evaluation Indicators
The treatment effects, TCM symptom scores, and adverse 
reactions of  the two groups were compared. The efficacy 
evaluation criteria are: markedly effective: symptoms 
basically disappear and all indicators return to normal; 
effective: symptoms are relieved and all indicators are 
improved; ineffective: symptoms are not relieved or 
worsened. The TCM symptom score evaluation standard 
is: 0 points for no symptoms, 1 point for mild symptoms, 
2 points for moderate symptoms, and 3 points for severe 
symptoms. Indicators include heartburn, acid reflux, 
constipation, dry mouth and bitter mouth, poor mood, and 
two sides. Swelling and pain. Adverse reaction indicators 
include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and increased stool.

Statistical Processing
The data were processed using SPSS 20.0 software, 
and counts and measurement data were expressed in 
the form of  numbers or rates, and mean ± standard 
deviation, respectively, and x 2 and t tests were used 
respectively, with P < 0.05 representing significant 
differences.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Comparison of  the Two Groups in Terms of  
Treatment Effects
In terms of  therapeutic effect, the total effective rate of  
the observation group was 97.50%, which was higher 
than that of  the control group (80.00%), P < 0.05.

Table 1: Comparison of  the two groups in terms of  treatment effect [n(%)]
Group Number of  cases Significant effect Efficient Invalid Total effective
Observation Group 40 18 (45.00) 21 (52.50) 1 (2.50) 39 (97.50)
Control group 40 15 (37.50) 17 (42.50) 8 (20.00) 32 (80.00)
x 2 0.206 0.451 4.507 4.507
P 0.650 0.502 0.034 0.034

Comparison of  the Two Groups in Terms of  TCM 
Symptom Scores
In terms of  TCM symptom scores, the observation 
group had lower scores of  heartburn ( 0.89±0.20 ), 
acid reflux ( 0.79±0.17 ), constipation ( 0.67±0.14 ), dry 

mouth and bitter taste ( 0.77±0.19 ), bad mood ( 0.73 
±0.13 ), and flank pain ( 0.84±0.15 ) than the control 
group ( 1.00±0.25 ), ( 0.90±0.21 ), ( 0.78±0.17 ), ( 
0.87±0.18 ), ( 0.83±0.19 ), and ( 0.95±0.23 ), respectively 
(P<0.05).

Table 2: Comparison of  TCM symptom scores between the two groups ( x̄ ±s )

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Observation Group 40 0.89±0.20 0.79±0.17 0.67±0.14 0.77±0.19 0.73±0.13 0.84±0.15
Control group 40 1.00±0.25 0.90±0.21 0.78±0.17 0.87±0.18 0.83±0.19 0.95±0.23
t 2.173 2.575 3.159 2.416 2.747 2.534
P 0.033 0.012 0.002 0.018 0.007 0.013

Comparison of  Adverse Reactions between the Two 
Groups
In terms of  adverse reactions, the total incidence of  the 

observation group was 5.00%, which was lower than that 
of  the control group (25.00%), P < 0.05.

Table 3: Comparison of  adverse reactions between the two groups [n(%)]
Group Number of  cases Diarrhea Nausea and 

vomiting
Frequent bowel 
movements

Overall 
incidence

Observation Group 40 0 (0.00) 1 (2.50) 1 (2.50) 2 (5.00)
Control group 40 3 (7.50) 4 (10.00) 3 (7.50) 10 (25.00)
x2 1.385 0.853 0.263 4.804
P 0.239 0.356 0.608 0.028

Reflux esophagitis is a common chronic disease of  the 
digestive system, which refers to the reflux of  gastric or 
duodenal contents into the esophagus, causing damage to 
the esophageal mucosa (Wenhong, 2020). In traditional 

Chinese medicine, the disease is generally classified into 
categories such as vomiting and acid vomiting. According 
to theoretical analysis of  traditional Chinese medicine, 
abnormal esophageal structure or function can easily lead 



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to abnormal transportation and transformation of  the 
spleen and stomach. The esophagus is the main disease 
location, and the spleen and stomach are the root cause 
(Ying, 2021) . The common pathogenesis of  this type of  
patients is stagnation of  liver and stomach heat, which 
is usually due to disordered rise and fall of  the spleen 
and stomach and stagnation of  liver and stomach due to 
dryness and heat. Therefore, the water and grain stored 
in the stomach will flow upward and break through 
the appetite, causing symptoms such as acid reflux and 
vomiting (Jian, 2020). Therefore, in the treatment of  
traditional Chinese medicine, the treatment principles 
should be adopted to relieve pain, relieve pain, and 
regulate heat and dryness, so as to achieve the effects of  
promoting qi, relieving pain, nourishing yin and regulating 
the stomach. On this basis, the use of  modified Lily 
Wuyao Xiexin Decoction can significantly improve the 
treatment effect, effectively relieve symptoms, improve 
perinatal hormone levels, and improve gastrointestinal 
motility (Jichao, 2021).
Baihe Wuyao Xiexin Decoction is taken from “Shi Fang 
Ge Kuo”, and the prescription is formed after additions, 
subtractions and refinements. It is mainly composed of  
lily, licorice, French half, jujube, ginseng, fried skullcap, 
Sichuan coptis, Wu Yao, dried ginger and other medicines. 
Among them, the monarch medicines are Wuyao and Lily. 
Wuyao is pungent and warm in nature and returns to the 
lung and spleen meridian. It can warm the kidneys and 
dispel cold, promote qi and relieve pain. It is suitable for 
chest and abdominal pain, chest and abdominal pain due 
to cold and qi stagnation. The effect is good; lily is sweet 
in nature and belongs to the large intestine meridian. It 
can nourish the five internal organs, benefit the will, calm 
the gallbladder, and relieve peace of  mind (Zhenlang et 
al., 2015) . French pinellia is made by boiling raw pinellia 
and licorice together, then soaking it in lime liquid and 
drying it. It tastes bitter and can reduce nausea and 
stomach pain. It has a good effect on vomiting caused 
by various reasons, especially on the stomach. It has a 
significant effect on stomach qi and vomiting caused 
by cold, phlegm, etc. (Yu & Xiaogang, 2016). Coptidis 
Coptidis can relieve vomiting, reduce vomiting, purge 
fire and detoxify, and clear stomach heat. It is effective in 
treating vomiting, gastrointestinal damp-heat, and damp-
heat internal syndrome. It is compatible with Pinellia 
ternata to jointly reduce vomiting, clear away heat, and 
relieve gastric and gastrointestinal diseases. It has the 
effect of  drying dampness and strengthening the spleen, 
and is effective in treating hiccups and vomiting caused by 
stomach heat. Stir-fried Scutellaria baicalensis is bitter and 
cold, enters the lung meridian, has the effects of  stopping 
bleeding, purging fire and detoxifying, clearing away heat 
and drying dampness. Pinellia ternata is pungent and 
warm, enters the spleen and stomach meridian, has the 
effects of  eliminating pimples and dissipating stagnation, 
harmonizing the stomach and stopping vomiting, drying 
dampness and reducing phlegm. The combination of  
medicine can treat the lungs and spleen at the same 

time, achieving the effects of  harmonizing the stomach, 
reducing qi and stopping vomiting, clearing away heat, 
drying dampness and reducing phlegm. It has a significant 
effect on coughs with yellow and thick phlegm caused 
by lung qi ascending and phlegm-heat blocking the lungs 
(Min, 2022). It is effective for loss of  appetite, nausea 
and vomiting, and chest and diaphragm fullness caused 
by gastric disharmony and phlegm-heat combination. 
Dried ginger can warm the lungs and resolve heat, restore 
yang and unblock the meridians, warm the body and 
dispel cold, and has significant effects on hiccups and 
vomiting. These drugs are ministerial drugs, which can 
promote the effect of  monarch drugs, achieve the effects 
of  stopping vomiting, promoting qi and relieving pain. 
At the same time, they can regulate the abnormality of  
gastric qi mechanism, promote the orderly rise and fall of  
the middle burner, and nourish the spleen and stomach 
(Dongmei, et al., 2021). Using jujube and ginseng as 
adjuvants can greatly replenish vitality. Ginseng is sweet 
and slightly warm. It can restore the pulse and strengthen 
the pulse in patients with severe vomiting and diarrhea 
or long-term illness. When combined with dry ginger, 
the middle qi can be smooth, flowing but not blocked, 
and tonic but able to move. Tonifying but not stagnant, 
what are the uses of  these two medicines? They have the 
effect of  warming the middle burner and replenishing 
the spleen and stomach. They are effective in treating 
vomiting, diarrhea, and cold and painful epigastric pain 
caused by spleen and stomach deficiency. Jujube can 
replenish the spleen and qi, which is more suitable for 
those with weak spleen. Combined with ginseng, it can 
strengthen the qi-replenishing effect. Licorice is an herbal 
medicine that can replenish the heart, relieve pain and 
relieve pain, and replenish the heart and spleen. When 
combined with dried ginger, it can relieve pain, relieve 
pain, warm the heart and dispel cold. It is commonly 
used in the treatment of  epigastric pain. Licorice can 
harmonize various medicines, purge and lower qi, 
disperse and circulate qi, regulate qi mechanism, promote 
the orderly rise and fall of  qi mechanism in the middle 
burner, make qi and blood metabolize actively, and then 
promote the return of  viscera function to normal. The 
combination of  the above drugs can alleviate the patient’s 
symptoms, improve his condition, and achieve a very 
ideal prognosis.

CONCLUSION
In the treatment of  reflux esophagitis, the treatment 
regimen of  modified Lily and Wuyao Xiexin Decoction can 
improve the overall effective rate of  treatment, significantly 
relieve symptoms, improve the levels of  gastrointestinal 
hormones and inflammatory factors, and reduce adverse 
reactions. The effect and safety are very ideal.

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