Effect of Chinese Herbal Formula, Soothe & Shrink, on Uterine Fibroids: An Eight-Case Clinical Study
Item
Title
Effect of Chinese Herbal Formula, Soothe & Shrink, on Uterine Fibroids: An Eight-Case Clinical Study
Description
JASA (2020) Feng S, Hong H.
issn
2377-3723
Date
Language
English
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: This study seeks to observe the effect of the Chinese herbal formula, Soothe & Shrink, on treatment of uterine fibroids.
Method: A total of 10 participants who met the study criteria were recruited into two method treatment groups, a 6 week treatment group and a 12-week treatment group, with five participants in each group. Soothe and Shrink herbal formula in granule form (10.8g) was given to participants, taken orally twice a day. A trans-vaginal ultrasound was performed on all participants before and after treatment to evaluate using the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Results: Two of the 6 week group participants dropped out due to personal reasons. A total of eight participants completed the program. In six out of the eight participants, four from the 12-week group and two from the 6-week group, a reduction in uterine size was found. A higher percentage of participants in the 12-week group (four out of five, 80%) showed a reduction of uterine size than in the 6-week group (two out of three, 66.7%). In four out of the eight participants, three from the 12-week group and one from the 6-week group (one out of three and 33.3%). The scores for Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire showed substantial improvement in both groups. Symptom severity subscale scores were found decreased for all participants except one. A significantly higher rate of reduction was observed for the 12-week group than the 6 week group (p<0.01). The quality of life subscale scores showed marked improvement for all participants except one. The increase in general quality of life score after treatment for the eight participants was statistically significant (p<0.05). The increase of the score for the 12 week group was significantly higher than that for the 6 week group (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The Chinese herbal formula, Soothe & Shrink, may reduce uterine size and fibroid volume as well as improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of UF patients. A minimal treatment duration of 12 weeks may have better results than shorter treatment duration. Further clinical studies with negative controls, blinding, longer treatment duration, and larger sample size are recommended.
Method: A total of 10 participants who met the study criteria were recruited into two method treatment groups, a 6 week treatment group and a 12-week treatment group, with five participants in each group. Soothe and Shrink herbal formula in granule form (10.8g) was given to participants, taken orally twice a day. A trans-vaginal ultrasound was performed on all participants before and after treatment to evaluate using the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Results: Two of the 6 week group participants dropped out due to personal reasons. A total of eight participants completed the program. In six out of the eight participants, four from the 12-week group and two from the 6-week group, a reduction in uterine size was found. A higher percentage of participants in the 12-week group (four out of five, 80%) showed a reduction of uterine size than in the 6-week group (two out of three, 66.7%). In four out of the eight participants, three from the 12-week group and one from the 6-week group (one out of three and 33.3%). The scores for Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire showed substantial improvement in both groups. Symptom severity subscale scores were found decreased for all participants except one. A significantly higher rate of reduction was observed for the 12-week group than the 6 week group (p<0.01). The quality of life subscale scores showed marked improvement for all participants except one. The increase in general quality of life score after treatment for the eight participants was statistically significant (p<0.05). The increase of the score for the 12 week group was significantly higher than that for the 6 week group (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The Chinese herbal formula, Soothe & Shrink, may reduce uterine size and fibroid volume as well as improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of UF patients. A minimal treatment duration of 12 weeks may have better results than shorter treatment duration. Further clinical studies with negative controls, blinding, longer treatment duration, and larger sample size are recommended.
volume
7
issue
4
page start
17
page end
25