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CHINESE MEDICINE RESEARCH & LINKS
Chinese Herb Enhances Recovery of Stressed Cells
Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that extracts from the Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis, contain powerful antioxidants that can significantly reduce cellular damage due to free radicals--highly reactive compounds that are generated during metabolism and which contribute to the normal wear and tear of the cell.
Chinese Medicines offer Promis in the Treatment of Diabetes
A number of traditional Chinese herbs may help control blood sugar levels in people at high risk of diabetes, a new research review suggests. The findings appear in the Cochrane Library, which is published by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research.
The review, which examined 16 clinical trials of 15 different herbal formulations, found that the herbs generally helped lower blood sugar levels in people with "pre-diabetes" -- those with impaired blood-sugar control that can progress to full-blown type 2 diabetes.
Triptolide, an active compound identified in a traditional Chinese herb, induces apoptosis of rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts
Rheumatoid arthritis
DALLAS, TEXAS. Extracts of the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) have been used for centuries in China to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, eczema, scleroderma, and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Originally, a hot water extract of the plant was used, but this approach had many adverse effects. In the 1970s two new extracts were developed; one is an ethyl acetate extract while the other, now known as T2, is a chloroform-methanol extract. One randomized, double-blind trial involving 70 patients with RA compared the effect of 20 mg of T2 taken three times daily with a placebo. Approximately 90 per cent of the patients treated with T2 experienced significant improvement. Trials involving several hundred patients with SLE have shown significant beneficial effects of T2 and a much reduced need for prednisone. Favourable results have also been reported in the treatment of systemic sclerosis and various kidney disorders. Although highly effective in many cases, T2 can have adverse effects especially on the gastrointestinal tract. Says Drs. Tao and Lipsky of the University of Texas "Treatment with extracts of TwHF is effective in most patients with rheumatic disease; however, close medical supervision is essential in order to avoid serious adverse effects." [117 references]
Tao, Xuelian and Lipsky, Peter E. The Chinese anti-immunosuppressive herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Rheumatic Diseases II, Vol. 26, No. 1, February 2000, pp. 29-50
Isolated Compound from Chinese Herb Proven to Work in Collagen-Induced Arthritis
Review of Herbs for Improving Cognitive Function
Howes, M.J. and Houghton, P.J. Plants used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine for improvement of memory and cognitive function. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior 75(3):513-27.
In traditional practices of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, numerous plants have been used to treat cognitive disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). An ethnopharmacological approach has provided leads to identifying potential new drugs from plant sources, including those for cognitive disorders. Many drugs currently available in Western medicine were originally isolated from plants, or are derived from templates of compounds isolated from plants. Some anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) alkaloids isolated from plants have been investigated for their potential in the treatment of AD, and are now in clinical use. Galantamine, isolated from several plants including Lycoris radiata Herb, which was used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of mild to moderate AD. Various other plant species have shown pharmacological activities relevant to the treatment of cognitive disorders, indicating potential for therapeutic use in disorders such as AD. This article reviews some of the plants and their active constituents that have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and TCM for their reputed cognitive-enhancing or antiageing effects. Plants and their constituents with pharmacological activities that may be relevant for the treatment of cognitive disorders, including enhancement of cholinergic function in the central nervous system (CNS), anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, are discussed
Effects of ginkgo/ginseng combination studied in healthy middle-aged adults
British researchers conducted the first clinical trial to study the effects of a ginkgo/Panax ginseng combination on mental function in healthy, middle-aged volunteers. Previous studies of these herbs have focused on elderly people or those with memory impairment. The study involved 256 volunteers aged 38-66. Participants took a ginkgo/ginseng extract combination or placebo for 14 weeks, and then completed the Computerized Cognitive Assessment System battery of tests. According to the test results, the extract group had 7.5 percent better cognitive function than the placebo group, a statistically significant difference. The study was a double-blind, randomized, multi-center trial using Pharmaton’s Ginkoba M/E. Results were presented at a National Institute of Mental Health seminar.
PRNewswire, June 6, 2000.
28-site Trial Studying Chinese Herb As Alzheimer's Treatment
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Effects of dexfenfluramine on aristolochic acid nephrotoxicity in a rat model for Chinese-herb nephropathy
Pharmacological Profile of Huperzine A, a Novel
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor from Chinese Herb
Effects of Chinese herbs on mammalian retinal functions.
J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 1996 Fall;12(3):377-86. Related Articles, Links
Liu SX, Chiou GC.
Institute of Ocular Pharmacology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station
Ocular ischemia and inflammation are two major factors which induce retinal degeneration. Treatment of these diseases has been difficult, though numerous agents have been tried. Natural products could be a good field to venture into because various medicinal plants have been used for centuries to treat circulation stasis, inflammation, visual disturbances, and eyesight failure. Tetramethyl-pyrazine, coumarin, methyl tyramine, rescinnamine, apocynin, and hesperetin are some natural products isolated from Chinese herbs for improving ocular blood flow, particularly in the choroid and retina. For ocular inflammation, at least a dozen natural products are reviewed in this article. Among those, matrine, tetrandrine and osthole draw particular attention, because they are effective mainly as interleukin-1 blockers, but not as arachidonate blockers. As a result, these agents are potent anti-inflammatory agents and are even more potent than the prototype corticosteroid, prednisolone. It is hoped that all aforementioned agents can be used to treat retinopathies resulting from ocular ischemia and/or ocular inflammation. Scoparone, corylifolinin, epigallocatechin-3-0-gallate, esculetin, and lespedezaflavanone A are some natural products which can improve retinal functions measured with electroretinogram's b-wave recovery. Further research should be carried out to relate natural products which can improve ocular blood flow and inflammation to retinal function and vice versa.
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Phytotherapy aids in benzodiazepine withdrawal
Chinese herb alleviates Malaria Ancient Chinese herb rediscovered
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. The World Health Organization has come out in support of the use of wormwood extract (from the qinghao plant) in the fight against malaria. Malaria affects over 250 million people and kills over 2 million children annually in the tropical world. The use of qinghao for medicinal purposes was first reported in 168 B.C. In the early 70's Chinese scientists rediscovered the herb and by 1979 they had conducted extensive clinical studies which proved its effectiveness in combatting malaria. Western pharmaceutical companies have now spent 13 years in trying to synthezise the active component of wormwood. Their synthetic product has yet to undergo human testing with the result that this life-saving drug is still not available outside of China and Vietnam. The Chinese have proven the efficacy and safety of wormwood for over 2000 years; yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration still classifies it as dangerous.
The Lancet, March 14, 1992, pp. 649-50
Chinese herb proves effective against malaria
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM. It is estimated that about two million people die every year from malaria. Since 1981 between 20 and 40 million people have died from the disease - this compares to about 2.5 million deaths caused by the AIDS virus in the same period. Malaria is caused by a parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and is usually treated with quinine or quinidine. Unfortunately, it appears that P. falciparum is developing resistance to quinine making this drug less effective. Chinese scientists discovered 25 years ago that extracts from the herb qinghaosu (wormwood) are highly effective in treating malaria. These extracts have been used in China and Vietnam for several years as an alternative to quinine. Now teams of Vietnamese and Dutch researchers report that the wormwood extract artemether is as effective as quinine in treating severe malaria in adults and cerebral malaria in children. As a matter of fact, the artemether cleared the parasites from the blood quicker than did quinine and resulted in significantly lower mortality rate. So far the quinine-resistant parasites have only surfaced in Asia, but they are expected to become established in Africa within five years and at that time malaria deaths in Africa are estimated to rise to seven million a year. Dr. Piero Olliaro of the Tropical Diseases Research Program in Geneva believes that the use of artemether could avert the crisis, but that people in Africa may not be able to afford the $20 cost of the treatment that could save their lives. Dr. Olliaro goes on to say that "drug firms have been slow to develop artemether, because they cannot apply for patents on a drug that is already used in traditional Chinese medicine...."
Van Hensbroek, Michael Boele, et al. A trial of artemether or quinine in children with cerebral malaria. New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 335, No. 2, July 11, 1996, pp. 69-75
Tinh Hien, Tran, et al. A controlled trial of artemether or quinine in Vietnamese adults with severe falciparum malaria. New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 335, No. 2, July 11, 1996, pp. 76-83
Hoffman, Stephen L. Artemether in severe malaria - still too many deaths. New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 335, No. 2, July 11, 1996, pp. 124-25
Day, Michael. Malaria falls to herbal remedy. New Scientist, July 13, 1996, p. 4
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Chinese herbal medicine effective in IBS
Chinese medicine alleviates irritable bowel syndrome
CAMPBELLTOWN, AUSTRALIA. It is estimated that 10-20 per cent of the population of the United States and Australia suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This chronic or recurrent condition is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea. Traditional Chinese herbal remedies are routinely used in China to treat the condition, but so far have not been generally accepted by conventional Western medicine. This may now change as medical researchers at the University of Sydney have just released a report showing that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is indeed effective in the treatment of IBS. Their year-long, randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled trial involved 116 patients with IBS diagnosed by gastroenterologists. The patients were randomized into three groups. The first group of 38 patients received individualized CHM (prescribed by Chinese herbalists), the second group of 43 patients received a standard CHM for IBS (supplied by Mei Yu Imports, Sydney, Australia), and the third group of 35 patients received a placebo. All participants took five capsules three times daily during the 16-week treatment period. At the end of the treatment there was a significant improvement among the patients who had received CHM. According to evaluations carried out by gastroenterologists 59 per cent of the patients in the standard CHM group had markedly improved their condition as compared to 40 per cent in the individualized CHM group and 19 per cent in the placebo group. Patients receiving CHM also reported that the treatment had resulted in the IBS causing less interference in their lives. The patients were re-evaluated 14 weeks after the end of the treatment. At this time, only the patients who had received individualized CHM still showed significant improvement. The researchers conclude that Chinese herbal medicines can be effective in the management of irritable bowel syndrome.
Bensoussan, Alan, et al. Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine. Journal of the American MedicalAssociation, Vol. 280, November 11, 1998, pp. 1585-89
Chinese Herbs Ineffectve for IBS http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_37819.html
Friday, August 25, 2006
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A centuries-old Chinese herbal medicine prescribed for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) appears to be ineffective, Hong Kong researchers report.But because the medicine is so complex, consisting of 11 herbs, it may be worthwhile to test other formulations in these patients, the researchers conclude. Dr. Wai K. Leung of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and colleagues compared the formulation with placebo in a group of 119 patients with IBS primarily characterized by diarrhea. All had a diagnosis of IBS that had been verified by Western criteria and by the rules of traditional Chinese medicine.
In Chinese medicine, Leung and his team note, diarrhea-predominant IBS is thought to be due to "stagnation of liver energy attacking the spleen resulting in dysfunction of the transportation and transformation function of the spleen." The remedy for these symptoms is the Tong Xie Yao Fang formulation, which dates back to the 1600s.
In the study, patients dissolved the herbal remedy or a placebo herbal mix in hot water and took it twice daily for eight weeks. After the 8-week treatment period and eight weeks after treatment ended, there was no difference between the two groups in IBS symptoms or quality of life.
However, the researchers note, the placebo effect seen in the study -- with 46.6 percent of patients reporting improvement in their symptoms after four weeks of treatment -- was higher than reported in most other IBS studies."While Chinese herbal formulations usually comprise multiple herbs, more work may have to be done to characterize the proper preparation to be used in the treatment of IBS patients," the researchers write. "A properly controlled clinical trial is essential in this aspect because of the high placebo response of Chinese patients to traditional Chinese medicine," they add.
SOURCE: American Journal of Gastroenterology, July 2006.
Research and Development of the Natural Anti-viral Agents
CHINESE HERB RESPONSE TO FLU PANDEMIC: Avian Flu and Other Epidemics
Chinese Herb for Treatment of HIV/AIDS
Ninety Anti-HIV Active Chinese Medicinal Herbs
By Luo Shide, Fan Duoqing. Kunming Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Kunming 650204, China
Of the approximately 5000 Chinese Herbs, over 700 species are frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Since 1987, we have studied the Anti- HIV activities of the various solvent extracts of these herbs, and have found 90 of them (about 13 percents) showed some activities.Our result suggests that the activities of most herbs are
relatively week while the toxicities are strong, which hinder the direct
clinical use of them in AIDS treatments. Usually isolation and purification are
needed to gain pure active compounds so as to reduce the toxicities and enhance
the activities. Many of our works have been done in this field and some results
have applied Chinese Patent (CN 1107152A). on the other hand, according to the
Monarch, Minister, Assistant and Guide principle of TCM theory, the side effects
can be reduced through proper composition.
Aids and Addiction: A Model of Long Term Care
Anti-HIV Properties of Chinese Medicinal Herbs - H.C.X.
Objective: To evaluate Chinese Herbal Complex X for anti-HIV activity.
Materials: Lonicera japonica; Taraxacum monoglicum; Phellodendron Chinese; Coix lacryma-jobi; Astragalus membranaceus; Boswellia carterii etc.
Methods: The plaque-assays of evaluation of HCX had carried out in virology laboratory, Division of Medical Microbiology, VGH. Results: 25-50% HCX was non-toxic and displayed significant anti-Sindbis virus activity; 20-40% HCX had anti-mouse cytomegalovirus activity effects, but less than the former. The tests for anti-HIV activity were carried out in the B.C. Provincial AIDS Lab. (B.C. Centre for Disease Control) in conformity with regulations for HIV culture work. The extract, derived by steam extraction of HCX powder, is considered the starting material (100%) after making isotonic with concentrated saline solution. The extract was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 20 minutes in the Sorvall centrifuge to pellet particular material. The clear supernatant was diluted with an equal volume of double-strength medium and filtered. The extract was then diluted with different volumes of medium and mixed (in duplicate) with an equal volume of HIV (103 TCD50) in the wells of tissue culture trays. Final concentrations of the extract (100µ1+100µ1virus) were 50, 30, 20, 10, 5 and 0%. The mixtures were incubated at 37Üc for 60 minutes and 4x105 CEM cells, in 2.0 ml complete medium (10% serum) were added to each culture well. At 5 days culture supernat. were removed for p24 antigen assays.
Conclusions: 1) HCX had significant anti-HIV activity. At concentration 50%, there were no viral CPE, i.e. the virus had been completely destroyed. 2) There was no difference between the extracts derived from 4 different sources.
Using Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture to Treat HIV/AIDS: an Analysis of 201 Cases
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Lower your cholesterol naturally
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. A high cholesterol level is generally believed to be associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Cholesterol levels can be lowered through dietary changes or by prescription drugs. Now researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine report that a natural supplement based on Chinese red-yeast-rice is highly effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Red yeast rice is a fermented rice product on which a red yeast (Monascus purpureus) has been grown. It was first described in 800 AD and has been widely used in China for many years. The UCLA double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 83 healthy men and women with elevated cholesterol levels. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either four red-yeast-rice capsules daily (containing a total of 2.4 grams of the yeast-rice) or four placebo capsules. All participants were following a diet similar to the American Heart Association Step I diet (less than 30 per cent of energy from fat, less than 10 per cent of energy from saturated fat, and less than 300 mg cholesterol daily). Blood samples for cholesterol analysis were drawn at the start of the study and after 8, 9, 11 and 12 weeks when the study ended. After eight weeks the average total cholesterol level in the red-yeast-rice group was almost 50 mg/dL (1.19 mmol/L) lower than in the placebo group and after 12 weeks the cholesterol level in the rice-yeast group had dropped by 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) as compared to a 5 mg/dL (0.13 mmol/L) drop in the placebo group. Average low density cholesterol (LDL) concentrations dropped by over 20 per cent after eight weeks (1.0 mmol/L or 39 mg/dL) in the rice-yeast group while no change was observed in the placebo group. The level of high density cholesterol (HDL) did not change in either group. No adverse effects of the red-yeast-rice were observed. The researchers conclude that red-yeast-rice is a safe and effective supplement for lowering cholesterol levels and point out that it is almost 10 times cheaper than conventional cholesterol-lowering drugs. NOTE: This study was supported in part by Pharmanex Inc., the manufacturer of the red-yeast-rice supplement Cholestin.
Heber, David, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 69, February 1999, pp. 231-36
Havel, Richard J. Dietary supplement or drug? The case of Cholestin. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 69, February 1999, pp. 175- 76
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Chinese Herb/Chemotherapy Interactions in Breast Cancer
Laboratory Testing of Chinese Herbs Used for Breast Cancer
Form of Chinese herb found to temper immune system and kill cancer cells
Ginger and turmeric fight cancer
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. Ginger, turmeric and other members of the Zingiberaceae family of rhizomes have a long history of use in Malaysian traditional 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
Chinese Herb May Slow Down Cancer
Introduction of Research of Effect of Chinese Herbs on Cancer Cells
ESTROGEN DEPENDENT TUMORS AND HERBS
Extract of Chinese Herbs Kills Prostate Cancer Cells
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Chinese Herb and Alchoholism
Kudzu (otherwise known as Pueraria lobata) is one of the earliest medicinal plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. Researchers at the Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA have many profound pharmacological actions including antidipsotropic (anti-alcohol abuse) activity. Although both the roots and flowers of kudzu, Radix and Flos puerariae, respectively, have been used to treat alcohol abuse safely and effectively in China for more than a millennium.
Keung WM; Vallee BL. Kudzu root: an ancient Chinese source of modern antidipsotropic agents. Phytochemistry (UNITED STATES) Feb 1998, 47 (4) p499-506
Several viewpoints about the pharmacological research on Chinese herb recipe
Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China. chenghailiu@hotmail.com
Chinese herb recipe is widely applied and plays a key role in traditional Chinese medicine. However, it involves complicated aspects, and the mechanism researches of Chinese herb recipe had few breakthroughs. The author discussed the questions in the scopes as follows: drug mechanism and chemical components, old typical and current experimental recipes, drug action and its pathological mechanisms. The author believed that the recipe with solid clinical effect should be investigated combining the single herb with its chemical components, and combining the pharmacological mechanism of the recipe with the pathological mechanism of the diseases. More attention should be paid to effect of the research on the improvement of the traditional Chinese medical theory, and efforts should be made to investigate the recipe mechanism relating to molecular signal transduction and the key chemical components.
PMID: 15339576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Asthma
One study involvs a Chinese herb preparation called Xifukang published in 1990. The results of treatment of 53 patients indicated that the clinical symptoms including cough, sputum production, chest pain, weakness, etc. were markedly improved and measurements of pulmonary function significantly enhanced . The researchers concluded that the therapeutic mechanism of Xifukang included promoting blood circulation to eliminate blood stasis, increasing ventilation, protecting dust-cells, resisting fibrosis, regulating immune function, enhancing lung clearance, and postponing and preventing development of silicosis.
[Clinical therapeutic effect of xifukang in 53 patients with silicosis]Ye Y; Wang X; Zhong Y. Yiyang Serpentine Mine Occupational Hospital, Jiangxi. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih Jul 1990, 10 (7) p420-1, 389
Review of research on ginkgo as a treatment for tinnitus
In this paper, researchers review five randomized, placebo-controlled studies of ginkgo extract's ability to relieve the symptoms of tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Four of the studies-which included 521 patients total - showed significant decreases in the loudness, severity, and/or frequency of symptoms for patients treated with ginkgo. The fifth study, involving 20 patients, found no difference between ginkgo and placebo. The authors believe that the treatment dose in that study - 16.2 mg/day - was too small to be effective. Doses of 120 to 160 mg/day were used in the other studies. The reviewers suggest that additional studies, using rigorous and consistent methods, are needed before concluding that ginkgo is an effective treatment for tinnitus. Ernst E, Stevinson C. Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus: a review. Clinical Otolaryngology 1999; 24:164-67.
Large study concludes ginkgo is ineffective in tinnitus
A 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 978 people (489 matched pairs) concluded that Ginkgo biloba extract was no more effective than placebo in improving symptoms of tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Effects were assessed via questionnaires at baseline, after four and 12 weeks of treatment, and again two weeks after treatment ended. In addition to questions about the severity of tinnitus, the questionnaires included items on symptoms of cerebral insufficiency (inadequate blood flow to the brain) other than tinnitus. The researchers concluded that ginkgo "seems to be ineffective in treating tinnitus alone, but it may be effective in treating tinnitus in patients who also have other symptoms of cerebral insufficiency." The ginkgo preparation used in the study was the standardized extract LI 1370, manufactured by Berlin-based Lichtwer Pharma. Drew S, Davies E. Effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating tinnitus: double blind, placebo controlled trial. British Medical Journal 2001; 322:73-75.
Ginkgo relieves sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants
Patients taking prescription antidepressants often experience unwanted sexual side effects. In this open clinical trial, researchers treated 33 women and 30 men experiencing this problem with 80 to 120 mg of ginkgo extract per day. All patients continued taking their usual antidepressant medication during the trial. (Most were using SSRI-type drugs such as fluoxetine or sertraline.) At the end of the four-week trial, results were assessed through clinical interviews and patient self-reports. Ginkgo treatment was reported to be effective for 91 percent of female patients and 76 percent of males. All of the patients for whom ginkgo was effective expressed interest in continuing the herbal treatment. The authors mention possible mechanisms of action to explain ginkgo's observed effect and call for future double-blind studies on the topic. Cohen AJ, Bartlik B. Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 1998; 24:139-143.
Hong Kong
Government to Fund Herb Research and Register TCM Practitioners
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TCM and Eczema
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (T.C.H.M.) has been shown to be extremely effective in the treatment of eczema. A report in the British Journal of Dermatology (1) revealed the first clinical evidence of the value of T.C.H.M. through a controlled study carried out at the Department of Dermatology, Hospital for Sick Children, U.K.
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 for 8 weeks, with an intervening 4-week wash-out period.
Thirty-seven children tolerated the treatment (others found the decoctions too unpalatable to take) and completed the study. The response to the T.C.H.M. 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 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. (2) 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 T.C.H.M. is a valid therapeutic option available in the treatment of childhood 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 (3) 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.
Treatment of severe atopic eczema with Chinese herbal medicine
Chinese Medicine May Offer Relief for Skin Disorders
Chen, C.J. and Yu, H.S. Acupuncture, electrostimulation, and reflex therapy in dermatology. Dermatologic therapy 16(2):87-92.
Acupuncture is an old therapeutic method that includes both needle and nonneedle acupuncture. Nonneedle acupuncture includes moxibustion, cupping, and acupressure. In the field of dermatology, acupuncture has been reported to be beneficial for the treatment of acne, postherpetic neuralgia, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and urticaria. In acupuncture treatment of dermal diseases, both the filiform needle and the cutaneous needle are powerful tools. In the treatment of refractory dermal diseases, cutaneous needle acupuncture is usually followed by cupping to intensify the therapeutic effect. In cases where needle acupuncture is not possible, acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a good alternative. In addition, reflex therapy based on foot reflex areas may also be an alternative. A lack of controlled studies is the main drawback for the methods mentioned above. However, the experiences from experts in this field may offer us new ideas to resolve refractory disorders in dermatology.
Chinese herbal therapy combats dermatitis
LONDON, ENGLAND. Doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London have completed an evaluation of an ancient Chinese remedy for dermatitis. The combination used consisted of a mixture of 10 herbs and was first described in the Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor "published" between 300 and 100 BC. 40 adult patients with longstanding, widespread, atopic (genetically predisposed) dermatitis participated in the trial which lasted 5 months. Each patient was randomly allocated to receive either the herbal remedy or a placebo of similar taste and texture for an 8- week period. Followed by a 4-week wash-out period, the group originally receiving the herbal remedy received the placebo for 8 weeks and vice versa. The active herbs (and the placebo herbs) were prepared as a decoction each day and 200 ml of it consumed while still warm. 31 of the patients completed the study. Both groups showed a rapid and continued improvement in the extent of erythema (redness of the skin) and surface damage during the time they consumed the Chinese herbal remedy. The authors of the study conclude that the remedy is effective in treating adult atopic dermatitis, but warns that further experiments are needed to ensure its safety especially in patients suffering from liver or kidney complications.
The Lancet, July 4, 1992, pp. 13-17
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Chinese Herbs for Diabetes
TCM and Diabetes
According to a recent French study at the Universite Paris-Nord, hospital Jean-Verdier, France, TCM (traditional Chinese herbal medicine) offers effective treatment for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The French researchers evaluated the efficacy of a traditional Chinese treatment based on three plants in association with a sulfonylurea, glibenclamide (2.5 mg x 3/d). A randomized double-blind trial was established involving 4 groups of patients, all of whom were type 2 diabetic outpatients, 40-70 years of age, being treated by diet alone or oral anti-diabetic drugs.
216 patients from five different medical centres took part in the trial. Blood tests were used to monitor changes in blood sugar levels and insulaemia. The re-searchers found that those patients receiving the TCM treatment experienced significantly decreased blood glucose values only 2 hours after the test meal, although the beneficial effects were com-pounded when combined with glibenclamide. Hypoglycaemia occurred in 19 patients in the control groups but no instances were recorded in the TCM group.
This was the first multi centre controlled trial of TCM in relation to diabetes and the three Chinese plants tested were found to be well-tolerated and effective in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Hope-fully further research in this field will follow.
Vray M.; Attali JR.. Randomized study of glibenclamide versus traditional Chinese treatment in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes et Metabolisme
American ginseng improves glucose tolerance in diabetics and nondiabetics
A small, randomized clinical study showed that treatment with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) helped improve glucose tolerance in nondiabetic people as well as those with type II diabetes mellitus. For the study, 10 nondiabetic people and 9 people with type II diabetes received treatment with 3 g ginseng or placebo capsules either 40 minutes before or in combination with an oral glucose challenge. In nondiabetic participants, no difference was observed in glycemia between placebo and ginseng when the substances were administered along with glucose, but significant reductions were seen when ginseng was taken 40 minutes before the glucose challenge. However, compared with placebo, both ginseng dosage regimens improved glucose tolerance in the people with diabetes. The researchers cautioned that for nondiabetics, "to prevent unintended hypoglycemia, it may be important that the American ginseng be taken with meals." They also noted that the 3 g dose of ginseng used in their study is higher than that used in most other clinical studies, which is typically 1.5 g or less. Vuksan V, Stevenpiper JL, Koo VYY, et al. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Archives of Internal Medicine 2000; 160: 1009-1013.
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Food Allergies and Chinese Medicine
Twenty patients participated in this study. There were twelve men and eight women ranging in ages between 6-67 years old. They have all complained of food allergy gastritis after eating certain foods. The main symptoms were abdominal pain and distention, indigestion and diarrhea. A few had nausea and vomiting and some had complained of hives after eating the allergenic food. There were reports of asthma and joint pain. Some of the offending foods were shellfish, cow’s milk, walnuts, lamb and pork.
A daily formula was decocted and administered to each patient that consisted of Huang Qi, Bai Jiang Cao, Ma Chi Xian, Di Ku Dan, stir-fried Shan Zha, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Huang Qin, Hou Po, Huang Lian and Huo Xiang with some modifications for particular presenting symptoms.
According to the study, a cure was defined as a complete disappearance of symptoms, a negative skin patch test, a lowering of IgE levels to normal, and the ability to eat the offending foods without presenting symptoms for up to one year. Fourteen out of twenty were considered cured. Five patients improved and one patient did not improve. Improvement was defined as the disappearance of symptoms, lowering of IgE levels to normal, a positive skin patch test and some allergic symptoms after eating allergenic foods. Overall, there was a 95% effective rate.
Zhang Xin-Cheng, et al. Xin Zhong Yi (New Chinese Medicine). #9 pp.59-60. 2002
Chinese herbal therapy combats dermatitis
LONDON, ENGLAND. Doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London have completed an evaluation of an ancient Chinese remedy for dermatitis. The combination used consisted of a mixture of 10 herbs and was first described in the Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor "published" between 300 and 100 BC. 40 adult patients with longstanding, widespread, atopic (genetically predisposed) dermatitis participated in the trial which lasted 5 months. Each patient was randomly allocated to receive either the herbal remedy or a placebo of similar taste and texture for an 8- week period. Followed by a 4-week wash-out period, the group originally receiving the herbal remedy received the placebo for 8 weeks and vice versa. The active herbs (and the placebo herbs) were prepared as a decoction each day and 200 ml of it consumed while still warm. 31 of the patients completed the study. Both groups showed a rapid and continued improvement in the extent of erythema (redness of the skin) and surface damage during the time they consumed the Chinese herbal remedy. The authors of the study conclude that the remedy is effective in treating adult atopic dermatitis, but warns that further experiments are needed to ensure its safety especially in patients suffering from liver or kidney complications.
The Lancet, July 4, 1992, pp. 13-17
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