What if I told you that there was an ancient Chinese secret that could potentially aid in the battle against uterine fibroids? For many women who have experienced fibroids, a common solution is often the surgical removal of these benign growths, particularly if they obstruct the chances of embryo implantation. But what if surgery is not the desired option? Enter the intriguing world of Chinese fertility herbs.
The Guizhi Fuling Formula, a renowned herbal concoction from China, has recently garnered the attention of researchers for its potential benefits in treating uterine fibroids.
In a systematic review of randomised clinical trials conducted by Ni-Ni Chen and colleagues (BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014), they examined 38 RCTs, involving almost 4000 patients with fibroids. The patients were treated with mifepristone, a medication commonly used for medical abortion, either alone or in combination with the Guizhi Fuling Formula.
What they discovered was rather remarkable. Meta-analyses demonstrated that the combination of Guizhi Fuling Formula and mifepristone was more effective in reducing fibroid volume than mifepristone alone. Furthermore, the herbal formula significantly improved symptoms of pain when used alone or combined with mifepristone.
This raises the question: could the wisdom of ancient Chinese herbal medicine hold the key to a non-invasive alternative for fibroid treatment?
The findings of this systematic review offer a possibility for women seeking an alternative approach to fibroid treatment. In a world where East meets West, perhaps it is time to explore the potential of ancient Chinese wisdom in synergy with modern scientific advancements.
However, it is crucial to note that the studies did not incorporate the important principle of syndrome differentiation, a fundamental concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that often leads to better treatment outcomes. Syndrome differentiation involves tailoring treatments based on the specific patterns of disharmony observed in each individual patient, which is essential in TCM to achieve the best possible results. As such, the study’s findings may not reflect the full potential of Chinese medicine when prescribed following TCM principles.
Of course, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations of this study. The methodological quality of the trials included in the review was generally poor, and there were potential risks of bias. As such, it is important to approach these findings with cautious optimism and acknowledge that further well-designed clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.
So, is the Guizhi Fuling Formula the long-awaited answer to uterine fibroids? The jury is still out, but for women grappling with fibroids, particularly small ones, exploring the world of Chinese fertility herbs might just be worth a try.
Chinese herbal medicine Guizhi Fuling Formula for treatment of uterine fibroids: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials
Ni-Ni Chen et al, BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014; 14: 2.
This review examined 38 RCTs (some of which were at risk of bias) and nearly 4000 patients with fibroids. They were treated with mifepristone alone or in combination with a well known herbal formula.
They state that meta-analyses demonstrated that Guizhi Fuling Formula plus mifepristone was more effective than mifepristone alone in reducing the volume of fibroids, and the herbal formula significantly improved symptoms of pain when it was used alone or in combination with mifepristone.
Abstract
Background
Guizhi Fuling Formula is widely applied for uterine fibroids in China. Many clinical trials are reported. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of Guizhi Fuling Formula for the treatment of uterine fibroids.
Methods
PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and four Chinese databases were searched through May 2013. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that tested Guizhi Fuling Formula for uterine fibroids, compared with no intervention, placebo, pharmaceutical medication, or other Chinese patent medicines approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China. Authors extracted data and assessed the quality independently. We applied RevMan 5.2.0 software to analyse data of included randomised trials.
Results
A total of 38 RCTs involving 3816 participants were identified. The methodological quality of the included trials was generally poor. Meta-analyses demonstrated that Guizhi Fuling Formula plus mifepristone were more effective than mifepristone alone in reducing the volume of fibroids (in total volume of multiple fibroids, MD ?19.41 cm3, 95% CI ?28.68 to ?10.14; in average volume of multiple fibroids, MD ?1.00 cm3, 95% CI ?1.23 to ?0.76; in average volume of maximum fibroids, MD ?3.35 cm3, 95% CI ?4.84 to ?1.87, I2 = 93%, random effects model). Guizhi Fuling Formula significantly improved symptoms of dysmenorrhea either when it was used alone (RR 2.27, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.97) or in combination with mifepristone (RR 2.35, 95% CI 1.15 to 4.82). No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusions
Guizhi Fuling Formula appears to have additional benefit based on mifepristone treatment in reducing volume of fibroids. However, due to high risk of bias of the trials, we could not draw confirmative conclusions on its benefit. Future clinical trials should be well-designed and avoid the issues that are identified in this study.
