some IBS study details

[Guest guest]

note this particularly: On follow-up 14 weeks after completion of

treatment, ONLY the individualized CHM treatment group maintained

improvement.

 

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese Herbal Medicine: A

Randomized Controlled Trial

------

AUTHOR(S):

Bensoussan A, Talley NJ, Hing M, Menzies R, Guo A, Ngu M

SOURCE:

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

OBJECTIVE:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for

which there is no reliable medical treatment. The study was conducted to

determine the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the treatment

of IBS.

METHOD:

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from

1996 to 1997. Patients were recruited through two teaching hospitals and

five private practices of gastroenterologists, and received CHM in three

Chinese herbal clinics. A total of 116 patients who fulfilled the Rome

criteria (an established standard for diagnosis of IBS), participated in

the trial. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the three treatment

groups: individualized Chinese herbal formulations (n = 38), a standard

Chinese herbal formulation (n = 43), or placebo (n = 35). Patients

received five capsules three times 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.

RESULT:

Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the active

treatment groups (standard and individualized CHM) had significant

improvement in bowel symptom scores as rated by patients (P=. 03) and by

gastroenterologists (P=. 001), and significant global improvement as rated

by patients (P=. 007) and by gastroenterologists (P=. 002). Patients

reported that treatment significantly reduced the degree of interference

with life caused by IBS symptoms (P=. 03). Chinese herbal formulations

individually tailored to the patient proved no more effective than

standard CHM treatment. On follow-up 14 weeks after completion of

treatment, only the individualized CHM treatment group maintained

improvement.

CONCLUSION:

Chinese herbal formulations appear to offer improvement in symptoms for

some patients with IBS

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

Todd-

 

note this particularly: On follow-up 14 weeks after completion of treatment,

ONLY the individualized CHM treatment group maintained

improvement.

 

I noticed this also when I read the article, and thought it to be

one of the more interesting results of the study. Do you know of

any other articles that specifically follow this result with more

study? Thanks.

 

-Steve

--

 

Stephen Bonzak

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