Abstract: Objective To summarize the ways animal models of high altitude qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome have been established in recent years and different studies on related therapeutic drugs so as to provide reference for standardization of studies on animal models of high altitude qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome and the research and development of therapeutic drugs. Methods Literature on establishment of animal models and therapeutic drugs of high altitude qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome published in CNKI, Wanfang and VIP database in the past 20 years was searched for and summarized. Results The animal models of high altitude qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome were mostly prepared via the combination of low pressure, low oxygen and cold, which left much to be desired. For example, the methods for establishing these models using modern medicine and pathology did not conform to TCM theories on etiology and pathogenesis, lacked objective, quantitative and standardized evaluation indexes of TCM for macro symptoms, and failed to reflect the combined use of the four diagnostic methods of TCM. The related treatment plans mostly worked by referring to the prescriptions for treating qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, or by revising classic well-known prescriptions to treat qi deficiency and blood stasis at a high altitude, without enough counter-evidence prescriptions. Conclusion There are relatively few studies on high altitude qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, so there is the need to make uniform methods for establishing the animal models, improve the diagnosis and evaluation system, and develop counter-evidence prescriptions. At the same time, it is hoped that the development of altitude disease and the research and development of drugs can be promoted based on the syndrome of altitude qi deficiency and blood stasis.

Key words: high altitude, qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome, animal model, drug evaluation, drug studies, altitude disease, etiology, pathogenesis