Objective To observe the effect of Tongyang Huoxue Formula（Formula for activating yang and promoting blood circulation）on the cardiac functions of the patients with chronic congestive heart failure（CHF）.Methods Sixty CHF patients were randomized into two groups

control group and treatment group

with thirty in each.The western conventional therapy（cardiotonic

diuretic

angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitor

angiotension receptor blocker

β-receptor blocker

and nitrate medications）was applied to the control group

while the combination of western conventional therapy with Tongyang Huoxue Formula was given to the treatment group for three weeks.Before and after treatment

the brain natrium peptide（BNP）of plasma was determined and the 6-minute walk test（6MWT）was carried out to observe the effect of treatment.Results After treatment

the level of plasma BNP of both groups was significantly lowered with statistical difference（P<0.01）

and changes in the treatment group was more significant（P<0.05）.The walk distance of 6MWT of both groups was increased（P<0.01）and the treatment group was superior to the control group

the difference was all statistically significant（P<0.05）.Conclusion Tongyang Huoxue Formula significantly reduces the level of plasma BNP and enhances the heart functions of the patients.The effect of the integrated therapy is better than that of western therapy only for CHF.