| Research Objective:The effectiveness of nourishing the liver and soothing the kidney in treating patients of Climacteric Syndrome in Hong Kong who suffered from weak livers and kidneys in the diagnosis of Chinese medicine was observed. This was to provide scientific evidence for clinical application. Methods:1. Selection of casesThirty cases were selected during 2000 and 2004 from patients of Climacteric Syndrome in Hong Kong who had been suffering from weak livers and kidneys. Five common symptoms, including hot flashes and sweating, restlessness and short temper, insomnia, depression, and weak knees and lower back, were studied. The diagnosis and standards of Chinese medicine were used according to Clinical Guiding Principles for Chinese New Medicine, which identified, as the major symptoms, the symptoms of hot flashes and sweating, restlessness and short temper, and weak knees and lower back; and, as minor symptoms, those of insomnia, depression, lack of energy, pain in the abdomen, dizziness, tinnitus, poor memory, dry uterus, and weak pulse. Chinese medicine requires verification of the diagnosis by fulfilling at least two of the major and minor symptoms as the clinical evidence. 2. Research IndicesFive common symptoms were statistically analyzed. The indices were as follows: (l)Hot flashes and sweatingScore 0 (-): No such symptomScore 4 (+) : Less than 3 times a day, feeling hot without movement, sweating with slight movementScore 8 (++) : 3 to 9 times a day, feeling hot without movement, sweating with slight movementScore 12 (+++) : Over 10 times a day, sweating without movement, heavy sweating with movement.(2)restlessness and short temperScore 0 (-): No such symptomScore 2 (+): OccasionallyScore 4 (++): Very often, can still work and liveScore 6 (+++): Angry without reason, out-of-control, affecting work and life(3) Weak knees and lower back Score 0 (-): No such symptomScore 1 (+): Getting tired more easily than in the past Score 2 (++): Getting tired with slight movement Score 3 (+++): Feeling weak without movement(4) InsomniaScore 0 (-): No such symptomScore 2 (+): Waking up during sleep, having to get up early but not affectingworkScore 4 (++): Always sleeping less than 5 hours, can still workScore 6 (+++): Sleeping less than 3 hours, cannot work, medicine required(5) DepressionScore 0 (-): No such symptomScore 1 (+): OccasionallyScore 2 (++): Very often, can have self-controlScore 3 (+++): Losing confidence in life3. TreatmentThe treatment concentrated on nourishing the kidney and soothing the liver. The kidney was nourished with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. The liver was soothed with Jia Wei Xiao Yao San. The ratio of the ingredients was adjusted with reference to the symptoms. One dosage was taken twice a day for two weeks and once every other day afterwards. Change in symptoms was observed before treatment, the second week, the fourth week, and the sixth week after treatment.4. Benchmark of effectiveness of the treatment(1) Measuring the effectiveness by the change in score:Index of treatment = Score before treatment - Score after treatment/Score before treatment ×100%Assessing the five major symptoms before treatment, the second week, the fourthweek, and the sixth week after treatment. Results on the effectiveness of thetreatment on different cases:Recovered: Score of the clinical symptoms improved by over 90% Very effective: Score of the clinical symptoms improved between 75% and 90% Effective: Score of the clinical symptoms improved between 30% and 75% Not effective: Score of the clinical symptoms improved by less than 30%(2) Standard for measuring seriousness of symptoms in Chinese medicine: Statistical analysis of the five symptoms before treatment by seriousness ofthe symptoms.Scores of the symptoms between 20 and 30: Very serious Scores of the symptoms between 15 and 19: Moderately serious Scores of the symptoms less than 14: Light(3) Standard for measuring effectiveness of single symptoms Recovered: The symptom disappearedVery effective: The symptom was improved significantly from +++ â†' +E... |
PDF Full Text Request