A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitude

Abstract

This invention discloses a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes. The composition comprises the following ingredients in parts by weight: 2-20 parts of Pinellia ternata, 2-20 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 1-6 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 2-20 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2-20 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 2-20 parts of Terminalia chebula, 2-20 parts of Prunus mume, 2-20 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 2-20 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. This invention addresses the regionally specific core pathogenesis of acute pharyngitis at high altitudes, characterized by "yang deficiency and failure to transform, and fluid retention." The formula follows the principles of monarch-minister-assistant-guide combination, achieving a synergistic effect of warming yang and transforming qi, resolving phlegm and relieving sore throat, and generating fluids and moistening dryness. It is warming without being drying, and combines dispersing and astringing properties, addressing both the symptoms and the root cause. It fundamentally repairs the imbalanced internal environment of the body, completely overcoming the limitations of simple symptomatic treatment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of traditional Chinese medicine technology, and specifically relates to a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes. Background Technology

[0002] Acute pharyngitis is a common acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract in clinical practice. The lesions primarily affect the pharyngeal mucosa, submucosal tissue, and pharyngeal lymphoid tissue. Core symptoms include dryness and burning sensation in the throat, sore throat, foreign body sensation, and difficulty swallowing. Severe cases may be accompanied by fever and hoarseness, significantly impacting the patient's daily life and comfort. The causes of this disease are complex, including infections by pathogenic microorganisms such as adenovirus, streptococcus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, and chlamydia pneumoniae, as well as external environmental stimuli and decreased immunity. The incidence rate is significantly higher in high-altitude areas than in plains areas.

[0003] Currently, Western medicine treats acute pharyngitis primarily through symptomatic intervention, often using antibiotics and antiviral drugs to kill pathogens. While this can alleviate local inflammation and control symptoms in the short term, it has several clinical drawbacks. On the one hand, patients' eagerness for recovery can easily lead to antibiotic overuse. Long-term or inappropriate use can disrupt the balance of intestinal flora, foster multidrug-resistant strains, and create hidden dangers for subsequent treatment. On the other hand, Western medicine focuses only on eliminating local inflammation, neglecting the core pathological changes caused by the special climate of high altitudes. It cannot fundamentally correct the imbalance of the internal environment caused by "dryness depleting body fluids, deficiency of yang qi, and dysfunction of qi." Even if superficial symptoms such as sore throat temporarily subside, the pharyngeal mucosa remains in a state of dryness and malnutrition, with poor blood circulation. The body's defense capabilities are not repaired, making the condition prone to recurrence and even developing into chronic pharyngitis, significantly increasing the difficulty of treatment.

[0004] From the perspective of traditional medical theory, acute pharyngitis at high altitudes falls under the categories of "acute throat obstruction" in Traditional Chinese Medicine and "Chiba" in Tibetan Medicine, with a distinctly regional pathogenesis. High-altitude regions are characterized by high altitude, low air pressure, and a climate marked by cold, oxygen deficiency, dryness, and large temperature differences between day and night. Prolonged exposure to such an environment makes the body highly susceptible to invasion by cold pathogens, depleting the body's Yang energy. Simultaneously, the abnormal Qi flow at high altitudes further damages the Yang energy of the spleen and kidneys, leading to dysfunction of their Qi transformation functions and the core pathogenesis of "Yang deficiency failing to transform Yin, and fluids failing to ascend." Deficiency of Yang energy prevents the transformation of body fluids and the warming of the throat; abnormal distribution of Yin fluids easily leads to stagnation of phlegm and dampness, obstructing the throat's meridians and depriving it of warmth and moisture, ultimately resulting in throat obstruction. Clinically, these patients often present with dryness, dull pain, and a foreign body sensation in the throat, and they are averse to cold and prefer warmth, disliking cold drinks. This is fundamentally different from the Yin deficiency and excessive fire type of throat obstruction in plains areas, which is the core reason for the stubborn and recurrent nature of acute pharyngitis at high altitudes. Currently, there is a lack of specialized Chinese medicine formulas that address the specific pathogenesis of diseases in high-altitude regions. Clinically, there is an urgent need for a Chinese medicine combination that fits the characteristics of disease on high-altitude terrain and addresses both the symptoms and the root cause, in order to achieve the dual treatment goals of radical cure and prevention of recurrence.

[0005] The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the overall background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes, thereby overcoming the defects in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes. The traditional Chinese medicine composition is composed of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 2-20 parts of Pinellia ternata, 2-20 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 1-6 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 2-20 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2-20 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 2-20 parts of Terminalia chebula, 2-20 parts of Prunus mume, 2-20 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 2-20 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

[0008] Preferably, the ingredients are composed of the following parts by weight: 2-10 parts of Pinellia ternata, 2-10 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 1-3 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 2-10 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2-10 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 2-10 parts of Terminalia chebula, 2-10 parts of Prunus mume, 2-10 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 2-10 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

[0009] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 10-15 parts of Pinellia ternata, 10-15 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 3-5 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 10-15 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 10-15 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10-15 parts of Terminalia chebula, 10-15 parts of Prunus mume, 10-15 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 10-15 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

[0010] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 15-20 parts of Pinellia ternata, 15-20 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 5-8 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 15-20 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 15-20 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 15-20 parts of Terminalia chebula, 15-20 parts of Prunus mume, 15-20 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 15-20 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

[0011] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition consists of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 2 parts Pinellia ternata, 2 parts Cinnamomum cassia, 1 part Asarum heterotropoides, 2 parts Platycodon grandiflorus, 2 parts Fritillaria thunbergii, 2 parts Terminalia chebula, 2 parts Prunus mume, 2 parts Schisandra chinensis, and 2 parts Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

[0012] Preferably, the preparation method of the traditional Chinese medicine composition is as follows: Mix all ingredients evenly according to the specified ratio, add boiling water and steep for 10-30 minutes to obtain the drinking preparation.

[0013] Preferably, the traditional Chinese medicine composition is used to treat acute pharyngitis at high altitudes.

[0014] Guided by the basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, this invention has formulated a Chinese herbal composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes, targeting the core pathogenesis of "Yang deficiency and failure to transform fluids, and failure of body fluids to ascend". The formula includes Tibetan Pinellia ternata, Cinnamomum cassia, Asarum heterotropoides, Platycodon grandiflorus, Fritillaria thunbergii, Terminalia chebula, Prunus mume, Schisandra chinensis, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

[0015] Pinellia ternata (processed): It is pungent and warm in nature, and enters the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians.

[0016] Cinnamon twig: It has a pungent and sweet taste, is warm in nature, and enters the heart, lung, and bladder meridians.

[0017] Asarum: It has a pungent and warm taste, and its main meridians are the lung, heart, and kidney meridians.

[0018] Platycodon grandiflorus: It has a pungent and bitter taste, is neutral in nature, and enters the lung meridian.

[0019] Fritillaria thunbergii: bitter in taste, cold in nature, and enters the lung and heart meridians.

[0020] Green plum: sweet and sour in taste, neutral in nature, and enters the lung and stomach meridians.

[0021] Ume plum: It tastes sour and astringent, is neutral in nature, and enters the liver, spleen, lung, and large intestine meridians.

[0022] Licorice: It has a sweet and neutral flavor and enters the heart, lung, spleen, and stomach meridians.

[0023] Schisandra chinensis: warm in nature, sour and sweet in taste, and enters the lung, heart, and kidney meridians.

[0024] Cinnamon twig warms and invigorates the chest yang, transforms qi and promotes fluid circulation; Asarum warms the lungs, dispels cold, relieves stagnation, and soothes the throat. Together, these two herbs work to warm yang, transform qi, and address the root cause, restoring the function of yang qi distribution and fluid upward flow. They are the principal herbs. Pinellia ternata dries dampness, resolves phlegm, descends rebellious qi, and disperses nodules; Fritillaria thunbergii resolves phlegm and relieves stagnation; Platycodon grandiflorus promotes lung function, soothes the throat, and carries the medicine upward. These three herbs work together to resolve phlegm, disperse nodules, and soothe the throat, allowing phlegm to be transformed and qi to circulate, thus clearing the throat. Terminalia chebula clears heat and generates fluids; Prunus mume and Schisandra chinensis astringe the lungs, nourish the kidneys, generate fluids, and moisten dryness. These three herbs work together to transform yin with their sour and sweet properties, nourishing the throat and correcting the dryness caused by insufficient fluid upward flow, while also preventing the warming and dispersing effects from depleting yin fluids. Licorice harmonizes the other herbs and soothes the throat and relieves spasms. The entire formula warms yang without causing dryness, resolves phlegm without harming fluids, balances dispersion and astringency, and addresses both the root cause and symptoms, achieving the effects of warming yang, transforming qi, resolving phlegm, soothing the throat, generating fluids, and moistening dryness.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, one aspect of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention closely addresses the regionally specific core pathogenesis of acute pharyngitis in high-altitude areas, characterized by "deficiency of Yang and failure to transform, and failure of body fluids to ascend." The formula follows the principle of combining the principal, assistant, adjuvant, and guide herbs, achieving a synergistic effect of warming Yang and transforming Qi, resolving phlegm and relieving sore throat, and generating body fluids and moisturizing dryness. It is warm without being drying, and combines dispersing and astringing, addressing both the symptoms and the root cause. It repairs the imbalanced internal environment of the body from the root, completely overcoming the limitations of simple symptomatic treatment. This invention has outstanding therapeutic effects and is safe and reliable. It can quickly relieve acute symptoms such as dry throat, sore throat, and foreign body sensation in the throat, repair damaged pharyngeal mucosa, enhance the body's ability to adapt to high altitudes, and significantly reduce the risk of recurrence and chronic pharyngitis. Moreover, the pure Chinese medicine formula has no risk of antibiotic abuse, does not damage the intestinal flora, does not produce drug-resistant bacteria, has no toxic side effects, and is suitable for long-term conditioning and emergency use by people living in high altitudes. The Chinese medicinal materials used in this invention are readily available and the formulation is simple. They can be prepared into a drinking preparation simply by steeping them in boiling water. No complicated processing technology is required. This invention is perfectly suited for use in remote high-altitude areas with inconvenient transportation. It is easy to carry and take immediately, taking into account both treatment and daily protection needs. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, but it should be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments.

[0027] The following provides a brief overview of one or more aspects to offer a basic understanding of them. This overview is not an exhaustive summary of all conceived aspects, nor is it intended to identify key or decisive elements of all aspects, nor to define the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form to prepare for the more detailed descriptions that follow.

[0028] Example 1:

[0029] Weigh out the following ingredients: 2g of Pinellia ternata, 2g of Cinnamomum cassia, 1g of Asarum heterotropoides, 2g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 2g of Terminalia chebula, 2g of Prunus mume, 2g of Schisandra chinensis, and 2g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 15 minutes before drinking.

[0030] Example 2

[0031] Weigh out the following ingredients: 5g of Pinellia ternata, 5g of Cinnamomum cassia, 1g of Asarum heterotropoides, 5g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 5g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 5g of Terminalia chebula, 5g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 2g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 12 minutes before drinking.

[0032] Example 3

[0033] Weigh out the following ingredients: 10g of Pinellia ternata, 10g of Cinnamomum cassia, 3g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 10g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 10g of Prunus mume, 10g of Schisandra chinensis, and 10g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 12 minutes before drinking.

[0034] Example 4

[0035] Weigh out the following ingredients: 15g of Pinellia ternata, 15g of Cinnamomum cassia, 3g of Asarum heterotropoides, 15g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 15g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 15g of Terminalia chebula, 15g of Prunus mume, 15g of Schisandra chinensis, and 15g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 15 minutes before drinking.

[0036] Example 5

[0037] Weigh out the following ingredients: 2g of Pinellia ternata, 5g of Cinnamomum cassia, 2g of Asarum heterotropoides, 5g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 5g of Terminalia chebula, 2g of Prunus mume, 2g of Schisandra chinensis, and 2g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 18 minutes before drinking.

[0038] Example 6

[0039] Weigh out the following ingredients: 2g of Pinellia ternata, 5g of Cinnamomum cassia, 2g of Asarum heterotropoides, 5g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 5g of Terminalia chebula, 2g of Prunus mume, 2g of Schisandra chinensis, and 2g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 15 minutes before drinking.

[0040] Example 7

[0041] Weigh out the following ingredients: 10g of Pinellia ternata, 15g of Cinnamomum cassia, 3g of Asarum heterotropoides, 15g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 10g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 10g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 10g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 18 minutes before drinking.

[0042] Example 8

[0043] Weigh out the following ingredients: 5g of Pinellia ternata, 10g of Cinnamomum cassia, 2g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 5g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 10g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 10g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 15 minutes before drinking.

[0044] Example 9

[0045] Weigh out the following ingredients: 10g of Pinellia ternata, 10g of Cinnamomum cassia, 3g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 15g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 5g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 5g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 15 minutes before drinking.

[0046] Example 10

[0047] Weigh out the following ingredients: 10g of Pinellia ternata, 15g of Cinnamomum cassia, 3g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 15g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 5g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 5g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 16 minutes before drinking.

[0048] Example 11

[0049] Weigh out the following ingredients: 8g of Pinellia ternata, 8g of Cinnamomum cassia, 2g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 10g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 10g of Prunus mume, 8g of Schisandra chinensis, and 6g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 16 minutes before drinking.

[0050] Example 12

[0051] Weigh out the following ingredients: 15g of Pinellia ternata, 20g of Cinnamomum cassia, 5g of Asarum heterotropoides, 18g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 18g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 20g of Terminalia chebula, 18g of Prunus mume, 10g of Schisandra chinensis, and 15g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 18 minutes before drinking.

[0052] Example 13

[0053] Weigh out the following ingredients: 10g of Pinellia ternata, 15g of Cinnamomum cassia, 3g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 10g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 18g of Terminalia chebula, 15g of Prunus mume, 10g of Schisandra chinensis, and 18g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 17 minutes before drinking.

[0054] Example 14

[0055] Weigh out the following ingredients: 10g of Pinellia ternata, 15g of Cinnamomum cassia, 2g of Asarum heterotropoides, 15g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 10g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 20g of Terminalia chebula, 10g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 10g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 16 minutes before drinking.

[0056] Example 15

[0057] Weigh out the following ingredients: 5g of Pinellia ternata, 10g of Cinnamomum cassia, 2g of Asarum heterotropoides, 10g of Platycodon grandiflorus, 5g of Fritillaria thunbergii, 10g of Terminalia chebula, 8g of Prunus mume, 5g of Schisandra chinensis, and 10g of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Mix them evenly and steep in boiling water for 13 minutes before drinking.

[0058] 1. Experimental Methods: 1.1 Cases and Grouping According to the diagnostic, inclusion, and exclusion criteria, this study included 60 patients with acute pharyngitis at high altitudes, aged 18-45 years, regardless of gender, from March 20, 2025 to October 20, 2025. Patients were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=30) and a waiting-for-treatment group (n=30) based on their consultation time (numbered 1-60). The treatment group received the traditional Chinese medicine composition obtained in Example 1, one dose per day, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes, brought to a boil over high heat, then simmered over low heat for 10 minutes, yielding approximately 600ml of liquid, taken half an hour after meals, three times a day for 7 consecutive days. The waiting-for-treatment group received the traditional Chinese medicine composition obtained in Example 15 7 days after enrollment, with the same usage.

[0059] 1.2 Diagnostic criteria 1.2.1 Western Medicine Diagnostic Criteria The diagnostic criteria for acute pharyngitis were based on the "Expert Consensus on Diagnosis and Efficacy Evaluation of Acute Pharyngitis in Traditional Chinese Medicine" published in the Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine in 2025.

[0060] Medical history: Due to invasion of external pathogens or upward attack of fire toxins; there may be a history of colds, or exposure to high temperature, dust, irritating gas environment, or consumption of spicy and fatty foods.

[0061] Symptoms: Sudden onset, sore throat with burning sensation, initially dry and hot in the throat. Sore throat follows, often more pronounced when swallowing on an empty throat than when eating, and the pain may radiate to the ears. General symptoms are usually mild, but vary in severity depending on age, immunity, and the virulence of the virus or bacteria. Severe cases may present with fever, headache, loss of appetite, and aches and pains in the limbs.

[0062] Physical signs: Acute diffuse congestion and swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa. The posterior pharyngeal wall lymphoid follicles are raised and congested. When the lateral pharyngeal bands are involved, longitudinal cord-like elevations can be seen on the lateral wall of the oropharynx, also appearing congested. In more severe cases, the tonsils, uvula, and soft palate are also red and swollen. Yellowish-white punctate exudates may appear in the center of the posterior pharyngeal wall lymphoid follicles. The submandibular lymph nodes may be enlarged and tender. Acute congestion may also be present in the nasopharynx and laryngopharynx.

[0063] A diagnosis can be made based on medical history, symptoms, and physical examination findings.

[0064] 1.2.2 Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnostic Criteria Referring to the diagnostic criteria for acute pharyngitis in the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine's "Standards for Diagnosis and Efficacy Evaluation of Diseases and Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine" and the 2025 Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine's "Expert Consensus on Diagnosis and Efficacy Evaluation of Acute Pharyngitis in Traditional Chinese Medicine," and considering the characteristics of acute pharyngitis at high altitudes, the following criteria are proposed: Main symptoms: burning sensation in the throat, dryness and cracking pain, congestion and swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa; Concurrent symptoms: Patients often experience symptoms such as itchy throat, fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches, and irritating dry cough; Tongue and pulse: Red tongue with dry yellow or thin white coating, and floating, rapid and thready pulse; If the patient meets the disease diagnostic criteria and also meets all the main symptoms in the above syndrome diagnostic criteria, plus at least two secondary symptoms, and the tongue and pulse are taken into account, a diagnosis can be made.

[0065] 1.3 Inclusion Criteria (1) Meets the above diagnostic criteria and is able to cooperate with the research and treatment of patients; (2) Age 18-45, gender not limited; (3) The patient has not received any related treatment in the past week; (4) The subjects voluntarily participate in the clinical trial and sign an informed consent form; (5) The disease occurs in high-altitude areas.

[0066] 1.4 Exclusion Criteria (1) Those who do not meet the diagnostic criteria; (2) Received treatment for acute pharyngitis within the past week; (3) Pregnant or lactating women; (4) Individuals allergic to this drug; (5) Patients with bronchitis, pneumonia, severe laryngitis or other respiratory diseases, as well as other primary diseases.

[0067] 1.5 Shedding Criteria (1) Severe adverse reactions, allergies, etc. occur; (2) Those who fail to take medication as prescribed; (3) Cases that withdrew from the experiment before the course of treatment was completed or lost to follow-up for various other reasons; (4) Patients whose condition deteriorates rapidly and who urgently need to receive other treatments.

[0068] The reasons for the dropout of cases are not included in the statistical data.

[0069] 1.6 Observation Indicators 1.6.1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Score Assessment Referencing the "Guiding Principles for Clinical Research of New Traditional Chinese Medicine Drugs" and the "Standards for Diagnosis and Efficacy of Diseases and Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine" Establish scoring criteria. Both primary and secondary symptoms are scored from 0 to 3 points, categorized as mild, moderate, and severe, respectively.

[0070] 1.6.2 Therapeutic Indicators Significant effect: After treatment, symptoms are equivalent to normal, most clinical signs disappear, and the syndrome score reduction rate is ≥67%.

[0071] Effective: After treatment, symptoms and signs were somewhat relieved compared to before treatment, but not very significantly, and the syndrome score decreased by ≥33% and <67%.

[0072] Ineffective: No significant changes in symptoms and signs before and after treatment, with virtually no improvement, and a decrease in syndrome score of ≤33%.

[0073] 1.6.3 Detection of inflammatory factors Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured using ELISA.

[0074] 1.6.4 Secondary observation indicators Adverse reactions: Record adverse reactions that occur during treatment, including type, severity, treatment and outcome.

[0075] Severity classification and treatment measures: 1.7 Statistical Analysis After the experiment, data were entered, a database was constructed, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. For data conforming to a normal distribution, independent samples t-tests were used between groups, and paired samples t-tests were used within groups. For data not conforming to a normal distribution, rank-sum tests were used. Count data were expressed using the chi-square test. 2 Tests were performed; Ridit analysis was used for ordinal data, and the rank-sum test was used for small sample sizes. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant between the two groups.

[0076] 2. Experimental Results 2.1 General Case Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 60 patients with acute pharyngitis at high altitudes were selected for this study. Patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the waiting-for-treatment group using a random number table. All 60 patients were male. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, blood oxygen saturation, smoking history, and alcohol consumption history (P > 0.05).

[0077] Table 1 Comparison of the two sets of baseline data 2.2 Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Scoring As shown in Table 2, before enrollment, there was no significant difference in symptom and sign scores between the two groups (P>0.05). Seven days after enrollment, the treatment group showed significantly lower scores for sore throat, dry throat, burning sensation in the throat, pharyngeal mucosal congestion, itchy throat, dry cough with sputum, fever, headache, and muscle aches, as well as a total score, compared to before enrollment (P<0.05). Similarly, the waiting-for-treatment group showed significantly lower scores for sore throat, dry throat, burning sensation in the throat, pharyngeal mucosal congestion, and fever, as well as a total score, compared to before enrollment (P<0.05). Seven days after enrollment, the treatment group showed significantly lower scores for sore throat, dry throat, burning sensation in the throat, pharyngeal mucosal congestion, itchy throat, and dry cough with sputum, as well as a total score, compared to the waiting-for-treatment group (P<0.05). Table 2 Comparison of symptom and sign scores before treatment between the two groups ( ±S) Note: ****P<0.0001, ***P<0.001, **P<0.01, *P<0.05, compared with pre-admission values ​​in this group; ####P<0.0001, ##P<0.01, #P<0.05, compared with the waiting-for-treatment group at the same time point. 2.3 Clinical efficacy results As shown in Table 3, after 7 days, the total effective rate of the treatment group was 86.67%, which was significantly higher than the total effective rate of 56.67% of the waiting treatment group (P<0.05).

[0078] Table 3. Comparison of clinical efficacy between the two groups 7 days after enrollment (cases) Note: *P<0.05, compared with the waiting treatment group 2.4 Changes in inflammatory factors As shown in Table 4, there was no significant difference in IL-6 and CRP levels in the treatment group before enrollment (P > 0.05). Seven days after enrollment, IL-6 and CRP levels in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment (P < 0.0001), and the IL-6 and CRP levels in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the waiting-for-treatment group (P < 0.001).

[0079] Table 4. Changes in IL-6 and CRP levels before and after enrollment in both groups. Note: ****P<0.0001, compared with pre-admission levels in this group; ####P<0.0001, ####P<0.001, compared with the waiting-for-treatment group at the same time point. 2.5 Occurrence of Adverse Reactions During the experiment, neither group of subjects experienced any significant adverse reactions.

[0080] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention is for illustrative and explanatory purposes. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many changes and variations can be made in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to implement and utilize various different exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various different choices and variations. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes, characterized in that, It is composed of the following ingredients by weight: 2-20 parts of Pinellia ternata, 2-20 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 1-6 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 2-20 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 2-20 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 2-20 parts of Terminalia chebula, 2-20 parts of Prunus mume, 2-20 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 2-20 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

2. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is composed of the following ingredients by weight: 2-10 parts Pinellia ternata, 2-10 parts Cinnamomum cassia, 1-3 parts Asarum heterotropoides, 2-10 parts Platycodon grandiflorus, 2-10 parts Fritillaria thunbergii, 2-10 parts Terminalia chebula, 2-10 parts Prunus mume, 2-10 parts Schisandra chinensis, and 2-10 parts Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

3. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is composed of the following ingredients by weight: 10-15 parts Pinellia ternata, 10-15 parts Cinnamomum cassia, 3-5 parts Asarum heterotropoides, 10-15 parts Platycodon grandiflorus, 10-15 parts Fritillaria thunbergii, 10-15 parts Terminalia chebula, 10-15 parts Prunus mume, 10-15 parts Schisandra chinensis, and 10-15 parts Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

4. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is composed of the following ingredients by weight: 15-20 parts of Pinellia ternata, 15-20 parts of Cinnamomum cassia, 5-8 parts of Asarum heterotropoides, 15-20 parts of Platycodon grandiflorus, 15-20 parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, 15-20 parts of Terminalia chebula, 15-20 parts of Prunus mume, 15-20 parts of Schisandra chinensis, and 15-20 parts of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

5. The traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is composed of the following ingredients in parts by weight: 2 parts Pinellia ternata, 2 parts Cinnamomum cassia, 1 part Asarum heterotropoides, 2 parts Platycodon grandiflorus, 2 parts Fritillaria thunbergii, 2 parts Terminalia chebula, 2 parts Prunus mume, 2 parts Schisandra chinensis, and 2 parts Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

6. A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The preparation method of the traditional Chinese medicine composition is as follows: Mix all ingredients evenly according to the specified ratio, add boiling water and steep for 10-30 minutes to obtain the drinking preparation.

7. A traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating acute pharyngitis at high altitudes according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The traditional Chinese medicine composition is used to treat acute pharyngitis at high altitudes.

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