Chinese herbal medicine for functional constipation: a randomised controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Functional constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder.
• Current treatments may have limitations or side effects.
• Chinese herbal medicine offers potential therapeutic avenues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ma Zi Ren Wan (MZRW) for functional constipation.
• To compare MZRW treatment against a placebo in a randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• An 18-week prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
• 120 subjects with functional constipation (Rome III criteria) were enrolled.
• Participants received either MZRW (7.5 g twice daily) or a placebo.

Main Results:

• The MZRW group showed significantly higher responder rates (43.3% vs. 8.3% during treatment; 30.0% vs. 15.0% follow-up).
• MZRW improved complete spontaneous bowel movements and reduced constipation severity, straining, and need for rescue therapy.
• No serious adverse effects were reported in the MZRW group.

Conclusions:

• Ma Zi Ren Wan is an effective and safe treatment for functional constipation.
• MZRW demonstrates superiority over placebo in improving key constipation parameters.
• This study provides a strong foundation for future research on MZRW for constipation.