Objective To examine the clinical effect and possible mechanism of modified Zhalinusi Fang（ 扎里奴思方） on acute cerebral infarction（ ACI） patients of intermingled phlegm and stasis type. Methods One hundred and twenty ACI patients of intermingled phlegm and stasis type were randomized into treatment group and control group

60 cases in each group. Both groups were given western medicine routine treatment. The treatment group was given oral Hui Nationality herb modified Zhalinusi Fang decoction at the same time

one dose every day. The control group was given oral nimodipine tablet 20 mg every day. Both groups were treated for 14 days. Patients’ scores of the national institutes of health stroke scale（ NIHSS） in both groups were examined before treatment

on the 7th and 14 th day of treatment. The levels of serum tumor necrosis factorα（ TNF-α） and interleukin 6（ IL-6） were detected. The clinical effect was evaluated after treatment. Results The total effective rate in the treatment group was 88. 33%

66. 67% in the control group. The clinical effect in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group（ P <0. 01）. The scores of NIHSS and the levels of serum TNF-αand IL-6 of patients in each group were lower on the 7th and 14 th day of treatment than those before treatment in each group. On the 14 th day of treatment

the result was the lowest（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. After treatment

the scores of NIHSS and the levels of serum TNF-αand IL-6 in the treatment group was lower than those in the control group at the same time point（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Conclusion Modified Zhalinusi Fang might improve intermingled phlegm and stasis type ACI patients’ neurological deficit.The mechanism might relate to decreasing the levels of serum inflammatory factors.