title: [Effects of an herbal crataegus-camphor combination on the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases].
abstract: One hundred and ninety (190) patients presenting with "functional cardiovascular disorders" (ICD 10, F 45.3) received purely herbal combination therapy comprising crataegus and camphor (Korodin Herz-Kreislauf-Tropfen) or a placebo, identical in colour and taste to the active treatment, over a period of four weeks within the scope of a multi-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The principal criterion was the fall in the overall score obtained for a heart-related symptom complex (HSK) during administration of the herbal combination or randomly allocated placebo. The overall score fell significantly by 5.5 or 4.5 points, respectively, from a baseline value of 10.0 points each (p = 0.0165). The sub-score for exhaustion, joint pain, heart disorders, pain on pressure and the total score on the Giessen discomfort chart (GBB) indicated better efficacy with the crataegus-camphor combination than with the placebo. On completion of treatment, the investigators assessed the efficacy of the active drug as "very good to good" in 70.5% of their patients compared with a similar evaluation in just 49.5% of the placebo patients. The degree of satisfaction with the drug therapy according to physician and patient reflected the objective results obtained. 71.6% of subjects in the active drug group were satisfied with their treatment compared with just 52.7% in the placebo group. Adverse events (undesirable side effects) were recorded in 8.3% and 8.5% of patients, respectively. A correlation with the active drug therapy was established in only two cases. Tolerance was therefore positively assessed.
authors.affiliation: Arbeits- und Forschungsgemeinschaft für Arzneimittel-Sicherheit GmbH, Köln.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002164:Camphor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019685:Rosales / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002164:Camphor