title: Xiong-gui-tiao-xue-yin (Kyuki-chouketsu-in), a traditional herbal medicine, stimulates lactation with increase in secretion of prolactin but not oxytocin in the postpartum period.
abstract: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Xiong-gui-tiao-xue-yin, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, in stimulating lactation in the postpartum period. We enrolled 82 women who had a normal delivery in Osaka Medical College Hospital, and randomly assigned them to the following two groups: a group of 41 women who received Xiong-gui-tiao-xue-yin at a dose of 6.0 g/day (Group X), and a group of 41 women who received ergometrine (methylergometrine maleate) at a dose of 0.375 mg/day (Group E). Volume of lactation was determined daily until Day 6 postpartum. Plasma prolactin and oxytocin concentration were measured at Days 1 and 6 postpartum. The results showed that volume of lactation was significantly higher in Group X than in Group E at Days 4 (p = 0.042), 5 (p = 0.038), and 6 (p = 0.046). Significant differences between Groups X and E were noted in plasma prolactin concentration at Days 1 (157.9 +/- 78.2 ng/ml and 129.1 +/- 64.8 ng/ml; p = 0.037) and 6 (167.5 +/- 95.4 ng/ml and 117.1 +/- 53.6 ng/ml; p = 0.0042) postpartum. On the other hand, at Day 1, oxytocin concentration was significantly higher in Group E than in Group X (p = 0.0024). No adverse effects were observed in this study. The results of our study demonstrate the beneficial effects of Xiong-gui-tiao-xue-yin on lactation, with increase in prolactin level without increase in oxytocin level in the postpartum period. Therefore, Xiong-gui-tiao-xue-yin can be expected to improve lactation in women in the postpartum period. Further detailed bio-pharmacological studies and clinical trials to investigate the properties of this drug are warranted.
authors: Department of Nursing, Aino Gakuin College, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0018, Japan. t-ushiroyama@ns-t.aino.ac.jp.
authors: Takahisa
authors: T
authors: Ushiroyama
authors: Kou
authors: K
authors: Sakuma
authors: Hekiko
authors: H
authors: Souen
authors: Gou
authors: G
authors: Nakai
authors: Shouko
authors: S
authors: Morishima
authors: Yoshiki
authors: Y
authors: Yamashita
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Kamegai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C522371:xiong-gui-tiao-xue-yin; D010121:Oxytocin; D011388:Prolactin