Clinical trial

"The Treatment of 28 Cases of Lumbar Disc Herniation with Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica Duhuo & Loranthus Decoction)" by Shi Chao, Zhe Jiang Zhong Yi Za Zhi (The Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine), #2, 1994, p. 67.

In this clinical audit, the author reports on their treatment of 28 cases of  lumbar disc herniation using Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. Of these 28 cases,
11 were men and 17 were women. The oldest was 58 and the youngest was 27 years old.

Twenty of the cases had no history of external injury. The other 8 cases had sustained various injuries from lifting heavy objects, twisting or wrenching, etc. In the majority of these cases, the onset of their disease occurred when they contracted wind, cold, or dampness when they were concurrently (over-) taxed.

In TCM, this condition's pattern discrimination is categorized as assailment by wind, cold, damp evils. However, because this disease is chronic, it is also due to bodily vacuity with liver/kidney insufficiency and thus lack of nourishment of the channels and vessels. Therefore, treatment should boost the liver and kidneys, supplement the qi and blood, dispel wind dampness, and stop bi pain.

The basic formula for this purpose is Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. The ingredients used were: Radix Angelicae Duhuo (Du Huo), Radix Ledebouriellae Sesloidis (Fang Feng), Radix Ligustici Wallichii (Chuan Xiong), and Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Niu Xi), 6g @, Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis (Du Zhong), Radix Gentianae Macrocphyllae (Qin Jiao), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui), Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling), and Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae (Dang Shen), 12g @, Ramus Loranthis Seu Visci (Sang Ji Sheng), 18g, prepared Radix Rehmanniae (Shu Di), 15g, Radix Albus Paeoniae Lactilforae (Bai Shao), 10g, Herba Cum Radici Asari Seiboldi (Xi Xin) and Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), 3g @, and Cortex Cinnamomi (Rou Gui), 2g, added at the end.

If there was constipation, 10g of Semen Cannabis (Huo Ma Ren) or 12g of Semen Trichosanthis Kirlowii (Gua Lou Ren) were added. If there was an unsoothed stomach venter, Gentiana Macrophylla was reduced to 6g. If there was poor appetite, prepared Rehmannia was changed to raw Radix
Rehmanniae (Sheng Di), 12g. One ji was decocted in water per day and given in 2 divided doses. Typically, 7-14 ji were administered.

Excellent results meant that the patient symptoms relaxed, that their pressure pain disappeared, and that they were able to function normally. Good results consisted of a more than ½ reduction in symptoms, a marked diminishment in pressure pain, and mostly a return to previous functioning. Fair results
consisted of an approximate 1/3 reduction in symptoms, some diminishment in pressure pain, and some improvement in function. Based on these criteria, 4 cases got excellent results, 17 good results, 6 fair results, and 1 case no results.
Thus the total amelioration rate was 96.43%.