by Bob Flaws

I am a big fan of integrated Chinese-Western medicine 中西医结合. Routinely, studies in China show that, in the treatment of serious disease, the combination of Western and Chinese medicines gets better results than Western medicine alone. Our TCMinfoline contains scores of articles supporting this finding in a wide variety of serious, recalcitrant diseases. While often such integrated protocols make use of "full" Chinese medicinal formulas (typically containing 12-18 ingredients at fairly high doses), even a relatively small addition of Chinese medicine can significantly affect outcomes in chronic, serious diseases.

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On pages 17-18 of issue 7, 2009 of Xin Zhong Yi (New Chinese Medicine, one of my favorite Chinese medical journals), Wu Xiao-sheng published an article titled, "Research on Shen Qi San in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Affecting Ankle-brachial Index." The ankle-brachial index (ABI) test is done by measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while a person is at rest. A drop in ABI with exercise means that one probably has peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Hence the ABI test is used to predict the severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which, in turn, is linked to the likelihood of heart disease and stroke.

In this article, 76 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into one group that received standard Western medical care for diabetes, meaning dietary therapy and oral hypoglycemics, while the other group received this same basic treatment plus a very simple Chinese medicinal formula, Shen Qi San. Shen Qi San is made up of only two ingredients: Xi Yang Shen (Radix Panacis Quinquefolii) and San Qi (Radix Notoginseng). Fifteen grams of this simple power were administered once per day for essentially one year. (A four day rest was given between each monthly course.)

At the end of one year, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and two-hour post-prandial blood glucose (P2hBG) had dropped significantly in both groups. However, this reduction was significantly greater in the group who received Shen Qi San in addition to their Western medical treatment. There were also significant drops in glycosylated hemoglobin and ABI in both groups at the end of the study. Yet again, the drop in both of these indeces was even more significant in those patients that received the integrated Chinese-Western medical protocol.

In his discussion of this study, Dr. Wu explains that Xi Yang Shen is bitter in flavor and slightly sweet and its nature is cold. It boosts the qi and nourishes yin, clears fire and engenders fluids. San Qi quickens the blood and transforms stasis. Many patients with diabetes present a pattern of qi and yin dual vacuity with blood stasis. So this simple two-medicinal formula addresses all three of these mechanisms. While a much "larger," multi-ingredient decoction may have gotten quicker results, as Dr. Wu notes, diabetes is a chronic disease and patients need to be treated over a long period of time no matter what. Since this powder was easy to take and it addressed the main disease mechanisms in this condition, it was a good choice in terms of both compliance and effect.

As this study shows, sometimes simple is good.As this study also shows, Western medicine plus Chinese medicine is better.

Copyright Blue Poppy Press, 2009. All rights reserved.