International Journal of Clinical Research

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fumigation plus acupoint application combined with papaverine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods A total of 54 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were enrolled from May 2024 to October 2025. All patients were treated with TCM fumigation, acupoint application and papaverine. TCM syndrome scores, subjective symptoms, pain severity, neurological impairment and peripheral nerve conduction velocity were compared before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the TCM syndrome score was significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.05). Subjective symptoms and pain severity were both improved compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). The abnormal rate of peripheral nerve function examination was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05). Peripheral nerve conduction velocity was significantly increased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion TCM fumigation, acupoint application combined with papaverine has a significant clinical effect in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It can relieve limb numbness, distal extremity pain, lassitude and fatigue, cold hands and feet, hypoesthesia, dizziness and vertigo, improve subjective sensation, reduce pain intensity and neurological impairment, and significantly accelerate peripheral nerve conduction velocity, which is of important clinical application value.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy; Traditional Chinese medicine fumigation; Acupoint application; Papaverine