title: [Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Bushen Huoxue Granule on quality of life of patients with Parkinson disease: a randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled trial].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main clinical symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) are resting tremor, muscle rigidity and bradykinesia. There is currently no effective treatment for PD, and dyskinesia symptoms affect the quality of life of patients with PD. The Chinese medicine therapy used for reinforcing kidney and activating blood circulation in treatment of PD was reported to achieve good clinical effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of Bushen Huoxue Granule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the quality of life of patients with PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 120 patients were enrolled from General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army in China and divided into two groups randomly. Patients in the control group were treated with a placebo and in the treatment group with Bushen Huoxue Granule based on treating with levodopa. A double-blinded clinical trial was adopted over a 3-month treatment with a follow-up period lasting 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale II (UPDRS II), questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) and Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS) were adopted to measure the quality of life at baseline, after 3 months of treatment and at a 6-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bushen Huoxue Granule showed a higher efficacy than the control in improving life quality of patients with PD by improving scores of UPDRS II, PDQ-39 and PDSS (P<0.05). No adverse effects were found in this trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bushen Huoxue Granule can markedly improve the quality of life of patients with PD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China. kittenlee1115@126.com
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming-hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C527851:bushen huoxue