Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of the empirical formulas applied to dryness syndrome in northwest China for chronic bronchitis（CB） in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Methods Eighty-one cases of CB with dryness syndrome were randomized into treatment group of 31 cases and control group of 50 cases.Thirty-two patients with CB only were selected as the CB group.The CB group was given conventional therapy.In addition

the treatment group and control group were given empirical formulas applied to dryness syndrome in northwest China and conventional therapy for dryness syndrome respectively.The treatment lasted for 20 days.The scores of pathogenetic condition in all groups and scores of dryness syndrome in the treatment group and control group were recorded according to the questionnaire of dryness syndrome in northwest China before the treatment and on the 10th and 20th day of treatment.Results After treatment

the scores of pathogenetic condition decreased significantly in all groups（P<0.01）.There was no significant difference in the scores of pathogenetic condition between before and 10 days after treatment in all groups（P>0.05）.On the 20th day of treatment

the scores of pathogenetic condition in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group and CB group（P<0.01）.After treatment

the scores of dryness syndrome significantly decreased in both the treatment group and control group（P<0.01）.There was no significant difference in the scores of dryness syndrome between the treatment group and control group on the 10th day of treatment（P>0.05）.The scores of dryness syndrome in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group on the 20th day of treatment（P<0.01）.Conclusion The empirical formulas applied to dryness syndrome in northwest China is effective for CB and dryness syndrome.