TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of a traditional herbal medicine on peripheral blood flow in women experiencing peripheral coldness
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Nishida, Shinji
AU - Eguchi, Eri
AU - Ohira, Tetsuya
AU - Kitamura, Akihiko
AU - Kato, Yukiko Hakariya
AU - Hagihara, Keisuke
AU - Iso, Hiroyasu
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors sincerely express their appreciation to all participants and professional staff at the Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion (Currently Osaka Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention). This work was supported by grants-in-aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Monbusho) 22590652.
Publisher Copyright:
© Nishida et al.; licensee BioMed Central.
PY - 2015/4/2
Y1 - 2015/4/2
N2 - Background: In Japan, a traditional herbal medicine, Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (TJ-38), is often used for the treatment of peripheral coldness, which is a common complaint among Japanese women. However, the effects of this herbal medicine have yet to be examined in a randomized controlled trial. In the current study, the effect of TJ-38 on the peripheral blood flow in women experiencing peripheral coldness was investigated using a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Methods: Fifty-eight women aged 23 to 79 years with peripheral coldness were randomly divided into the intervention or control group. They were examined using cold bathing tests, physical examinations, and questionnaires in January 2010 for the baseline and in March 2010 for the follow-up, and January 2011 and March 2011, respectively. Results: At the baseline, there were no differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. In the intervention group, peripheral coldness improved after the intervention term; however, it persisted in the control group. Mean values of percentage recovery of the peripheral blood flow after cold bathing tests were 17.2% and -28.2% for the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = 0.007), and the proportions for percentage recovery of >50% were 32% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.0007). Mean values of percent recovery of skin temperature did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: The present clinical trial supports that a traditional herbal medicine relieves peripheral coldness in women probably through the improvement of peripheral blood flow.
AB - Background: In Japan, a traditional herbal medicine, Tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto (TJ-38), is often used for the treatment of peripheral coldness, which is a common complaint among Japanese women. However, the effects of this herbal medicine have yet to be examined in a randomized controlled trial. In the current study, the effect of TJ-38 on the peripheral blood flow in women experiencing peripheral coldness was investigated using a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Methods: Fifty-eight women aged 23 to 79 years with peripheral coldness were randomly divided into the intervention or control group. They were examined using cold bathing tests, physical examinations, and questionnaires in January 2010 for the baseline and in March 2010 for the follow-up, and January 2011 and March 2011, respectively. Results: At the baseline, there were no differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. In the intervention group, peripheral coldness improved after the intervention term; however, it persisted in the control group. Mean values of percentage recovery of the peripheral blood flow after cold bathing tests were 17.2% and -28.2% for the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = 0.007), and the proportions for percentage recovery of >50% were 32% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.0007). Mean values of percent recovery of skin temperature did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: The present clinical trial supports that a traditional herbal medicine relieves peripheral coldness in women probably through the improvement of peripheral blood flow.
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U2 - 10.1186/s12906-015-0617-4
DO - 10.1186/s12906-015-0617-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 25886635
AN - SCOPUS:84928229820
VL - 15
JO - BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
JF - BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
SN - 1472-6882
IS - 1
M1 - 105
ER -