Objective: To explore the rehabilitation effect and mechanism of Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction on hiccup in patients with phlegm-heat and fu-viscera excess syndrome caused by cerebral infarction.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 80 patients with hiccup after cerebral infarction with phlegm-heat and fu-viscera excess syndrome were randomly divided into Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction group (n = 40) and control group (n = 40). On the basis of conventional western medicine treatment, Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction group was treated with Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction for 10 days. At the end of 10-day treatment, the therapeutic effect for hiccup was evaluated. The frequency and duration of each hiccup, the concentrations of Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋ and Na^＋ in peripheral blood and serum motilin level were compared before treatment, at the end of 10-day treatment and 30 days after treatment.

Results: At the end of 10-day treatment, hiccups in both groups were relieved, and the response rate of Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction group (92.1%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (82.1%) (P < 0.05). The frequency of hiccup and the duration of each hiccup after treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01). The frequency of hiccup and the duration of each hiccup in Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the end of 10-day treatment and 30 days after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After treatment,
the concentrations of Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋ and Na^2＋ in peripheral blood in both groups were higher than those before treatment, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05); the serum motilin levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Jiawei Xinglou Chengqi Decoction has significant curative effect on hiccup after cerebral infarction with phlegm-heat and fu-viscera excess syndrome, and there are less adverse reactions during the treatment, but the mechanism of treatment is not clear.