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Effects of an anthroposophical remedy on cardiorespiratory regulation
Dirk Cysarz1, Christian Heckmann, Henrik Bettermann
1Department of Clinical Research, Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus, Herdecke, Germany.
Context:
The human organism has the inherent ability to regulate and coordinate physiological functions to establish well-being. If this ability is disturbed, eg, in cases of orthostatic syndrome with purely functional disorders, an herbal remedy based on anthroposophical medicine may be able to regulate such rhythmic disturbances.
Objective:
To determine the effect of the anthroposophical herbal remedy on stimulating the ability to regulate and coordinate physiological functions in healthy subjects.
Design:
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial
Participants:
Ninety-nine healthy subjects; 49 received the remedy, 50 received the placebo.
Intervention:
Oral administration of the remedy for 4 weeks, 20 drops 4 times daily.
Main Outcome Measures:
Cardiorespiratory interaction was analyzed by 2 measures: the heart-respiratory ratio and the phase-coordination ratio of heartbeat and respiration. They were calculated from heart rate and respiratory rate, which were derived from 24-hour electrocardiogram recordings before and after the administration of the remedy. Improved normalization of these measures during nighttime sleep after administration of the remedy indicates a stimulation of regulation.
Results:
Oral administration of the remedy resulted in an improved normalization of heart-respiratory ratio, phase-coordination ratio and heart rate during nighttime sleep. These results were not observed in the placebo group.
Conclusions:
The remedy stimulates the regulation of cardiorespiratory interaction during nighttime sleep. Furthermore, improved normalization indicates a general improvement of the regulatory processes of functional rhythms.