title: Chinese phytotherapy to reduce stress, anxiety and improve quality of life: randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of Chinese phytotherapyto reduce stress levels, anxiety and improve quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  double-blind randomized controlled trial with 89 volunteers divided into three groups: control (no intervention), Placebo and Phytotherapy. The study was conducted in 2015 with healthy adults treated at the Integrated and Eastern Therapy Institute,in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants were evaluated at baseline and after three weeks with the Stress Symptoms List (SSL), Anxiety Inventory-Trait and State and SF12v2 for quality of life. Intervention groups received a placebo or Gan May Zao formula (GMDZ)flaskwith 50 ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to ANOVA, there were significant differences (p = 0.025) after treatment of stress (SSL2). And the difference was between control and Phytotherapy groups, according to the Tukey post hoc (p = 0.022). There were no differences in the levels of state-anxiety and physical and mental domains in the SF12v2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GMDZ formula reduced stress levels, but more studies are needed with greater sample, with reassessment of dosage and a longer period of treatment to confirm and extend the results. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-28s4hz.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Avaliar o efeito da fitoterapia chinesa na redução de níveis de estresse, ansiedade e melhoria de qualidade de vida.
  Ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego, com 89 voluntários divididos em três grupos: Controle (sem intervenção), Placebo e Fitoterapia. Foi realizado em 2015, com adultos saudáveis atendidos no Instituto de Terapia Integrada e Oriental, São Paulo. Foram avaliados no baseline e, após 3 semanas,pela Lista de Sintomas de Stress (LSS), Inventário de Ansiedade-Traço e Estado e o SF12v2 de qualidade de vida. Os grupos de intervenção receberam um frasco de 50 ml de placebo ou da fórmula Gan Mai Da Zao (GMDZ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Segundo ANOVA, houve diferença (p=0,025) no pós-tratamento de estresse (LSS2). E a diferença foi entre os grupos Controle e Fitoterapia, de acordo com o post hocde Tukey (p=0,022). Não houve diferenças nos níveis de ansiedade-estado e domínio físico e mental do SF12v2.
  A fórmula GMDZ reduziu os níveis de estresse, mas são necessários mais estudos com amostra significativa, com reavaliação da posologia e um período maior de tratamento para confirmar e ampliar os resultados. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos: RBR-28s4hz.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, School of Nursing, Post-doctoral program, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonice Fumiko Sato
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Kurebayashi
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, School of Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing Department, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruth Natalia Teresa
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Turrini
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, School of Nursing, Graduate program, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kuba
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Terapia Integrada e Oriental, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Miki Hoshi Minamizawa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo,Institute of Biological Sciences, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raymond Sehiji
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Takiguch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal