Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2001

Five Priority Projects of the AoE Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection with Phyllanthus Compound Acute a n d chronic hepatitis B virus infection i s a leadingcause o f liver disease w o r l d w i d e . Phyllanthus is said t o b e effective i n treating the hepatitis B virus. H o w e v er its efficacy has n o t b e en t h o r o u g h ly investigated i n clinical trials. I n the project, sufferers o fchronic hepatitis B virus infectio n are r a n d o m i z ed into t w o groups w h o are respectively g i v e n a Phyllanthus c o m p o u n d an d a placebo. T h e y are the n p ut u n d e r a s i x - m o n th d o u b l e - b l i n d, parallel prospective study, to evaluate the efficacy o f the herbal Phyllanthus c o m p o u n d , its me d i c i n al properties, a nd its safety. Patients a n d researchers alike are n o t t o ld w h i c h g r o up i s t a k i ng w h a t i n order t o m a k ethe study m o re objective. Treatment of Common Female Ailments with Danggui Buxue Tang Menopausal Symptoms D u r i n g menopause, m a n y w o m e n experience h ot flushes and sweating d u e t o the decline i n serum oestrogen concentration. Thi s i s often accompanie d b yvasomotor symptoms an d a decline i n quality o f life. Western oestroge n replacement therapy has been s h o wn t ob eeffective i ncontrolling vasomotor symptoms but i t m a y result i n u n w a n t ed side effects such as breast soreness and nausea. Besides, the long-term safety o f oestrogen treatment has not b e e n established. F r om a Chinese medicine perspective, menopausal symptoms are due t o an imbalance i n the kidneys' y i n y a n g . Y a ng deficiency may manifest itself as ho t flushes, nigh t sweating, depression, a n d other symptoms. D a n g g ui is used to treat such symptoms. Me n o p a u s a l Chinese w o m e n o f different ages are r a n d o m i z ed into t w o g r o u ps t o c omp a re the effects o f the oestrogen replacement therapy a nd D a n g g ui B u x ue T a ng o n me n o p a u s al symptoms. The efficacy o f D a n g g u i B u x ue T a n g o n h ot flushes a n d sweating, as w e l l as itsme d i c a l properties a nd safety w i l l b eevaluated. Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding Some me n o p a u s al s y mp t om s are caused b y uterine p a t h o l o g y such as uterin e fibroids, w h i le others have a h o r m o n a l o r i g i n w i t h n o u n d e r l y i ng pelvic pathology. Irregular b l e e d i n g d u e t o the latter is t e r me d dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Wester n me d i c al treatment for this c o n d i t i o n is not always effective and s ymp t oms ma y recur w h e n treatment is discontinued. F r o m the Chinese me d i c i n e perspective, menstrual irregularity i n the f o r m o f short menstrual cycles o rme n o r r h o g ia is associated m a i n l y w i t h the kidneys. T w o Chinese herbs c o mm o n ly used t otreat this p r o b l em are huangqi, w h i c h tonifies, a n d danggui, w h i c h nourishes the b l o o d . I n this p r o j e c t , w o m en w i t h dysfunctional uterine b l e e d i n g are r a n d o m i z e d into t w o groups a nd given either h u a n g q i - c o n t a i n i n g D a n g g u i B u x u e T a ng o r tranexamic acid, c o mm o n l y used i n Western me d i c i n e t o treat the condition. T h e efficacy o f the t w o are c o m p a r e d i n this d o u b l e - b l i n d e x p e r i me n t w h i c h also evaluates the effect o f D a n g g u i B u x ue Tang o n the f r e q u e n cy a n d severity o fmenstrual bleeding, a s w e l l a s its safety. CHINES E UNIVERSIT Y BULLETI Autumn • Winter 2001 34