Objective  To explore the clinical effect of Mobao recipe of traditional Chinese medicine combined with acyclovir in the treatment of herpes zoster.

  Methods  A total of 94 patients with herpes zoster admitted to our hospital were selected as study subjects, and were divided into two groups by random number table method. The control group(n=47) was treated with acyclovir alone and the study group(n=47) was additionally treated with Mobao recipe. The clinical efficacy, blister subsidence time, complete escharectomy time and pain relief time, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score before and 7 days after treatment, and adverse reactions during treatment of herpes zoster in the two groups were evaluated.

  Results  The total response rate of the study group was higher than that in the control group (95.7% vs. 78.7%, P < 0.05). The blister subsidence time, scab removal time and pain relief time of the study group were shorter than those in the control group(P < 0.05). The VAS scores of patients in the study group was lower than those of the control group on the 7th day after treatment (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the study group and the control group (6.4% vs. 6.4%, P>0.05).

  Conclusion  Mobao recipe combined with acyclovir in the treatment of herpes zoster can further improve the clinical efficacy, speed up recovery, and improve pain symptomsm, which is safe and reliable, and worthy of clinical promotion.