Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of the Lixujieyu recipe combined with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS) identified as the symptom patterns of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.METHODS: Patients with CFS were randomly divided into treatment group 1(Lixujieyu recipe combined with Gong-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 2(Lixujieyu recipe combined with Jiao-Tune, n = 15);treatment group 3(Lixujieyu recipe combined with Yu-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 4(Lixujieyu recipe combined with Shang-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 5(Lixujieyu recipe combined with Zhi-Tune,n = 15); and the control group(Lixujieyu recipe alone, n = 15). Chinese medicine was given twice daily, and music was listened to for 45 minutes daily, 5 days a week. All patients were treated for4 weeks. Patients were assessed via the Fatigue Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale before and after treatment.RESULTS: Treatment groups 1 and 2 had better effects on relieving the symptoms of physical fatigue related to anxiety and depression than the control group(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Lixujieyu recipe combined with Gong-Tune or Jiao-Tune significantly relieved the symptoms of CFS.

Key words: Chronic fatigue syndrome, Treatment outcome, Lixujieyu recipe, Five elements music therapy