Abstract: AIM: To study the therapeutic effects of new compound codonopsis tablets against deacclimatization to high altitude. METHODS: Forty-three male soldiers stayed at 5200 m altitude for one year were randomly divided into two groups:control group (15 men) and treatment group (28 men).Single blind trial was used in this study.Five days before they return to plain (1400 m), they were taken placebo and new compound codonopsis tablets respectively until they arrived in for one week.The questionnaire of symptoms of deacclimatization to high altitude was used on the 2nd, 4th, 6th day after they returned to 1400 m altitude.On the 7th day after returning to 1400 m, FVC (forced vital capacity), FEV_1.0 (forced expired volume in one second), FEV1% (FEV_1.0 FVC), FEF25%-75%, PEF (peak expiratory flow) and MVV (maximal voluntary ventilation) were determined with a spirometer (SriroAnalyzer ST-75), total frequency of hands cross movement and memory of order numbers were tested with a neurosychological monitoring system (DDX-200). RESULTS: Compared with control, symptoms of deacclimatization to high altitude of treatment group were reduced significantly on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th day after returning to 1400 m (P<0.01).The degree of symptoms of deacclimatizating to high altitude in treatment group was distinctly different from that of control (P<0.01).The proportion of slight symptoms in treatment group was high, and that of relative serious symptoms was low.Compared with control, FVC, FEV_1.0, PEF and MVV of treatment group were increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01).Ttis, Ctis in treatment group were increased (P<0.05), Atime was decreased markedly (P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in Etis and Sum between the two groups. CONCLUSION: New compound codonopsis tablets could decrease the incidence of deacclimatization to high altitude, mitigate the symptoms of deacclimatization to high altitude, improve the breathing function and fingers movement function.New compound codonopsis tablets have a significant effect on prevention and treatment of deacclimatization to high altitude.

Key words: altitude, deacclimatization to high altitude, new compound codonopsis tablet