Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of QiliQiangxin capsules in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods A total of 512 CHF patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive the placebo or QiliQiangxin capsules in addition to their standard medications for the treatment of CHF.The primary endpoint was the reduction or percent change in the plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level during 12 weeks of treatment.Results At the 12-week follow-up, a significant reduction in the NT-proBNP level from baseline was observed in both groups, but the QiliQiangxin capsule group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction than the placebo group (p =0.002); 47.95% of patients in the QiliQiangxin capsule group demonstrated reductions in NT-proBNP of at least 30% compared to 31.98% of patients in the placebo group (p < 0.001).Treatment with QiliQiangxin capsules also demonstrated superior performance in comparison to the placebo with respect to New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) and quality of life.Conclusions On a background of standard treatment, QiliQiangxin capsules further reduced the levels of NT-proBNP.Together, our data suggest that QiliQiangxin capsules could be used in combination therapy for CHF.