[System review of the Chinese medicine bushenhuoxue for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia].
OBJECTIVE
To make a system review of the effects of Bushenhuoxue (kidney-tonifying and blood-activating prescription), a category of compound Chinese medicines, on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its side effects.


METHODS
All the research articles about Chinese medicines treating BPH from January 1978 to February 2003 were retrieved using the methods of international evidence-based medicine (EBM), and their qualities were evaluated based on JADAD standard and concealment of research allocation. Then the included articles went through META-analysis with Revman 4.2 software.


RESULTS
The efficacy of Bushenhuoxue on BPH was better than Qianliekang but not statistically different from finasteride. The combined use of Bushenhuoxue with surgery had no statistical difference from mere surgical treatment. Four articles reported the side effects of this compound Chinese medicine including upset and pain in the abdomen, nausea, diarrhea and dryness of the nose.


CONCLUSIONS
Massive, multi-center and randomized controlled clinical trials should be conducted to find out more effective methods for treating BPH with Chinese medicines based on the improvement of measurable symptom evaluation method and for evaluating their side effects.
Wang
Lin
L
Department of Graduate Students, Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, China.
Zhou
Shiyi
S
Shao
Jichun
J
Zhang
Shuwu
S
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal