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There have been numerous clinical studies researching the benefits of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Here are just a few of them. Select the trials you wish to read about.
Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of 58 cases of acne
58 patients with acne (15 men, and 43 women with age ranging between 16 - 38, average age being 27) were all given a standard water decoction based on the Chinese herbal formula Qing fei yi rou tang, but adjusted according to the morphology of the lesions and the constitution of the patient.
Results: After a variable time of treatment ranging from 2-6 months the following results were recorded.
46 cases were classified as clinically cured (all papules, pustules, nodules and cysts cleared, with no reoccurrence). 10 cases were classified as improved (reduction in all lesions, but mild reoccurrence on stopping the herbs) 2 cases no change.
(Xinzhongyi. New Journal of Chinese medicine 2001.4 – 33-4 Author: Zhouxin zhong)
Treatment of severe atopic eczema with Chinese herbal medicine
A report in the British Journal of Dermatology (1) reveals that
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine has been shown to be
extremely effective in the treatment of severe cases of atopic
eczema. A controlled study carried out at the Department of
Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children,
U.K. proves what has been know for a long time by practitioners
of Chinese medicine: Chinese herbal medicine has a major role to
play in treating moderate and severe cases of atopic eczema (the
most common form of eczema to afflict children and adults). The
researchers acknowledged that severe and widespread atopic
eczema often fails to respond adequately to conventional
treatments and, after observing substantial benefit in patients
receiving daily decoctions of traditional Chinese medicinal
plants, they decided to undertake a placebo-controlled
double-blind trial. A specific prescription of Chinese herbs was
specially formulated for widespread non-exudative atopic eczema.
Forty seven children were randomly selected to receive the
Chinese herbal formula or a placebo (medicine that has no effect
on the disease) for 8 weeks, with an intervening 4-week wash-out
period. Thirty-seven children completed the treatment. The
response to the treatment was significantly greater than the
response to placebo, and was judged by the researchers to be
clinically valuable. There was no evidence of haematological,
renal or hepatic toxicity in any of the children who
participated in the study and the researchers predicted that
there would be considerable therapeutic potential for
traditional Chinese medicinal plants, not only in the treatment
of eczema, but also for other skin diseases. The same
researchers were so impressed with the results of the 8 week
study that they went on to do a longer term investigation,
analysing the results of 37 children who were suffering from
severe atopic eczema. This study conducted over a one year
period found that 49% of the children experienced at least 90%
reduction in the severity of their eczema. These studies
demonstrated that Chinese medicine is a valid therapeutic option
available in the treatment of childhood and adult eczema. But
until earlier this year, researchers were still unsure how or
why the treatment worked. Scientists at the Department of
Immunology, UCL Medical School, London discovered that selected
Chinese herbs have a significant effect on the production of
white blood cells and thereby affect the immune system, reducing
allergic responses and alleviating inflammation.
1.British Journal of Dermatology (1992) 126 179-184 2.The Lancet
Vol 340: July, 1992.
A new study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of herbs in eczema
It is reported in an article published in the August, 2007 issue of the British Journal of Dermatology, that doctors at the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted a double blind placebo controlled trial to established whether Chinese medicine has a beneficial effect in treating atopic eczema. Between February 2004 and July 2005, 85 children suffering with moderate to severe forms of this common childhood eczema where recruited for the trial. 42 children were given a mixture of five traditional Chinese herbs, which have long been used to treat eczema. According to Chinese medicine these herbs, when combined in exact proportions have the effect of “clearing heat, draining dampness and resolving fire toxin” (a metaphorical but precise description for reducing inflammation, alleviating itching and controlling allergic response). The herbs where administered twice daily for 12 weeks. To ascertain their effectiveness, the remaining 43 children were given placebos (ingredients that have no medicinal effect, but are used as a control to establish if the active herbs do indeed make a difference) for the same duration of time. Despite the shortcomings of the trial (according to Chinese medicine typically a specific and varied group of herbs are prescribed individually to suit the characteristics of each patient, rather than one fixed formula that is used for all cases), by the end of the study, the conditions of the children who were given the herbs "significantly improved" and their use of corticosteroid creams and ointments was also "significantly reduced by one third". "Adverse events, tolerability, haematological and biochemical parameters were monitored during the study, and no serious adverse effects were observed between the groups".
Acupuncture and IVF treatment for infertility
Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth
among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review
and meta-analysis. A recent meta-analysis reported in the
prestigious British Medical Journal of 7 clinical trials
involving 1366 women who underwent IVF treatment for infertility
has found that acupuncture, administered within a day of embryo
transfer, led to significantly increased rates of pregnancy and
live births when compared to either sham (pretend) acupuncture
or no acupuncture at all. Women who received acupuncture were
around 65% more likely to become pregnant and 91% more likely to
have a live birth. The authors of the study conclude: “Current
preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture given with embryo
transfer improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women
undergoing in vitro fertilization”. This is a significant
endorsement for the use of acupuncture as part of the standard
care programme during IVF treatment.
www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/bmj.39471.430451.BEv1
Acupuncture instead of drugs for migraine
Women who opt for acupuncture instead of a drug to prevent migraines report feeling fewer symptoms, fewer attacks, and less side effects from the treatment, new study findings report. The study, carried out at the Woman's Headache Centre at the University of Turin, Italy, compared the effect of acupuncture with oral flunarizine in preventing non-aura migraine over a 6-month period. The 160 women enrolled in the study had experienced headaches at least twice a month in the year prior to the study and had had no previous experience of acupuncture. Acupuncture was given once a week for the first 2 months and then once a month for the next 4 months. The flunarizine group received the drug daily for the first 2 months and then for 20 days per month for the next 4 months. The frequency of headaches and the use of symptomatic drugs significantly decreased during treatment in both groups, however the number of attacks after 2 and 4 months of treatment was significantly lower in the acupuncture group, as was analgesic consumption after 2 months of treatment. At six months however, no such differences existed between the two treatment groups. Pain intensity was significantly reduced only by acupuncture treatment and side effects were significantly less frequent in the acupuncture group - overall, women taking flunarizine were more likely than those receiving acupuncture to drop out of the study, for reasons that included depression, weight gain and sleepiness. (Headache 2002, Vol. 42(9) p.855-861).
Acupuncture and Urinary Tract Infections
Researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway have investigated the benefits of acupuncture in a group of 94 women, all of whom had experienced at least 3 urinary tract infections during the previous 12 months. Sixty-seven of the women received acupuncture 2 times per week for 4 weeks. 73% of the women who received acupuncture remained infection-free during the 6 months after treatment, relative to only 52% of those who did not receive acupuncture. They also measured the amount of residual urine left in bladders after urination, which is thought to be a risk factor in recurrent urinary problems, and found this was halved in those receiving acupuncture. (American Journal of Public Health 2002;92:1609-1611).
Acupuncture and the Overactive Bladder
Eleven patients (9 males and 2 females) with overactive
bladders were treated by acupuncture. The age range was from 51
to 82 years (mean 71 years). Nine patients complained of urge
incontinence and 2 patients of urgency. Uninhibited contraction
was observed in all patients before the acupuncture. Acupuncture
was given at bilateral Zhongliao BL-33 and the needles rotated
for 10 minutes manually. After an average of 7 treatments, urge
incontinence was controlled completely in 5 and partially in 2
of the 9 patients. In 2 patients who complained of urgency,
complete response was obtained after the
treatment. Uninhibited contraction disappeared in 6 patients
after the treatment. Acupuncture also significantly induced an
increase of maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance.
(Japanese Journal of Urology. 1995; 86(10):1514-9).
Research into Chinese herbal medicine and ovarian dysfunction
(1) The effectiveness of a Chinese formula called ‘Tian gui fang’ in comparison with metformin was tested on patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS]. The patients were divided into two groups and either Tian gui fang or metformin was administered for three months. After treatment, 4 out of the 8 patients on metformin had restoration of menstrual cyclicity, and two of them had a double phase BBT. The testosterone levels had decreased. No other measures changed. In the group that received the Chinese medicine, 6 patients out of 8 had a restored cycle as well as a double phase BBT. Testosterone and the body mass index (BMI) decreased significantly. The authors conclude that both therapies can induce ovulation but that Chinese herbal medicine has a higher efficacy in restoring ovulation and normal BBT measures.
Hou J, Yu J, Wei M. ‘[Study on treatment of hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinism in polycystic ovary syndrome with chinese herbal formula ‘tian gui fang]’. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Jie he Za Zhi. 2000; 20 (8):589.
(2) The effectiveness of a Chinese herbal formulary
was tested on patients with high LH levels due to polycystic
ovary syndrome. Eight weeks of treatment with Chinese herbal
medicine significantly reduced plasma LH.
Ushiroyama T, Ikeda A, Sakai M, Hosotani T, Suzuki Y, Tsubokura
S, Ueki M. ‘Effects of unkei-to, an herbal medicine, on
endocrine function and ovulation in women with high basal levels
of luteinizing hormone secretion.’ J Reprod Med. 2001 May;
46(5):451-6.
(3) In Japan, a Chinese herbal formulary was tested on
patients with polycystic ovarian disease [PCOD] to find an
effective treatment without side effects that could be used
instead of clomiphene citrate or gonadotropin therapy. After a
course of treatment, the FSH/ LH ratio had significantly
decreased, and the ovulatory rate was 70.6%. Serum testosterone
did not change during treatment. The authors conclude that
the Chinese formula may be useful for the treatment of
anovulation in PCOS patients.
Sakai A, Kondo Z, Kamei K, Izumi S, Sumi K. ‘Induction of
ovulation by Sairei-to for polycystic ovary syndrome patients.’
Endocr J. 1999 Feb; 46(1):217-20.
(4) A case study from Taiwan discusses the effective
treatment of premature ovarian failure using Chinese herbal
medicine. Clomiphene citrate therapy over 8 months had not
changed the FSH and LH levels from the post menopausal range. A
course of 4 months treatment with Chinese herbal medicine based
on Zuo gui wan induced an ovulation, and the patient fell
pregnant. The authors conclude that Chinese herbal medicine can
restore ovarian function effectively and promptly and offers
another option for treating infertility in patients with
premature ovarian failure.
Chao SL, Huang LW, Yen HR. ‘Pregnancy in premature
ovarianfailure after therapy using Chinese herbal medicine. A
case study.’Chang Gung Medical Journal 2003 Jun; 26(6): 449-52.
(5) At Shanghai medical university, the effectiveness
of Chinese medical herbs from the category of yin supplementing
weretested on 35 patients with polycystic anovulation. The
patients were treated for three months, and a variety of tests
were carried out before and after the course of treatment.
Testosterone levels lowered significantly. In 59.7% of patients
and a regular cycle was restablished. 41.2% of women became
pregnant. The authors conclude that Kidney Yin nourishing
herbs could provide a good microcircumstance for ovarian
follicular growth, which results in ovulation and pregnancy.
Zhou LR, Yu J. [Clinical observation on treatment of
hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism anovulatory patient with
replenishing kidney-yin drugs] Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za
Zhi. 1996Sep; 16(9): 515-8.
(6) Hachimijiogan, a Chinese herbal formulary (Liu wei
dihuang wan + rou gui, yin yang huo, huang qi), was shown in one
study to benefit female infertility due to pituitary
dysfunction. Two infertile women (one with and one without a
pituitary adenoma) who were resistant to medical treatment, were
given Hachimijiogan which subsequently reduced the serum
prolactin level, and resulted in a normal ovulatory cycle and
pregnancy, without side effects.
Usuki S; Kubota S; Usuki Y. Treatment with hachimijiogan,
anon-ergot Chinese herbal medicine, in two hyperprolactinemic
infertilewomen’. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1989, 68 (5) p475-8.
(7) In another study looking at pituitary dysfunction causinginfertility, 27 women were given the same formulae as discussed above.6 of the women had amenorrhea. In 15 patients, the prolactin levelsdropped to a healthy range, and remained low 6 months after the courseof treatment. Four patients with amenorrhea ovulated. Eleven patientsconceived and delivered a healthy baby. In three women, the prolactinlevel did not lower. The authors conclude that a modification of Liuwei di huang wan can be a safe and effective treatment for hyperprolactinemic women.
Usuki S, Usuki Y. ‘Hachimijiogan treatment is effective in themanagement of infertile women with hyperprolactaemia orbromocriptine-resistant hyperprolactaemia.’ American Journal of Chinese Medicine 1989; 17 (3-4):225-41.
Research into endometriosis and Chinese herbal medicine
(1) A study from Beijing compared three treatment
methods to find the most effective treatment for endometrial
ovarian cysts. 152 patients with endometrial ovarian cysts were
divided into three groups: an integrated laparoscopy and Chinese
herbal medicine (combination group), a Chinese herbal medicine
group, and a Danazol group. The clinical efficacy, side-effects
and reproductive hormones were compared. The shrinking rate and
disappearance rate of the cysts were highest in the combination
group as was the pregnancy rate. Few side effects were noticed
in the combination and Chinese herbal medicine group. The
authors conclude that combining laparoscopy with Chinese
herbal medicine is an effective treatment for endometrial
ovarian cysts with minimal side effects and a maximal
preservation of the reproductive function.
Wu Y, Hua L, Jin Y [Clinical study on endometrial ovarian cyst
treated by integrated laparoscopy and Chinese herbal medicine]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2000 Mar; 20 (3):183-6.
(2) A study was carried out in Shanghai to explore the
mechanism of treating endometriosis by tonifying Kidney and
removing blood stasis with Neiyixiao Recipe (NYXR). METHODS: One
hundred and three patients with endometriosis were divided
randomly into the NYXR group (58 cases, treated with NYXR) and
the control group (45 cases, treated with danazol) and were
reviewed for the improvement of clinical symptoms, serum level
of FSH, LH, PRL, E2, P and T, humoral and cellular immunity (C3,
C4, CD3, CD4, CD8), and plasma prostaglandin after treatment.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference in effect between
the NYXR group and the control group in relief of dysmenorrhea
and degradation of elevated plasma prostaglandin (chi 2 = 0.71,
P > 0.05). But there was significant difference between the two
groups in curing infertility (chi 2 = 14.77, P < 0.01), and the
effect of NYXR in regulating endocrine and immunity was
significantly better than that of danazol. The authors
conclude that by tonifying Kidney and removing blood stasis,
Chinese herbal medicine is an effective method for the treatment
of endometriosis, simultaneously maintaining and improving
fertility.
Liu J, Li X, Hu X. [Clinical observations on treatment of
endometriosis by tonifying kidney and removing blood stasis]
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1998 Mar;18 (3):145-7.
(3) A study in Shanghai tested the therapeutic
mechanism of endometriosis by the treatment of Yiqi Huoxue Huayu
Tongfu Principle (YQHXHYTFP, tonifying Qi and promoting blood
circulation to remove stasis and purgation therapy) with Neiyi
1+ pill. METHODS: Forty-five cases with endometriosis were
divided randomly into TCM group (30 cases, treated with Neiyi 1+
pill) and the control group (15 cases, treated with tamoxifen).
The activity of natural killer cell of peripheral blood, T
lymphocyte subsets, secreting interleukin-II and the EmAb were
determined. RESULTS: Endometriosis is associated with
immunologic disturbance. After treatment, the activity of NK
cells and the count of T-suppressor cells were significantly
increased (P < 0.01), the count of T-helper cells, the secretion
of interleukin-II and TH/TS ratio were significantly reduced (P
< 0.01). Over 50% of the cases whose EmAb was positive
eventually turned to negative. The effective rate of this
therapy was 90%. There was no significant difference between TCM
group and the control group. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal
medicine could modulate the immunologic disturbance in women
with endometriosis, and could clearly improve clinical symptoms
and signs.
Li J, Zheng J, Wang D. [Clinical observation on treatment of
endometriosis by tonifying qi and promoting blood circulation to
remove stasis and purgation principle] Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie
He Za Zhi. 1999 Sep; 19 (9):533-5.
(4) A study in Kunmin aimed to find a medicine that
treats endometriosis effectively with less side-effects.
METHODS: A Chinese herbal prescription [Dan'e mixture] (DEM,
consists of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Rhizoma Zedoariae)
was used to treat 189 cases of endometriosis and the change of
symptom and sign, the B ultrasonograph, the anti-endometrium
antibody and endometriosis quantitative diagnostic index were
observed. Another 160 cases were treated with Danazol as
control. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-nine cases were treated
for 9 months. According to National Standards, 39 cases (20.6%)
were cured, 67 cases (35.4%) were markedly effective, 67 cases
(35.4%) were effective, and 16 cases (8.4%) were ineffective.
Compared with 160 cases treated with Danazol for 9 months, the
total effective rates were 95% and 91.5% respectively, the
difference between them was insignificant. Animal experiments
showed similar results to the clinical ones. CONCLUSION: The
authors conclude that the Chinese herbal prescription is as
effective as Danazol for the treatment of endometriosis, without
observed side effects. It is particularly helpful for
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of endometriosis in the
early stage.
Cai L, Shu Y, Xie H. [Clinical and experimental study on the
treatment of endometriosis with dan'e mixture] Zhongguo Zhong Xi
Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1999 Mar;19 (3):159-61.Research into
Acupuncture and abnormality of sperm.
(1) Idiopathic infertility A study carried out
in Brazil observed the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on
sperm abnormalities. 19 patients with idiopathic infertility
were divided into a study and into a control group. The study
group was treated twice a week for 10 weeks (25 min acupuncture,
20 min moxa). Sperm analysis was carried out before and after
the treatment course. The patients in the study group showed a
significant increase in the percentage of normal-form sperm.
The authors conclude that acupuncture and moxa treatments seem
to favourably modify normal-form sperm counting.’
Gurfinkel E, Cedenho AP, Yamamura Y, Srougi M.Effects of
acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen
abnormalities. Asian J Androl. 2003 Dec; 5(4):345-8.
(2) Low sperm count (Oligospermia) A study carried out
in Tel Aviv observed the effect of acupuncture on males with
very low sperm count. 15 of the males were azoospermic patients,
two were pseudoazoospermic and three had severe
oligoteratoasthenozoospermia (OTA). After a course of
acupuncture, the OTA had only a slight increase in sperm count.
67% of azoospermic patients showed a definite increase in
sperm count, seven of them significantly. Males with genital
tract inflammation exhibited the most remarkable improvement in
sperm density. Two pregnancies were achieved in conjunction with
IVF-ICSI. The authors conclude that acupuncture might be a
useful treatment for males with very poor sperm count,
especially those with a history of genital tract inflammation.
Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Lederman H, Bartoov B. Does
acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very
low sperm count? A pilot study. Andrologia. 2000 Jan;
32(1):31-9.
(3) Spem motility In a study from Israel, 16
patients with subfertility related to sperm impairment were
treated with acupuncture twice a week for 5 weeks and compared
to a control group. The sperm motility and intactness of the
axonema were greatly increased in the study group.
Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Zabludovsky N, Bartoov B.Effect
of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from
subfertility related to low sperm quality. Arch Androl. 1997
Sep-Oct; 39(2):155-61.
(4) Spem morphology A study in treating
subfertility by acupuncture was carried out in Germany on 28
men. Each patient received a total of 10 treatments for a period
of three weeks. The spermiograms and hormone levels were checked
before and after acupuncture. Total count, concentration and
motility were evaluated and in all cases the researchers
observed a statistically significant improvement of sperm
quality. The authors conclude that acupuncture therapy at
the time of ovulation might increase the chances of a pregnancy.
Fischl F, Riegler R, Bieglmayer C, Nasr F, Neumark J.
[Modification of semen quality by acupuncture in subfertile
males] Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1984 Aug;44 (8):510-2.
(5) A Chinese study was carried out on 54 males with
impaired fertility. 1-3 months of acupuncture therapy was given,
and sperm analysis carried out before and after treatment. 55.5%
of patients impregnated their partners in that period of time,
and 24% showed a significant improvement in sperm parameters.
20% of patients, previously diagnosed with azoospermia and
immune disturbance, did not improve. The best improvement was
seen in patients with abnormal sperm.
Qian, Z [Clinical observation of 54 cases of male infertility
treated by acupuncture and moxibustion] Journal of Chinese
Medicine, 1996 Sep; 52.
(6) A Chinese study was carried out on 248 males who
suffered from sperm abnormities, absence of ejaculation and
impotence. Treatment of acupuncture was given every other day.
20 treatments comprised one course. 2 courses were given (approx
2 months). About half of the patients with abnormal sperm
achieved good sperm count and motility. (20-60mill/ml with
20-60% motility and less than 20% deformity). 52 % of patients
with abnormal sperm failed to respond, a large percentage of
those (40%) who were diagnosed with azoospermia, failed to
respond at all.
Zhang J [The Acupuncture treatment of 248 cases of male
infertility], Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Vol 7, 1987.
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE BETTER THAN DRUGS FOR DYSMENORRHOEA (PAINFUL PERIODS).
The evidence supporting the use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for primary dysmenorrhoea is promising, but better quality research on the subject is still required. These are the conclusions of a systematic review by Australian researchers, which included 39 RCTs involving a total of 3475 women. CHM was found to result in significant improvements in pain relief, overall symptoms and use of additional medication when compared with use of pharmaceutical drugs. CHM also resulted in better pain relief than either acupuncture or heat compression in the studies analysed. There were no indications that CHM caused any adverse events. (Chinese herbal medicine for primary dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Oct 17;(4):CD005288).
Research into Recurrent Miscarriage & Chinese Herbal Medicine
(1) The effect of Chinese herbal medicine in
threatened miscarriage was observed in a study at Shanghai
Gynaecology & Obstetrics Department of Shanghai Medical
University. In 40 women with threatened abortion and a history
of miscarriage, blood test showed threatened abortion (TA),
compared to the blood test of normal pregnant women (The plasma
beta-EP level in TA was significantly higher than that in normal
pregnant women, P < 0.01. On the contrary, plasma GnRH, HCG and
P4 were obviously lower in TA as compared with those of the
normal cases, P < 0.01.) After treatment with Chinese herbal
medicine that supported reproduction and blood circulation and
protected the foetus, 36 of the 40 patients continued their
pregnancy without symptoms of TA, and the above-mentioned four
criteria measured at 10-12th week of gestation were similar to
those of normal cases, P > 0.05. The authors concluded that
Chinese herbal Medicine can regulate plasma beta-EP and
placental endocrine function in threatened abortion in women
with a history of recurrent miscarriage.
Sun F, Yu J. [Effect of TCM on plasma beta-endorphin and
placental endocrine in threatened abortion] Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi
Jie He Za Zhi. 1999 Feb; 19 (2):87-9.
(2) A study in Japan showed that recurrent
miscarriages with an immunological component (rejection of the
foetus as foreign) benefit positively to the treatment with
Chinese herbal medicine. Twelve patients with recurrent abortion
who had shown positive anti-phospholipid antibodies were treated
through the administration of a Japanese modified traditional
Chinese herbal medicine Sairei-To (Cai ling Tang). The patients
had experienced a total of 27 spontaneous abortions in their
previous pregnancies and had no other pregnancy history except
for one patient. The patients were treated with 9.0 g of Sairei-To
per day before their next pregnancy. The positive value of
antiphospholipid antibodies returned to negative in 9 patients
out of 12 patients through the treatment. Out of 12 patients, 10
patients continued their new pregnancy uneventfully, and they
delivered an offspring (Success rate: 83.3%). Thus, the current
treatment was considered to be an effective therapy for patients
with recurrent abortion whose miscarriage is immune related
(positive anti-phospholipid antibodies).
Takakuwa K, Yasuda M, Hataya I, Sekizuka N, Tamura M, Arakawa M,
Higashino M, Hasegawa I, Tanaka K. Treatment for patients with
recurrent abortion with positive antiphospholipid antibodies
using a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. J Med. 1996;
24(5):489-94.
Chinese herbs & Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
A team of researchers led by Alan Bensoussan of the University of Western Sydney Macarthur in Australia has confirmed that Chinese herbal medicine can ease the symptoms of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. It is estimated that about 10% to 20% of adults suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. The Australian research placed 116 patients with irritable bowel syndrome on one of three treatment regimens: i. individually tailored Chinese herbal therapy; ii. a standard Chinese herbal formulation; or iii. a placebo. Patients were not informed as to which of the three formulations they were receiving. The authors report that after four months of treatment, standard or individualised herbal therapies were associated with "significant improvement in bowel symptom scores". 76% of patients on standard herbal therapy and 64% of those on individualised therapy reported symptom improvement, compared with just 33% of patients in the placebo group. The researchers found little difference in initial improvement rates between those patients receiving either individualised or standard Chinese herbal therapies. But Bensoussan and colleagues suggest that individual therapies may work better over the long-term. At 14 weeks after the end of treatment "patients in the individualised treatment group ... maintained more substantial improvement" than patients in the other two groups, they report. (The Journal of the American Medical Association 1998;280:1585-1589. 2)
Psoriasis and Chinese herbal medicine
A clinical trial at the famous Beijing Guan Anmen hospital,
Department of Dermatology by professor Zhu Renkang enrolled 108
patients with widespread plaque psoriasis to investigate the
efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating this stubborn
disease. The patient group were assigned to one of two groups -
either “Hot blood type”, or “Dry blood type” of psoriasis (in
accordance to principles of Chinese medicine where the
morphology of the lesions and other symptoms and signs,
including the appearance of the tongue, is taken into account).
The administration of Chinese herbs continued for up to 24 weeks
(average was 18 weeks). The following results were recorded:
“Hot blood” group (54 patients)
72.2% had total clearing of skin; 11.1% had significant
improvement (over 80% improvement); 11.1% had some improvement
(between 30-80% improvement); 3% had no change.
“Dry blood” group (54 patients)
59.2% had total clearing of skin; 16.7% had significant
improvement (over 80% improvement); 18.5% had some improvement
(between 30-80% improvement); 6% had no change.
The patients from both groups who had total clearing were
followed up for 12-32 months and assessed for the condition of
their skin. 63.6% remained stable, 5% had mild relapse, whilst
25% had total relapse. (Reported in the Zhongyi Zazhi (The
Journal of Traditional Chinese medicine) 1981. 4. P22-24 Author
Zhuren Kang).
Chinese Herbs Effective for Allergic Rhinitis
An Australian study has demonstrated the benefits of a Chinese herbal preparation (Biminne) in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) Hay fever. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 58 patients received 5 capsules of either Biminne or placebo, twice a day for 12 weeks. Outcomes were assessed by changes in symptom diaries, quality of life scores, patients' evaluations of improvement on visual analog scores, physicians' overall evaluation, and total serum immunoglobulin E levels. A statistically significant improvement was found in the symptoms of AR, whereas others exhibited a positive trend that did not reach statistical significance. Total serum immunoglobulin E was reduced after the herbal treatment. A follow-up one year after completion of the trial suggested that benefit of the treatment persisted. (Annals Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002 May;88(5):478-87).
Chinese Medicine and Hayfever
In a randomised blinded trial, 52 patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) were assigned to an active treatment group or a control group. The active group received a semi-standardised acupuncture treatment, once a week, and an appropriate Chinese herbal formula, taken as a decoction three times daily for six weeks. The control group received acupuncture applied to non-points and a “non-specific herbal formula”. 85% of patients in the active group experienced improvement in the Global Assessment of Change scale compared to 40% of the control group. (Allergy. 2004 Sep;59(9):953-60).
Chinese Herbs and the Treatment of Allergic Asthma
An oral combination of Chinese herbs could be as effective as
conventional medicines at alleviating asthma symptoms but
without such severe side effects, report American and Chinese
researchers. The researchers, from the world famous Mount Sinai
School of Medicine in New York along with Weifang Asthma
Hospital and Weifang School of Medicine in China, sought to
investigate alternatives to corticosteroids, the “cornerstone”
of Western asthma treatment. Since corticosteroids can cause
side effects, such as greater susceptibility to infections due
to immune suppression and reduced growth velocity, they said
that there is a need for additional effective treatments with
fewer side effects. In China, traditional medicine is part of
mainstream practice, and has been used for centuries for
treating a wide range of disease, however relatively little
clinical research has been carried out into traditional Chinese
medicine for asthma, say the researchers. For the double-blind
placebo-controlled study published in the September issue of the
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (vol. 116, issue 3),
they investigated the effects of a combination of Chinese herbal
extracts (dubbed ASHMI - antiasthma herbal medicine
intervention). The trial involved 91 subjects with moderate to
severe persistent asthma. They were admitted to hospital for the
four-week duration. Forty-six patients were randomly assigned to
receive ASHMI as well as placebo tablets similar in appearance
to prednisone, an oral administration of the hormone cortisone.
The 46 patients in the placebo group received 20mg of prednisone
per day, plus placebo resembling ASHMI.
The researchers measured participants’ lung function, side
effects and serum cortisol, cytokine and igE levels before and
after treatment. The effects of prednisone and ASHMI on lung
function were “slightly but significantly greater” with
prednisone. However unlike prednisone, ASHMI was seen to have no
adverse effects on adrenal function, and had a beneficial effect
on TH1 and TH2 cytokine levels.
In addition, fewer patients receiving ASHMI experienced gastric
discomfort compared to those receiving prednisone, and the
prednisone patients showed significant weight gain after four
weeks of treatment. “Taken together, the findings of this study
show that ASHMI is effective and well-tolerated in nonsteroid-dependent
patients with moderate-severe persistent asthma,” wrote the
researchers. They said that the mechanisms underlying its
“remarkable” effects are largely unknown but that they are
likely to be the result of synergistic or additive effects of
the complex nature of its constituents.
Cancer and Chinese herbal medicine
Wang B, Liu X, Wu Z. [Effect of qi replenishing and blood
circulation activating drugs in treatment of middle-advanced
pancreatic cancer with radio- and chemotherapy] [Article in
Chinese] Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2000;20(10):736-8.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Qi replenishing and blood
circulation activating drugs (QRBCAD) in treatment of
middle-advanced pancreatic cancer with radio- and chemotherapy.
METHODS: Patients were divided randomly into two groups, 28
patients treated with radiotherapy and intervention treatment as
Group A and 30 patients treated with the same therapy but with
additional QRBCAD medication as the Group B, and the effects in
the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The short-term effective
rate in Group A and B was 53.6% and 67.6% respectively (P <
0.05). The remission rates of jaundice and abdominal pain in
Group A were 57.1% and 50.0% respectively, while in Group B,
83.3% and 76.7% respectively, there was significant difference
between the two groups, P < 0.05. The gastroenteric reaction
occurred in Group B was significantly lesser than that in Group
A, P < 0.05. The 1- and 2-year survival rate in Group A were 50%
and 21.4%, and in Group B, 80.0% and 46.6% respectively,
significant difference (P < 0.05) showed in comparison of the
two groups. CONCLUSION: QRBCAD could alleviate the gastroenteric
reaction caused by radio- and chemotherapy, raise the clinical
symptomatic effective rate of treatment, and prolong the 1- and
2-year survival rate of patients.
Anti-cancer medicine
A study by European researchers has discovered why a Chinese
herbal prescription can inhibit some forms of cancer. The study
has shown how indirubin, an active ingredient in the traditional
prescription Danggui Longhui Wan, works to halt enzymes that
promote cell growth. A type of enzyme or protein known as cyclin-dependent
kinases (CDK) triggers
cell divisions, and indirubin inhibits CDK. Clinical trials on
indirubin in mainland China have found that 26 per cent of 314
chronic myelocytic leukaemia patients showed complete remission
and 33 per cent partial remission. Toxicity {of indirubin} was
low and side effects were limited to mild abdominal pain,
diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.Studies are ongoing to further
investigate the molecular basis of the efficacies of traditional
Chinese medicines as well as their use as potential therapeutic
agents in the treatment of cancer. (Nature Cell Biology, May
1999).
Chinese anti-cancer herb
(1) Ban Zhi Lian (Herba Scutellariae Barbatae): has been used in recent years in China in the treatment of cancer. Now researchers at Salford University in the UK have found in laboratory trials that the herb destroys the blood vessels supplying tumours. Conventional anti-cancer drugs attack cancer cells themselves but have the side effect of harming healthy cells, leading to side effects. The effect of Ban Zhi Lian appears to be very specific and the “very exciting” findings will be tested in live trials within 18 months and human trials within 3 years, subject to funding. (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3165619).
(2) Ginger and turmeric fight cancer: Ginger: turmeric
and other members of the Zingiberaceae family of rhizomes have a
long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Ginger, for
example, is widely used in the treatment of stomach problems,
nausea, vomiting, epilepsy, sore throat, cough, bruises, wounds,
childbirth, sore eyes, liver complaints, rheumatism, asthma, and
many other disorders. Researchers at the Forest Research
Institute of Malaysia now report that several members of the
Zingiberaceae family effectively block the promotion of
cancerous tumors. They tested 11 different species and found
that seven of them had strong anti-tumor properties. Their test
involved a short term assay of the inhibitory effect of extracts
of the rhizomes (roots) on human cancer cells. They found that
turmeric (Curcuma domestica) extracts (turmeric root extracted
with petroleum ether, chloroform or ethanol) completely
inhibited further growth of the cancer cells. Ginger (Zingiber
officinale) extracts, especially the chloroform extract, also
inhibited further growth, but the concentration of extract was
more critical than for the turmeric extracts. The researchers
conclude that turmeric, ginger and other Zingiberaceae rhizomes
may be useful in preventing the promotion of cancer and that
populations with high risks of cancer should be encouraged to
include them in their diet. Further work is now underway to
isolate the active components in the plants.?Vimala, S., et al.
Anti-tumour promoter activity in Malaysian ginger rhizobia used
in traditional medicine. British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 80, No.
1/2, April 1999, pp. 110-16.
Recommended books.