Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine : A randomized controlled trial

Author(s): Bensoussan, A., Talley, N. J. , Hing, M. , Menzies, R. , Guo, A. , Ngu, M.

Journal/Book: JAMA. 1998; 280(18): 1585-1589.

Abstract: Abstract Context.-Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. Objective.-To determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is of any benefit in the treatment of IBS, Design.-Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted during 1996 through 1997, Setting.-Patients were recruited through 2 teaching hospitals and 5 private practices of gastroenterologists, and received CHM in 3 Chinese herbal clinics. Patients.-A total of 116 patients who fulfilled the Rome criteria, an established standard for diagnosis of IBS. imes daily for 16 weeks and were evaluated regularly by a traditional Chinese herbalist and by a gastroenterologist. Patients, gastroenterologists, and herbalists were all blinded to treatment group. nt group maintained improvement. Conclusion.-Chinese herbal formulations appear to offer improvement in symptoms for some patients with IBS.

Keyword(s): tcm. Colon irritable.

Zurück | Weiter