Review Article

Chinese Medicine in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Experimental Research on Nerve Repair and Regeneration

Table 1

Common patterns and treatments of DPN in Chinese medicine.

PatternClinical manifestationTherapeutic principleTreatment (formula)Origin of formulaComponents

Deficiency of Yin and blood stasisNumbness and burning pain in hands and feet gradually extends to the entire limbs, aggravated at night; night sweating; spontaneous sweating; heat sensation in the chest, palms and soles; soreness and weakness of the lumbar region and knees joints, dry mouth; thirsty; dry stool; dark-red tongue with peeled or little coating; fine and choppy pulse.Nourish Yin and remove blood stasisZhibai Dihuang Wan 1 (Anemarrhena-Phellodendron-Rehmannia Pill) together with Taohongsiwutang 2 (Persica-Carthamus Four Substances Decoction)1 Jinguiyaolue (Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber); 2 Yizongjinjian (Golden Mirror of Medicine)Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae preparata), Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni), Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis), Fuling (Poria), Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan), Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae), Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri), Danggui (Radix Angelicae sinensis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae alba), Taoren (Semen Persicae), Honghua (Flos Carthami tinctorii)

Deficiency of Yang and blood stasisNumbness pain, aggravated at night or encounters coldness, aversion to cold, cold limbs, soreness and weakness of the lumbar region and knees joints, tastelessness in the mouth without thirsty, impotence, premature ejaculation, poor or loose stool, pale or dark tongue, white thick or greasy coating, deep fine or deep slow pulse.Warm and tonify Yang and remove blood stasisJinguishenqiwan1 (Golden Chest Kidney-Qi Pill) together with Taohongsiwutang 2 (Persica-Carthamus Four Substances Decoction)1 Jinguiyaolue (Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber); 2 Yizongjinjian (Golden Mirror of Medicine)Fuzi (Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata), Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni), Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis), Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan), Fuling (Poria), Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae preparata), Danggui (Radix Angelicae sinensis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Taoren (Semen Persicae), Honghua (Flos Carthami tinctorii)

Deficiency of Yin turning into windNumbness or soreness in hands and feet, dizziness, and vertigo and a feeling of falling, soreness, and weakness of the lumbar region and knee joints, heat sensation in the chest, palms and soles; staggering gait, red tongue with peeled coating, deep fine, and wiry pulse.Nourish Yin and extinguish windYiguanjian 1 (One Linking Decoction) together with Zhenganxifengtang 2 (Pacifying the Liver and Extinguishing Wind Decoction)1 Liuzhouyihua (Medical Talks of Liuzhou); 2 Yixuezhongzhongcanxilu (Medical Records Loyal to Chinese Medicine and Reference to Western Medicine)Shashen (Radix Glehniae), Maidong (Radix Ophiopogonis), Danggui (Radix Angelicae sinensis), Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae), Gouqi (Fructus Lycii chinensis), Niuxi (Radix Achyranthis bidentatae), Daizheshi (Haematitum) Longgu (Mastodi Ossis fossilia), Muli (Concha Ostreae), Guiban (Plastrum Testudinis), Xuanshen (Radix Scrophulariae), Tianmendong (Radix Asparagi), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae alba), Yinchenhao (Herba Artemisiae scopariae), Chuanlianzi (Fructus Toosendan), Maiya (Fructus Hordei germinatus), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis)

Phlegm and blood stasis blocking the channelsNumbness, paresthesia, aversion to cold or heat, soreness and weakness of the lumbar region and knees joints, a feeling of heaviness in lower limbs, muscle atrophy, epigastric fullness, loss of appetite, poor or loose stool, nocturnal emission, impotence or premature ejaculation, swollen tongue with thick greasy coating, deep-fine or deep-choppy pulse.Dispel phlegm and remove blood stasisPishenshuangbuwan1 (Spleen-Kidney Double Supplement Pill), Erchentang 2 (Two Old Decoction) and Taohongsiwutang 3 (Persica-Carthamus Four Substances Decoction)1 Xianxingzhaiyixueguangbiji (Extensive Medical Notes of Early Awake House); 2 Taipinghuiminhejijufang (Prescriptions from the Great Peace Imperial Grace Pharmacy); 3 Leizhengzhicai (Classified Patterns with Clear-cut Treatments)Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Lianzi (Semen Nelumbinis), Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae), Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae), Shanzhuyu (Fructus Corni), Shanyao (Rhizoma Dioscoreae), Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis), Roudoukou (Semen Myristicae), Juhong (Exocarpium Citri rubrum), Sharen (Fructus Amomi), Bajitian (Radix Morindae officinalis), Buguzhi (Fructus Psoraleae), Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae preparatum), Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri reticulatae), Fuling (Poria), Zhigancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae preparata), Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae preparata), Danggui (Radix Angelicae sinensis), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae alba), Taoren (Semen Persicae), Honghua (Flos Carthami tinctorii)