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

摘要: Context.—Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional disorder for which there no reliable medical treatment.Objective.—To determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) of any benefit in the treatment IBS.Design.—Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted during 1996 through 1997.Setting.—Patients were recruited 2 teaching hospitals and 5 private practices of gastroenterologists, received CHM in 3 clinics.Patients.—A total 116 patients who fulfilled Rome criteria, an established standard for diagnosis IBS.Intervention.—Patients randomly allocated to 1 groups: individualized Chinese formulations (n=38), standard formulation (n=43), or placebo (n=35). Patients capsules times daily for 16 weeks evaluated regularly by traditional herbalist and by gastroenterologist. Patients, herbalists were all blinded group.Main Outcome Measures.—Change symptom scale scores global improvement assessed by gastroenterologists change degree interference in life caused IBS symptoms assessed patients.Results.—Compared with group, active treatment groups (standard individualized CHM) had significant improvement in as rated (P = .03) = .001), significant global (P=.007) and (P=.002). reported that significantly reduced interference life caused (P=.03). formulations individually tailored patient proved more effective than standard CHM treatment. On follow-up 14 after completion treatment, only the individualized group maintained improvement.Conclusion.—Chinese appear offer symptoms for some IBS.