The clinical efficacy of Zuqing Xu “Wuduling” powder for snake injury on the swelling of the affected limb bitten by Agkistrodon halys

ABSTRACTTo determine the clinical efficacy of Zuqing Xu 'Wuduling' powder for snake injury on the swelling of the affected limb bitten by Agkistrodon halys. Sixty-five patients with Agkistrodon halys bite were assigned to a treatment group (n = 35) or control group (n = 30). The treatment group was additionally given 'Wuduling' powder dressing locally based on the therapy to the control group with conventional Western medicine. Clinical efficacy and improvement of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and signs in the two groups were evaluated. The treatment group showed a notably higher cure rate than the control group. After 3 days of therapy, the swelling and pain of the affected limb in the treatment group were greatly alleviated. Additionally, after 7 days of therapy, the swelling and pain of the affected limb in the treatment group were more greatly alleviated, and those in the control group were also alleviated. The comparison of the two groups during the same period showed more obvious alleviation of swelling and pain in the treatment group than that in the other. Moreover, the treatment group experienced notably shorter disappearing time of swelling and pain than the control group. After treatment, the levels of CRP, TBIL, Cr, ALT, AST, BUN, CK, LDH and CK-MB in both groups declined notably, with notably lower levels of them in the treatment group than those in the other. Zuqing Xu 'Wuduling' powder for snake injury can substantially alleviate the swelling and local pain of affected limbs bitten by Agkistrodon halys.KEYWORDS: WudulingAgkistrodon halyslimb swellingliver and kidney functionclinical efficacy AcknowledgementsThis study is supported by Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Program of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Effect of external application of Xu Zuqing's Wu Po Ling powder on the swelling and pain of the affected limbs and serum inflammatory markers in patients with pit viper bites, Grant No. 2021ZB258), and The Fourth Round of Ningbo Key Disciplines of Traditional Chinese Medicine Construction Plan (Combined Chinese and Western Medical Surgery, Grant No. 2022-Z04)Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Data sharing agreementThe datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the The Fourth Round of Ningbo Key Disciplines of Traditional Chinese Medicine Construction Plan [2022-Z04]; Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Program of Traditional Chinese Medicine [2021ZB258].Notes on contributorsJingjing YeJingjing Ye, female, is a cosmetic primary care physician and medical master of dermatology in Zhejiang Province, deputy director of Chinese medicine, health education tour lecturer in Ningbo, and is currently a member of the Dermatology Branch of the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a member of the Integrative Medicine Branch of the Chinese Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and a member of the Ningbo Medical Association of Dermatology. He specializes in the treatment of various intractable pruritic skin diseases, such as eczema, itchy rash, ringworm, neurodermatitis and urticaria. He has specialties in Chinese and Western medicine for various facial aesthetic diseases such as acne and chloasma. He has published more than ten academic papers at the national and second level.Wei QianWei Qian, male, is an attending Chinese medicine practitioner with a master's degree in medicine. He specializes in the treatment of allergic skin diseases, such as eczema, urticaria and itchy skin, as well as acne, chloasma, herpes zoster and ringworm.Ninggang ChenNinggang Chen, male, is a famous Chinese medicine practitioner in Ningbo, chief Chinese medicine physician, attending physician of the Department of Chinese Medicine and Dermatology of Zhejiang Province, director of the Second Department of Dermatology, Ningbo Chinese Medicine Hospital. He is currently a national member of the Skin Branch of the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine, deputy director of the Dermatology Branch of the Zhejiang Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine, member of the Dermatology Branch of the Zhejiang Medical Association, member of the Dermatology Branch of the Zhejiang Society of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine, deputy chairman of the Dermatology Branch of the Ningbo Medical Association, deputy chairman of the Skin Venereal Disease Committee of the Ningbo Society of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine, and director of the Ningbo Chinese Medicine Society.Zhikai HuZhikai Hu, male, Deputy Chief Chinese Medicine Physician, Department of Dermatology He specializes in the treatment of various common skin diseases using a combination of Chinese and Western medicine, especially in psoriasis, and has extensive clinical experience in autoimmune skin diseases and skin tumours.Shu YeShu Ye, female, attending physician, combines Chinese and Western medicine treatment methods, carries out Chinese medicine internal regulation and external treatment, and has laser, photodynamic and other advanced equipment, flexible use of various traditional and modern techniques, treatment of various types of acne and post-acne pigmentation, scarring with remarkable results.Mei LiMei Li, female, attending physician, graduated from Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She specializes in the use of paediatric tuina to treat paediatric colds, coughs, diarrhoea, constipation, anorexia, myopia, enuresis, myxomatous squint, and the management of sub-health states.Lian ZhangLian Zhang, female, attending physician, specializes in traditional Chinese medicine operation treatment and combined Chinese and Western medicine treatment of various skin diseases such as warts, vitiligo, hair loss, herpes, lupus erythematosus, etc.Hui WangHui Wang, female, Attending Physician.Yanwu LuYanwu Lu, male, PhD, attending Chinese medicine doctor, graduated from Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, specializes in Chinese medicine evidence-based treatment, and has published more than ten articles in influential journals at domestic and international.