Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan

How does TCM herbs help Myoma, Polyzystische Ovarien syndrome?

Effect of Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan on hot flashes in young patients: a retrospective case series.

Abstract

Hot flashes are one of the main problems in postmenopausal patients. Hormone replacement therapy is the standard treatment for this vasomotor symptom, but long-term estrogen treatment can produce serious adverse effects such as higher risks of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. For this reason, hormone replacement therapy may not be advisable for young patients. Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan is an herbal decoction for hot flashes used in traditional Chinese medicine. We have extensive experience treating hot flashes in young women; this preliminary case series evaluates the effectiveness of Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan for alleviating hot flashes in young patients. In this retrospective case series, we reviewed the medical records of outpatients who visited the Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Disease, Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Center for hot flashes from October 1, 2003 to October 1, 2008. Of the 60 cases, 37 met the inclusion criteria. Mean improvement in symptoms, as assessed using the visual analog scale, was 40.4 ± 28.5{d382666222b3cff0b1122f689bebcc8d35b41f83934c69a0d9586603ddee8f2f}; 51.3{d382666222b3cff0b1122f689bebcc8d35b41f83934c69a0d9586603ddee8f2f} of patients experienced a 50{d382666222b3cff0b1122f689bebcc8d35b41f83934c69a0d9586603ddee8f2f} improvement. According to the secondary analysis, the results of differential diagnosis of cold and hot syndrome and blood stasis syndrome did not affect scores. Only 2.7{d382666222b3cff0b1122f689bebcc8d35b41f83934c69a0d9586603ddee8f2f} of the patients reported adverse events. Our findings suggest that Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan improves hot flashes in young patients in a relatively safe manner. However, rigorous clinical studies are needed to confirm these results.

Comparing the effects of estrogen and an herbal medicine on peripheral blood flow in post-menopausal women with hot flashes: hormone replacement therapy and gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan, a Kampo medicine.

Full text links

Abstract

We investigated the association between blood flow in the extremities and hot flashes, and compared change in blood flow following hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan (Keishi-bukuryo-gan), a herbal therapy in post-menopausal women with hot flashes. Three hundred and fifty-two post-menopausal women aged 46-58 years (mean: 53.4 +/- 3.6 years) with climacteric complaints participated in the study. One hundred and thirty-one patients with hot flashes were treated with HRT (64 cases) or herbal therapy (67 cases). Blood flow was measured with laser doppler fluxmetry under the jaw, in the middle finger and in the third toe. Post-menopausal women with hot flashes (129 cases) showed significantly higher blood flow under the jaw (13.6 +/- 4.13) than women without hot flashes (166 cases) (5.48 +/- 0.84) (p < 0.0001). Blood flow at this site decreased significantly with either therapy (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, the administration of Gui-zhi-fu-lingwan significantly increased (p = 0.002) the blood flow in the lower extremities, whereas HRT decreased the blood flow. Thus, we have demonstrated that Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan did not affect the activity of vasodilator neuropeptides on sensory neurons of systemic peripheral vessels uniformly. Therefore, Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan, rather than HRT, is suggested as an appropriate therapy for treatment of hot flashes in the face and upper body with concomitant coldness in the lower body, which is one of the symptoms of menopause.