OBJECTIVETo observe the effect difference betweendecoction combined with acupuncture at back-points and simpledecoction for chronic fatigue syndrome.

METHODSSixty patients were randomly assigned into an herbal group and a combination group, 30 cases in each one. Simpledecoction was used in the herbal group for continuous one month, one decoction a day. Based on that in the herbal group, 30 min acupuncture was used in the combination group at bilateral Xinshu (BL 15), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23), with acupoints according to syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture was given for 3 courses, 10 times as a course with 3 days between two courses, once a day. Fatigue status was evaluated before and after treatment by fatigue scale 14 (FS-14) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).

RESULTSThe FS-14 scores, including body fatigue scores, mental fatigue scores and total scores, and SAS scores after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all<0.01), with better improvements in the combination group (all<0.01).

CONCLUSION decoction combined with acupuncture at back-points can improve chronic fatigue syndrome, which are better than simpledecoction.