To explore the mechanism of Zhenwu Decoction（真武汤）in the management of dilated cardiomyopathy（DCM）by watching the effect of Zhenwu Decoction on autophagy of cardiomyocytes.

Thirty cTnT^R141W transgenic DCM mice were randomly divided into a model group and a Zhenwu Decoction treatment group，with 15 mice in each group. Fifteen C57BL/6J wild-type mice were used as the blank control group. The Zhenwu Decoction group was given Zhenwu Decoction（18.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1）by intragastric administration twice a day. Both the blank control group and the model group were given the equal amounts of saline by gavage，and the course of treatment was 4 weeks. Myocardial hypertrophy was detected by FITC-WGA. The mRNA and protein expressions of ANP，p62 and LC3 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR）and Western blot.

①Compared with those in the control group，the cardiomyocytes in the model group were enlarged and disordered，the space between nuclei and cells was enlarged and the size varied，the cell size was inconsistent，and the interstitial fibrosis was a little. The degree of myocardial hypertrophy and the morphology of myocardial cells were significantly improved in Zhenwu Decoction group.②Compared with those in the control group，the mRNA expressions of ANP，p62 and LC3B in the model group were highly significant（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of ANP in Zhenwu Decoction group was significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of p62 was significantly decreased（P<0.05），and the mRNA expression of LC3B was significantly increased（P<0.05）.③In comparison with those in the control group，the protein expressions of ANP，p62 and LC3Ⅱ/I were highly significantly increased in the model group（P<0.01），and the protein expressions of ANP and p62 were highly significantly decreased in the Zhenwu Decoction group（P<0.01），and the protein expression levels of LC3Ⅱ/I were significantly increased（P<0.01）.

Zhenwu Decoction can effectively improve the cardiac structure and function of transgenic mice with DCM. Zhenwu Decoction can relieve DCM by regulating autophagy.