Leg oedema protection from a buckwheat herb tea in patients with chronic venous insufficiency: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of a buckwheat herb tea was determined in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
Sixty-seven male and female patients (22-74 years) with CVI were randomly divided into two groups after a 2-week run-in period. They received either buckwheat herb tea (Fagopyrum esculentum) or a placebo tea for a period of 3 months. The main outcome measure was the lower leg volume determined by ultrasound. Subjective symptoms were assessed by a clinical symptom score system. The femoral vein diameters were measured by B-scan sonography. In a subgroup of patients capillary permeability was determined by cutaneous fluorescence angiography.


RESULTS
Although the mean partial leg volume did not change in the treatment group (from 2041 to 2073 ml), it increased in the placebo group by 110 ml (from 1972 to 2082 ml) according to intent to treat. The difference between the groups was significant. The subjective clinical symptoms were significantly reduced in both groups. The mean diameters of the femoral veins were reduced and capillary permeability was improved, but neither change was statistically significant. No drug-related adverse effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
CVI is a very placebo-sensitive condition. The treatment with buckwheat herb tea is safe and could have a favourable influence on patients with CVI such that further oedema development is prevented.
Ihme
N
N
Universitätsklinikum Charité, Medizinische Fakultät, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
Kiesewetter
H
H
Jung
F
F
Hoffmann
K H
KH
Birk
A
A
Müller
A
A
Grützner
K I
KI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012431:Rutin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D010936:Plant Extracts; D012431:Rutin