ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of Xiehuo Yangyin powder (XHYY) in treating the initial stage of toxic and diffuse goiter (Graves' disease).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group (n = 30) was treated with XHYY and methimazole, while the control group (n = 30) was treated with methimazole alone. The TCM syndrome score and thyroxin level in the two groups were compared and analyzed before, and 2 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The syndrome score and thyroxin level in the treated group 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment were reduced in comparing with before treatment, with the improvement better than those in the control group in the corresponding stages (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese herbal medicine XHYY plus methimazole, in treating Graves' disease, could rapidly and effectively improve the patients' clinical symptoms and lower the thyroxin level, reduce the daily taken of methimazole.</p>