Clinical Trial: The Efficacy of Herbal Medicine in Relieving Symptoms and Change of Quality of Life of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Clinical Study to Test the Efficacy of Herbal Medicine in Relieving Symptoms and Change of Quality of Life of Patients With IBS

Brief Summary: To test the efficacy of herbal medicine in relieving symptoms and change of quality of life of patients with IBS.

Detailed Summary: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis in Western Medicine characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with disturbance in bowel habit such as diarrhea or constipation. Epidemiological studies showed that 14% of males and 27% of females in the US (white) have symptoms of IBS. In Hong Kong, our survey reported a similar prevalence of this condition among Chinese (13% in males and 21% in females). IBS is one of the most common conditions leading to seeking of medical care. Treatment for IBS has so far been unsatisfactory. Numerous medications have been proposed for IBS; however, none is convincingly effective. A review and critique of published drug trials for IBS from 1966 to 1988 concluded that there was no proof that any western medicine is effective for all IBS patients. With the unsatisfactory treatment response of western medicine, many turned to alternative treatment modalities for IBS. Traditional Chinese medicine is particularly attractive as their effectiveness in treating functional disorders and retaining balance of body functions has been known for centuries. However, there is a lack of convincing clinical data demonstrating the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in this condition. In this study, we sought to determine the efficacy of herbal medicine in relieving symptoms and quality of life of patients with IBS. This is a prospective randomized, double-blinded double placebo-controlled study in patients with non-constipation type IBS. Patients will be randomized to receive either one of three treatment arms: 1. herbal medicine (HM) + placebo western medicine (WM), 2. WM + placebo HM and 3. placebo HM + placebo WH. Each patient will go through an 8-week period of randomized double-blind treatment with either HW, WM or placebo and followed by an 8-week of observation period. The IBS symptom and quality of life will be compared.
Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Current Primary Outcome: The global assessment of IBS symptom by patients. [ Time Frame: 16 weeks ]

Original Primary Outcome: The global assessment of IBS symptom by patients.

Current Secondary Outcome: Individual IBS symptoms and QOL assessment [ Time Frame: 16 weeks ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Individual IBS symptoms and QOL assessment

Information By: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dates:
Date Received: September 8, 2005
Date Started: September 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 9, 2008
Last Verified: May 2008