The Efficacy of Herbal Medicine in Relieving Symptoms and Change of Quality of Life of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
The Efficacy of Herbal Medicine in Relieving Symptoms and Change of Quality of Life of Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
To test the efficacy of herbal medicine in relieving symptoms and change of quality of life
 of patients with IBS.
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.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  All patients (aged 18-65) attending the Gastroenterology Clinic of the Prince of Wales
 Hospital or Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine clinics for symptoms of IBS
 will be enrolled in the study.

 -  IBS is diagnosed by Rome II criteria [Thompson et al. Gut 2000]: At least 12 weeks,
 which need not be consecutive, in the preceding 12 months of abdominal discomfort or
 pain that has two of three features: relieved with defecation; and/or onset associated
 with a change in frequency of stool; and/or onset associated with a change in form
 (appearance) of stool

 -  Normal colonic evaluation (colonoscopy or barium enema) in recent 5 years

 -  Mean score of abdominal discomfort/pain,based on a 5-point scale,at baseline and
 during the 2-week run-in period

 -  Informed written consent for participation into study.

 -  Ethical approval will be obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the
 University