JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized controlled trial.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. ⋯ Chinese herbal formulations appear to offer improvement in symptoms for some patients with IBS.
-
Meta Analysis
Saw palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.
To conduct a systematic review and, where possible, quantitative meta-analysis of the existing evidence regarding the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the saw palmetto plant extract, Serenoa repens, in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). ⋯ The existing literature on S repens for treatment of BPH is limited in terms of the short duration of studies and variability in study design, use of phytotherapeutic preparations, and reports of outcomes. However, the evidence suggests that S repens improves urologic symptoms and flow measures. Compared with finasteride, S repens produces similar improvement in urinary tract symptoms and urinary flow and was associated with fewer adverse treatment events. Further research is needed using standardized preparations of S repens to determine its long-term effectiveness and ability to prevent BPH complications.
-
A prior national survey documented the high prevalence and costs of alternative medicine use in the United States in 1990. ⋯ Alternative medicine use and expenditures increased substantially between 1990 and 1997, attributable primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies, rather than increased visits per patient.