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Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema of the arms or legs is a difficult clinical problem yet devoid of effective treatment. Lymphedema is the result of obstructed lymphatic flow secondary to chronic infection, parasitic infestation, or postsurgical obstruction (eg, after axillary dissections). We arranged this cl...

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Autores principales: Chiu, Tor-Wo, Kong, Shun-Ling, Cheng, King-Fai, Leung, Ping-Chung
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Wolters Kluwer Health 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7339371/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32766062
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002915
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author Chiu, Tor-Wo
Kong, Shun-Ling
Cheng, King-Fai
Leung, Ping-Chung
author_facet Chiu, Tor-Wo
Kong, Shun-Ling
Cheng, King-Fai
Leung, Ping-Chung
author_sort Chiu, Tor-Wo
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Lymphedema of the arms or legs is a difficult clinical problem yet devoid of effective treatment. Lymphedema is the result of obstructed lymphatic flow secondary to chronic infection, parasitic infestation, or postsurgical obstruction (eg, after axillary dissections). We arranged this clinical trial to investigate whether patients with limb lymphedema can benefit from a standard dose of Astragalus plus Paeoniae rubra to improve the symptomatology, functional capacity, and quality of life (QOL). METHOD: The pilot study was designed as a self-control clinical trial. Patients with post-mastectomy lymphedema were recruited. A double-herb formulation (Astragalus, Paeoniae rubra) with standard dosage was administered orally in a powdered form, 6 times per week for 6 months. Outcome measurements included standard limb volume changes measured by water displacement method; handgrip strength; and QOL for limb lymphedema questionnaire (LYMQOL). RESULTS: There were no reported adverse effects or complications; there were no episodes of infection during the period of study. There was a tendency of limb volume reduction by 6 months, which, however, did not reach statistical significance. There was a significant improvement in appearance and symptom scores as was assessed with the LYMQOL questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The oral herbal formula improved the symptomatology and QOL among the pilot group of patients with post-mastectomy lymphedema. Side effects were absent, and there was a trend of lymphedema reduction.
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spelling pubmed-73393712020-08-05 Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study Chiu, Tor-Wo Kong, Shun-Ling Cheng, King-Fai Leung, Ping-Chung Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Reconstructive BACKGROUND: Lymphedema of the arms or legs is a difficult clinical problem yet devoid of effective treatment. Lymphedema is the result of obstructed lymphatic flow secondary to chronic infection, parasitic infestation, or postsurgical obstruction (eg, after axillary dissections). We arranged this clinical trial to investigate whether patients with limb lymphedema can benefit from a standard dose of Astragalus plus Paeoniae rubra to improve the symptomatology, functional capacity, and quality of life (QOL). METHOD: The pilot study was designed as a self-control clinical trial. Patients with post-mastectomy lymphedema were recruited. A double-herb formulation (Astragalus, Paeoniae rubra) with standard dosage was administered orally in a powdered form, 6 times per week for 6 months. Outcome measurements included standard limb volume changes measured by water displacement method; handgrip strength; and QOL for limb lymphedema questionnaire (LYMQOL). RESULTS: There were no reported adverse effects or complications; there were no episodes of infection during the period of study. There was a tendency of limb volume reduction by 6 months, which, however, did not reach statistical significance. There was a significant improvement in appearance and symptom scores as was assessed with the LYMQOL questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The oral herbal formula improved the symptomatology and QOL among the pilot group of patients with post-mastectomy lymphedema. Side effects were absent, and there was a trend of lymphedema reduction. Wolters Kluwer Health 2020-06-24 /pmc/articles/PMC7339371/ /pubmed/32766062 http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002915 Text en Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) , where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.
spellingShingle Reconstructive
Chiu, Tor-Wo
Kong, Shun-Ling
Cheng, King-Fai
Leung, Ping-Chung
Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study
title Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study
title_full Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study
title_fullStr Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study
title_short Treatment of Post-mastectomy Lymphedema with Herbal Medicine: An Innovative Pilot Study
title_sort treatment of post-mastectomy lymphedema with herbal medicine: an innovative pilot study
topic Reconstructive
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7339371/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32766062
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002915
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