Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Tiaoying Yangxin decoction in treating sub-healthy insomnia (Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome) and its effect on serum nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB)

interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6. Method: One hundred patients with sub-healthy insomnia were randomly divided into control group and observation group by numeric table method (50 cases). Patients of control group were treated with estazolam tablets 1 h before sleeping (1 mg/time

qd) and oryzanol tablets (2 tablets/time

tid) by orally taking. Patients in observation group were treated with Tiaoying Yangxin decoction

one dose/day

bid. Both groups were observed for 4 weeks. After treatment

the traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores were compared between two groups. Clinical therapeutic effects were analyzed after treatment in both groups. Serum NF-κB

IL-2 and IL-6 levels were detected in both groups. Result: After treatment

the traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 82% in observation group

significantly higher than 58% in control group (P<0.05). Both before and after treatment

the detected scores of PSQI scale in observation group were lower than those of control group (P<0.01). After treatment

levels of serum NF-κB

IL-2 and IL-6 in observation group were significantly lower than those of control group

with statistically significant differences (P<0.01). Conclusion: Tiaoying Yangxin decoction for sub-healthy insomnia of Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome could obviously decrease scores of the clinical symptoms

PSQI

improve the clinical curative effect

and inhibit serum NF-κB

IL-2 and IL-6 levels.