Objective:To investigate the effect of Gualou Honghua Gancao Tang on inflammatory factors and T lymphocyte subsets in herpes zoster with stagnated heat of the liver meridian. Method:A total of 162 cases in our hospital were divided into control group and treatment group by random number table method. The control group was treated with oral aciclovir tables and mecobalamin capsules

and treatment group was given Gualou Honghua Gancao Tang in addition to the therapy of control group for two week. The clinical effect and inflammatory factors and T lymphocyte subsets levels were observed. After 6 months of follow-up

postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) incidence was recorded. Result:After treatment

the clinical effective rate of treatment group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). The blister time

scab time

scab removal time and pain relief time in treatment group were significantly shorter than those of control group (P<0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 7

14 d after treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.05)

and the treatment group was significantly lower than that of control group (P<0.05). After 6 months of follow-up

the incidence of PHN in treatment group was lower than that in control group (P<0.05). After treatment

the interleukins (IL-4)

IL-6

tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and CD8+ levels in treatment group were decreased and significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.05)

while the CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ levels were increased compared with before treatment and significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Gualou Honghua Gancao Tang could improve the clinical efficacy of herpes zoster patients with stagnated heat of the liver meridian by enhancing the immune function and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction.