Efficacy of Thunder-Fire Moxibustion Combined with Sijunzi Decoction in the Treatment of Chronic Pharyngitis with Lung and Spleen Qi Deficiency and the Effect on the Level of Inflammatory Factors and Immune Factors

OBJECTIVE  To observe the efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with Sijunzi decoction in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis with lung and spleen qi deficiency and the effects on the levels of inflammatory factors and immune factors.METHODS  A total of 60 patients with chronic pharyngitis of lung and spleen qi deficiency were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 30 patients in each group. The observation group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion combined with modulated Sijunzi decoction, while the control group was given conventional western medical treatment. There were four courses of treatment, seven days per course. In addition, the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin E (IgE), and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), Chinese medicine syndrome scores and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.RESULTS  After treatment, Chinese medicine syndrome scores of the two groups improved significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the result in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels of inflammatory factor IL-6, TNF-α, and immune factor IgE decreased, while the levels of immune factor IgA and SIgA increased in the two groups (P < 0.01). However, the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).CONCLUSION  Thunder-fire moxibustion combined with modulated Sijunzi decoction treatment can significantly reduce the pharyngeal symptoms in patients with chronic pharyngitis with lung and spleen qi deficiency. The mechanism is related to reducing the levels of inflammatory factor IL-6, TNF-α, and immune factor IgE, increasing the levels of immune factor IgA and SIgA, enhancing systemic immunity, as well as improving the local environment.