Golden Needle Practitioner Library

abstracted & translated by
Bob Flaws, L.Ac., FNAAOM (USA), FRCHM (UK) On page 155 of issue #3, 2007 of the Zhe Jiang Zhong Yi Za Zhi (Zhejiang Journal of Chinese Medicine), Qiu Shun-an et al. published an article titled “The Treatment of 60 Cases of prostatic Hypertrophy by the Methods of Supplementing the Kidneys & Transforming Stasis Plus Acupoint Massage.” A summary of this article is presented below.

Cohort description:

There were a total of 90 participants enrolled in this two-wing comparison study, all of whom met the diagnostic criteria for benign prostatic hypertrophy found in Zhong Yi Bing Zheng Zhen Duan Liao Xiao Biao Zhun (Criteria for Chinese Medicine Disease & Pattern Diagnosis and Treatment Outcomes). The main clinical symptoms of this condition were hesitant expulsion of urine, a fine, thin stream, the expulsion of urine sometimes requiring great expenditure of strength, a feeling of incomplete urination, frequent, numerous nighttime urination, a pale or dark tongue with white fur, and a fine pulse. Digital rectal exam (DRE) showed that both lobes of the prostate gland were enlarged and that the central crease had disappeared. The diagnosis of BPH was confirmed by examination of urine flow rate and ultrasonography. In terms of Chinese medical pattern discrimination, all 90 subjects presented a complex pattern of static blood obstruction and stagnation, central qi falling downward, and kidney yang vacuity decline. These 90 cases were randomly divided into two groups, a so-called treatment group and a comparison group. All members of both groups were 55-75 years of age and had suffered from BPH for from 1-6 years. In the treatment group of 60, the average age was 65 and the average disease duration was 26 months. In the comparison group of 30, the average age was 66 and the average disease duration was 25 months. Therefore, in terms of age and disease duration, there were no significant statistical differences for the purposes of this study.

Treatment method:

All members of the treatment group were administered the following Chinese medicinals:

Huang Qi (Radix Astragali)
Sheng Di (uncooked Radix Rehmanniae)
Bu Gu Zhi (Fructus Psoraleae)
Tu Si Zi (Semen Cuscutae)
E Zhu (Rhizoma Zedoariae)
Fu Ling (Poria)
Chuan Niu Xi (Radix Cyathulae), 12g each
Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi), 6g
Chi Shao (Radix Rubra Paeoniae)
Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis)
Hong Hua (Flos Carthami)
Tao Ren (Semen Persicae)
Yi Mu Cao (Herba Leonuri)
Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii), 9g each
Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiiorrhizae), 30g

One packet of these medicinals was decocted in water and administered orally in two divided doses per day, morning and evening, and 30 days of this regime equaled one course of treatment. In addition, during this time, the subjects were instructed to massage the following three points for 1-2 minutes each, one time per day for 30 continuous days:

Zhong Ji (CV 3)
Guan Yuan (CV 4)
Qi Hai (CV 6)

The appropriate hand technique was supposed to be soft and harmonious yet have strength and depth, with movements having a regular rate.

Members of the comparison group were orally administered Long Bi Shu Jiao Nang (Dribbling Urinary Block Soothing Gelatin Capsules), 3 pills each time, two times per day for 30 days. These capsules were made at a pharmaceutical company in Shijiazhuang.

Study outcomes:

Outcomes criteria were based on Zhong Yao Xin Yao Zhi Liao Liang Xing Qian Lei Quan Zeng Sheng Zheng De Lin Chuang Yan Jiu Zhi Dao Yuan Ze (Reference Standards for Clinical Research into Chinese Medicinals & New Medicinals Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy). Therefore, marked effect meant that, after treatment, the disease condition had decreased by 70% or more, that the urinary flow rate had increased by more than 30%, and that retained urine had decreased by more than 50%. Some effect meant that, after treatment, the disease condition had decreased by 30% or more, urinary flow rate had increased by more than 10%, and retained urine had decreased more than 20%. No effect meant that these criteria were not met. The following table shows the outcomes of the two groups based on these criteria.

Therefore, there was a significant difference in outcomes between the two groups in terms of total effectiveness (P < 0.05).

The next chart shows the mean urinary flow rates of the two groups before and after treatment.

Therefore, there was a significant mean increase in urinary flow from before to after treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The final table shows the mean changes in amounts of urine expelled from before to after treatment.

Therefore, there was a significant increase in urinary volume from before to after treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

Discussion:

According to the Chinese authors of the above study, BPH corresponds to the Chinese disease diagnosis of dribbling urinary block. Mostly it is due to bodily weakness in the elderly with damage and detriment of the kidney essence and subsequent loss of strength of the bladder qi transformation. Therefore, turbid yin is not downborne. Based on the saying, in enduring diseases, there must be stasis, phlegm and stasis mutually bind, with accumulation producing lumps and putting pressure on the urinary tract. Hence, this condition is characterized by a root vacuity with branch or tip repletions, and treatment should supplement the kidneys and boost the qi, quicken the blood and transform stasis. Within the above formula, Tu Si Zi boosts the liver and warms the kidneys, while Bu Gu Zhi frees the flow of the lifegate. When these two medicinals are used together, they strengthen the bladder’s qi transformation. Rou Gui warmly supplements kidney yang. Gou Qi Zi supplements kidney yin. Huang Qi supplements the qi, and Fu Ling fortifies the spleen and supplements the center. Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (Perica & Carthamus Four Materials Decoction) minus Chuan Xiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) but plus Dan Shen, E Zhu, Yi Mu Cao, and Chuan Niu Xi quickens the blood, transforms stasis, and scatters binding. When all these medicinals are used together, they strike the center of the above disease mechanisms. In addition, the three acupoints used in this protocol are all on the conception vessel. These points regulate and rectify the qi mechanism, supplement the kidneys, and invigorate yang, regulate the three burners, and free the flow of urinary block. When these points are regularly massaged, they can get twice the result with half the effort. During the course of treatment, patients were counseled not to hold their urine, to keep their bowel movements freely and smoothly flowing, to lead a regular daily life, to avoid wind and cold, and not to drink alcohol or eat acrid, peppery, stimulating foods.

Copyright © Blue Poppy Press, 2007. All rights reserved.