Objective To assess the efficacy of retention enema with self-made ulcer-healing decoction plus oral mesalazine for ulcerative colitis.Methods A total of 84 patients with ulcerative colitis admitted into a Henan hospital between January 2015 and January 2017 were included in this study.Based on a random number table

patients were divided into the control group（n=41）or the trial group（n=43）.Patients in the control group received conventional treatment with western medicine

while those in the trial group received retention enema with self-made ulcer-healing decoction plus oral mesalazine.The clinical response

adverse reactions

inflammatory factor levels and TCM syndrome scores before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Results The pre-treatment IL-8

IL-10

and TNF-αlevels were similar between the two groups（P>0.05）.After treatment

the IL-8 and TNF-αlevels were decreased and the IL-10 level was increased in both groups when compared with their pre-treatment levels;the IL-8 and TNF-αlevels in the trial group were significantly lower than those in the control group

while the IL-10 level was significantly higher than that in the control group（P<0.05）.The overall response rate in the trial group was significantly higher than that in the control group（P<0.05）.The pre-treatment TCM syndrome scores of abdominal pain

diarrhea

and bloody purulent stool were comparable between the two groups（P >0.05）.After treatment

the TCM syndrome scores of abdominal pain

diarrhea

and bloody purulent stool were reduced in both groups when compared with their pre-treatment scores;and these scores in the trial group were significantly lower than those in the control group（P<0.05）.The incidence of adverse reactions were similar between the two groups（P>0.05）.Conclusion For patients with ulcerative colitis

retention enema with self-made ulcer-healing decoction plus oral mesalazine is safe and effective in improving clinical symptoms and relieving inflammatory response

which deserves widespread clinical application.