Chinese herbal medicine may be beneficial in endometriosis

January 01, 0001

Chinese herbal medicine may be beneficial in endometriosis

Clinical Question: How effective is Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in alleviating endometriosis-related pain and infertility?

Bottom line: Following laparoscopic surgery, combined oral and enema administration of CHM has a comparable beneficial effect to gestrinone but with fewer adverse effects. Oral and enema administration of CHM may be more effective than danazol in providing extended relief of endometriosis symptoms (NNT* 2) and in shrinking adnexal masses, with fewer adverse effects. For lumbosacral pain, rectal discomfort, or vaginal nodules tenderness, there was no significant difference either between CHM and danazol. *NNT = number needed to treat to benefit 1 individual. Note that no range is given as there were only 2 small trials with identical baseline results

Context: There are only very limited data available from 2 small trials comparing the same CHM interventions with 2 conventional treatments for endometriosis (danazol and gestrinone). Both trials are of poor methodological quality so these findings must be interpreted cautiously. More rigorous research is required to accurately assess the potential role of CHM as a stand-alone medical option or as a post-surgical adjuvant in treating endometriosis.

Cochrane Systematic Review: Flower A et al. Chinese herbal medicine for endometriosis. Cochrane Reviews 2009. Issue 3. Article No. CD006568. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD006568.pub2. This review contains 2 studies involving 158 participants.

Cochrane PEARLS Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations. No. 203, September 2009.
Written by Brian R McAvoy. Published by the Cochrane Primary Care Group

Category: X. Female Genital System, Breast. Keywords: alternative medicine, herbal medicine, Chinese, endometriosis
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 16 March 2010

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Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.