abstracted & trsanslated by

Bob Flaws, Dipl. Ac. & C.H., Lic. Ac., FNAAOM, FRCHM

Keywords: Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, vervain, chronic prostatitis

Vervain (Herba Verbenae Officinalis) has a long history of use in the West. It is also known as simpler’s joy and American vervain. Within Western herbalism, it is variously believed to be a nerve tonic, sedative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic (mild), hypotensive, galactogogue, hepatic, expectorant, vulnary, emetic, eummenogogue, and vermifuge. It is most commonly used to treat depression, seizures and hysteria, and cholecystitis and jaundice, in which case, its recommended dose is 2-4 grams each time infused in boiling water three times per day. Its active ingredients include iridoids, verbenin, verbenalin, and bastatoside. In Chinese medicine, this medicinal is called Ma Pian Cao and it is described as being bitter in flavor, slightly cold in nature, and entering the liver and spleen channels. It clears heat and disinhibits water, disperses swelling, breaks the blood, and kills worms. Hong-yen Hsu et al., in Oriental Materia Medica: A Concise Guide (Oriental Healing Arts Institute, Long Beach, CA, 1986), classify this medicinal as a blood-quickener. Recently in Chinese medicine, this medicinal has been used for the preventive treatment of bone cancer, prostate cancer, and various types of concretions and conglomerations. In issue #11, 2002 of Ji Lin Zhong Yi Yao (Jilin Chinese Medicine & Medicinals), Qiu Feng published an article titled, “A Survey of the Efficacy of Herba Verbenae Officinalis (Ma Pian Cao) in the Treatment of 36 Cases of Chronic Prostatitis.” This article appeared on page 28 of that journal, and an abstract is given below.

Cohort description:

All 36 patients described in this clinical trial were seen as out-patients and met the criteria for chronic prostatitis. These men ranged in age from 23-56 years, with an average age of 38.4 years. Eleven cases presented a pattern of damp heat pouring downward, 18 presented a pattern of kidney yin sinsufficiency, and seven cases presented a pattern of qi stagnation and blood stasis. Sixteen cases had bacterial chronic prostatitis, three cases had nonbacterial chronic prostatitis, nine had accompanying benign prostatic hypertrophy, and seven had trichomoniasis prostatitis. There was also a comparison group of another 30 chronic prostatitis patients, 10 each of whom presented the same three patterns.

Treatment method:

The members of the treatment group received different formulas depending on their patterns. Those presenting with damp heat pouring downward received Ma Pian Cao Si Miao San Jia Wei (Vervain Four Wonders Powder with Added Flavors): Herba Verbenae Officinalis (Ma Pian Cao), 30g, Cortex Phellodendri (Huang Bai), 10g, Rhizoma Atractylodis (Cang Zhu), 10g, Semen Coicis Lachryma-jobi (Yi Yi Ren), 15g, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Dan Shen), 12g, Herba Patriniae Heterophyllae (Bai Jiang Cao), 15g, Semen Vaccariae Segetalis (Wang Bu Liu Xing), 15g, Cortex Radicis Moutan (Dan Pi), 15g, Radix Rubrus Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Chi Shao), 10g, and Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), 4g. One packet of these medicinals was decocted in water and administered orally per day in two divided doses. Those patients who presented kidney yin insufficiency received Ma Pian Cao Liu Wei Di Huang Tang Jia Wei (Vervain Six Flavors Rehmannia Decoction with Added Flavors): Herba Verbenae Officinalis (Ma Pian Cao), 30g, uncooked Radix Rehmanniae (Sheng Di) and cooked Radix Rehmanniae (Shu Di), 18g each, Cortex Radicis Moutan (Dan Pi), 9g, Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae (Shan Yao), 12g, Rhizoma Alismatis (Ze Xie), 10g, Fructus Corni Officinalis (Shan Zhu Yu), 10g, Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling), 15g, Succinum (Hu Po), 1g washed down with the decoction, Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Niu Xi), 12g, Semen Plantaginis (Che Qian Zi), 12g, and Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), 4g. These medicinals were prepared and taken same as above. Those patient who presented qi stagnation and blood stasis received Ma Pian Cao Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan Jia Jian (Vervain Cinnamon Twig & Poria Pills with Additions & Subtractions): Herba Verbenae Officinalis (Ma Pian Cao), 30g, Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae (Gui Zhi), 6g, Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling), 15g, Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui), 6g, Radix Ligustici Wallichii (Chuan Xiong), 9g, Radix Rubrus Paeoniae Lactiflorae (Chi Shao), 9g, Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae (Dang Shen), 15g, Semen Pruni Persicae (Tao Ren), 9g, Radix Cyathulae (Chuan Niu Xi), 12g, Herba Leonuri Heterophylli (Yi Mu Cao), 18g, Cortex Radicis Moutan (Dan Pi), 9g, and Herba Lycopi Lucidi (Ze Lan), 10g. Likewise, these medicinals were prepared and administered same as above.

The 30 patients in the comparison group received the same Chinese medicinal formulas depending on the patterns they presented, however, without the Ma Pian Cao. They also were administered one packet of medicinals per day, and both groups underwent treatment for 42-50 days before assessing the results.

Treatment outcomes:

Cure was defined as complete disappearance of clinical symptoms with no pain in the prostate region, and analysis of prostatic fluid normal. Marked effect was defined as disappearance of the main clinical symptoms with slight pressure pain in the region of the prostate and normal prostatic fluid analysis. Some effect meant that there was marked improvement in the main clinical symptoms with slight pain in the prostate region and almost normal prostatic fluid. No effect meant that the clinical symptoms persisted or recurred, pressure pain in the region of the prostate was the same as before, and analysis of prostate fluid was not normal. Based on these criteria, 15 cases in the treatment group were judged cured, 12 got a marked effect, seven got some effect, and two got no effect. Therefore, the total effectiveness rate in this group was 94%. In the comparison group, nine cases were judged cured, 10 got a marked effect, seven got some effect, and four got no effect, for a total effectiveness rate of 87%. Although the total effectiveness rates were not markedly different between the treatment and comparison groups, there was a marked difference in the remission of certain symptoms between these two groups, such as urinary urgency, perineal pain, turbid urine, pressure pain, and hard, nodular pain. There was also a marked positive difference in the return to normal of prostatic fluid in the treatment group.

Discussion:

For the treatment of chronic prostatitis, Dr. Qiu believes that it is essential that Ma Pian Cao should be prescribed in relatively large amounts: 30 grams per packet dried and 50 grams per packet when used fresh. According to Dr. Qiu, there were no obvious negative side effects from the above medicinals during the course of this study.

Copyright © Blue Poppy Press, 2003. All rights reserved.

For more information on the Chinese medical treatment of chronic prostatitis, see Bob Flaws & Philippe Sionneau’s The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine available from Blue Poppy Press.