Ingredients:
Common ash (European ash) (Fraxinus excelsior L.) bark
Aspen (quaking aspen) (Populus tremula L.) bark and leaf
Goldenrod (European goldenrod) (Solidago virgaurea L.)
aerial parts
Phytodolor™ is a formula containing extracts of common ash
(Fraxinus excelsior L.) bark, aspen (Populus tremula L.) bark and
leaves, and goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea L.) aerial parts. Aspen
bark and leaves contain salicylates (Schulz, Hänsel, and Tyler, 2001).
Salicylates are perhaps more widely known as constituents of willow
bark, and for the synthetic derivative acetylsalicylic acid (known as
aspirin). Salicylates are generally known for their ability to reduce inflammation,
pain, and fever. Ash preparations contain coumarins that
have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (Bruneton, 1999).
Goldenrod preparations contain flavonoids, saponins, and phenol
glycosides. Extracts and individual constituents have demonstrated
diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity (Blumenthal,
Goldberg, and Brinkmann, 2000).
Phytodolor is a combination of the extracts of common ash bark,
aspen bark and leaves, and goldenrod aerial parts in the ratio of 1:3:1.
The individual extracts are prepared according to the following plantto-
extract ratios: ash (4.5:1), aspen (4.5:1), and goldenrod (4.8:1).
The formula as a whole is standardized to contain salicin (0.75
mg/ml), salicylic alcohol (0.042 mg/ml), isofraxidin (0.015 mg/ml),
and rutin (0.06 mg/ml). The recommended dose is 20 drops (1 ml)
three to four times daily. Phytodolor is manufactured in Germany by
Steigerwald Arzneimittel GmbH and is no longer distributed in the
United States.
We reviewed three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that examined
the use of Phytodolor to treat the pain and inflammation associated
with various degenerative rheumatic joint diseases or arthritis.
The most common degenerative disease is osteoarthritis, caused by
wear and tear on the joint. It is characterized by the breakdown of
joint cartilage and adjacent bone in the neck, lower back, knees, hips,
and/or fingers. The symptoms include pain, stiffness, and swelling in
the joints. Degeneration of the joints also occurs with rheumatoid arthritis,
an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system
attacks the membranes surrounding the joints.
Common first-line treatments for relief of symptoms of degenerative
joint diseases are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs), which include aspirin and other salicylic acid derivatives,
acetaminophen, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac (Hardman
et al., 1996).
Ingredients:
Salep orchid (Orchis mascula L.) tuber
Hygrophila (Astercantha longifolia Nees.) seed
Lettuce (Lactuca scariola L.) seed
Cow-itch (Mucuna pruriens (L.)DC.) seed
Elephant creeper (Argyreia speciosa [L. f.] Sweet) root
Small caltrops (Tribulus terrestris L.) fruit
Jeevanti (Leptandenia reticulataW. & A.) whole
Stone flower [Parmelia perlata (Huds.) Ach.] whole
Prostane® is manufactured by The Himalaya Drug Company in
India and distributed in the United States by Himalaya USA. Each
tablet contains 600 mg of a proprietary blend of eight herbs. Prostane
is also sold as ProstaCare®. The product is called “Speman” in the
clinical trial we reviewed. Unfortunately that trial did not include any
details on the product, so we were unable to compare the material
used in the trial to the current product.
We reviewed one study with Prostane for treatment of acute and
chronic urinary retention due to prostate enlargement. A nonmalignant
enlargement of the prostate that is common in men older than 40
years of age is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Symptoms
of BPH include increased urinary urgency and frequency, urinary
hesitancy, intermittency, sensation of incomplete voiding, and decreased
force of the urine stream.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
An open, placebo-controlled study with Prostane included 55 men
with acute and chronic urinary retention due to prostate enlargement.
Forty-seven participants had BPH, six had fibrotic disease, and two
had prostate cancer. Forty-five of the patients were treated with
Prostane and ten served as controls. Approximately 74 percent (28 of
38) of those in the treatment group with BPH had improved symptoms
and decreases in prostate size and urinary congestion after 10 to
14 days of treatment with two tablets three times daily. The other ten
in the treatment group with BPH required surgery (prostatectomy).
All men that served as controls required surgery (Mukherjee, Ghosh,
and De, 1986). The clinical efficacy of Prostane in this study was
rated as undetermined due to poor study design.
No side effects were reported in a clinical trial with 45 subjects
given two tablets three times daily for a month (Mukherjee, Ghosh,
and De, 1986).
Ingredients:
Astragalus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch. ex Link)
Bunge] root
Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) [Eleutherococcus senticosus
(Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim.] root
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyey) root
Stephania (Stephania tetrandra S. Moore) root
Echinacea [Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench] root
Barrenwort (Epimedium grandiflorum C. Morren) leaf and
flower
Dong quai [Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels] root
Resistex® is manufactured and distributed by Botanica BioScience
Corporation. Each capsule contains 450 mg of a proprietary blend of
Echinacea purpurea root and extracts of astragalus, eleuthero (Siberian
ginseng), Asian ginseng, stephania, barrenwort, and dong quai.
The Resistex formula was developed with the intention of providing
resistance to infection with colds or flu. The initial cause of a cold
or flu is a viral infection. Colds are caused most commonly by a
rhinovirus and less often by a coronavirus. The influenza viruses
cause the flu. In theory, bolstering the immune system can prevent
disease or reduce symptoms. A number or herbal preparations have
been promoted as immunostimulants for this purpose, including
those containing echinacea and/or eleuthero (Wagner, 1997). Other
herbs have been described as adaptogenic, i.e., substances that assist
in nonspecific heightened resistance to stress. The adaptogenic properties
of these herbs may be due, in part, to antioxidant and/or
immunomodulatory activity (Davydov and Krikorian, 2000). Herbs
with adaptogenic activity ascribed to them include eleuthero, Asian
ginseng, ashwaganda, astragalus, and schisandra (Davydov and Krikorian,
2000; Wagner, Nörr, and Winterhoff, 1992; Wallace, 1998).
Cold and Flu (Prevention)
An open, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 61 participants
found Resistex to significantly reduce the incidence of colds and flu
compared to recall of the previous season. Subjects were divided into
three groups and given one or two tablets of Resistex or placebo.
Treatmentwas initially for four weeks, followed by a one-week intermission,
which was followed by several two-week treatment periods,
each separated by one-week intermissions. The total trial length was
four and a half months. As a result, the group that received two tablets
Resistex (900 mg daily) had a 67 percent reduction in the incidence of
colds and flu compared to the previous season. In comparison, the
group that received one tablet (450 mg daily) had a 43 percent reduction,
and the placebo group had a 14 percent reduction (Wang, 1998).
Methodological flaws, such as the dependence on recall for the previous
season’s incidence of colds and flu, and lack of detail in the trial
report led our reviewer, Dr. Richard O’Connor, to rate the clinical
outcome of this trial as undetermined.
No side effects were reported in a controlled clinical trial with 61
patients that used a dose of 900 mg per day (Wang, 1998).
Ingredients:
Gentian (yellow gentian) (Gentiana lutea L.) root
Cowslip (primrose) (Primula veris L.) flower
Sorrel (sour dock) (Rumex acetosa L.) aerial parts
European elder (Sambucus nigra L.) flower
European vervain (vervain wort) (Verbena officinalis L. ssp.
officinalis) aerial parts
Sinupret® is manufactured in Germany by Bionorica Arzneimittel
GmbH. It contains a blend of five powdered plant materials: gentian
root, European elder flower, European vervain aerial parts, cowslip
flower, and sorrel aerial parts. Each tablet contains 78 mg of herbs.
Sinupret is also sold in a liquid form: 100 g contains 29 g of aqueous
alcoholic extracts (59 percent ethanol) of the herbs mentioned
previously. Sinupret is distributed in the United States by Mediceutix,
Inc.
Sinupret was approved as a drug to treat acute and chronic sinusitis
by the federal authorities in Germany in 1997. Sinusitis is characterized
by symptoms of nasal obstruction, discharge, postnasal drip,
headache, and sore throat. It is often caused by a bacterial infection,
and may follow a common cold or flu. Acute sinusitis may last for up
to three weeks, but if it lasts for three months, it is considered chronic.
Medical treatment is often aimed at eliminating the bacterial infection
(if present) and reducing symptoms of sinus congestion and nasal
discharge (Behr, 1998).
Two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies on patients
with acute or chronic sinusitis were reviewed. In a good-quality trial,
160 subjects with acute sinusitis were given either Sinupret (two 78
mg tablets three times daily) or placebo in addition to antibiotic and
decongestant therapy. After two weeks, radiographic (X-ray) reports
and patients’ assessments showed significant improvement with Sinupret
compared with placebo (Neubauer and März, 1994).
The other trial, with poor methodological ratings, included 31 subjects
with chronic sinusitis and compared treatment with either the
liquid or tablet form of Sinupret with two matching placebos. After
one week of treatment, radiographic and ultrasound findings showed
improvement with both forms of Sinupret compared with placebo.
Complete recovery occurred in 12 of 16 subjects in the treatment
group and in 6 of 15 subjects in the placebo group (Richstein and
Mann, 1999).
Ingredients:
Bengal quince [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa] fruit
Allspice [Pimenta officinalis Lindl., syn. P. dioica (L.) Merr.]
fruit
Colombine (Aquilegia vulgaris L.) aerial part
Marigold/calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) flower
Cardamom [Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton] fruit
Clove [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry]
flower
Costus (Indian) [Saussurea lappa (Decne.) C.B. Clarke, syn.
Sassurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.] root
Ginger lily (Hedychium spicatum Sm.) rhizome
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) leaf
Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica L. Ach.)
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) root
Neem/margosa (Azadirachta indica A. Juss., syn: Melia
azadirachta L.) fruit
Myrobalan (Tropical almond) (Terminalia chebula Retz.)
fruit
Ribwort/English plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) aerial
part
Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare L.) aerial part
Golden cinquefoil (Potentilla aurea L.) aerial part
Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus L. f.) heart wood
Country mallow/heartleaved sida (Sida cordifolia L.) aerial
part
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.) root
Gypsum/calcium sulfate
Dextro-camphora/natural camphor
Padma® 28 (recipe No. 28 of the Padma recipe series) is an herbal
remedy consisting of 22 ingredients prepared according to Tibetan
medicine principals. The recipe was brought to St. Petersberg, Russia
in the middle of the nineteenth century by a physician/monk, Sultim
Badma. The original formula has been altered with its entry into
Western Europe, in that some of the ingredient plants from Tibet and
India have been substituted with plants from Europe. The European
version has been tested in numerous clinical studies and is registered
as a drug in Switzerland. It is indicated for symptoms of poor circulation,
including tingling, formication (feeling of insects crawling on
the skin), feeling of heaviness, and tension in the arms and legs, as
well as numbness of the hands and feet (Saller and Kristof, 1997).
The formula available in the United States is Padma® BASIC,
which is Padma 28 minus one ingredient. The missing ingredient is
aconite tuber (Aconitum napellus L.), which is considered an “unsafe
herb” in the United States, subject to import restriction (CADHS,
1996). Thus, Padma BASIC is a blend of 19 herbs plus camphor and
calcium sulfate. Padma BASIC is manufactured in Switzerland by
PadmaAG, and distributed in the United States by EcoNugenics Inc.
Although Padma 28 and Padma BASIC are not equivalent, their ingredients
are very similar, and the products are both made by the
same manufacturer. Thus, we decided to include Padma BASIC in
this listing. Another product for sale in the United States that is also
similar to Padma 28 is Adaptrin, manufactured by Pacific BioLogic.
Experimental studies with Padma 28 indicate that it may have antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory properties (Saller and Kristof, 1997).
We reviewed two trials that included adults with multiple sclerosis or
children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. However, the majority
of the studies (six) that we reviewed focused on the ability of
Padma 28 to treat symptoms of circulatory disorders.
Intermittent claudication is a symptom that occurs when the blood
supply is adequate to meet the needs of the exercising muscle. This
occurs most commonly due to occlusive arterial disease, also known
as peripheral arterial disease, or more commonly known as peripheral
arterial occlusion (PAO). PAO is a condition in which narrowing of
the arteries, generally caused by atherosclerosis, limits the blood supply
to the legs. Early stages of the disease are without symptoms, but
later stages are associated with leg pain and muscle cramps upon
walking, and ultimately, ischemic ulceration, gangrene, and tissue
loss. The stages have been classified in a system according to
Fontaine: Stage I represents those who are asymptomatic with isolated
arterial stenosis of the lower limb; Stage II is mild to moderately
severe leg pain and muscle cramps upon walking; Stage III are those
with pain while resting; and Stage IV are those with ulcerations and
gangrene (Dicter et al., 2002). The Padma studies included patients
with Stage II of the disease. After the subject walks a “pain-free distance,”
cramplike ischemic pains begin. These pains eventually force
the subject to stop walking, determining the “maximal walking distance.”
Upon rest, the legs recover from deficiencies of blood and oxygen,
the pain disappears, and the subject can again walk a certain
distance (Schrader, 1985).
Ingredients:
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) flower
Clown’s mustard (Iberis amara L.) plant
Angelica (Angelica archangelica L.) root and rhizome
Caraway (Carum carvi L.) fruit
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.) fruit
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) leaf
Celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) aerial part
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) root
Peppermint (Menthae × piperita L.) leaf
Iberogast™ is named for the herb Iberis amara L. (commonly
called bitter candytuft or clown’s mustard plant), the principal ingredient
in this formula containing a total of nine plant extracts.
Iberogast, also known as STW 5, is manufactured in Germany by
Steigerwald GmbH, and distributed in the United States by Enzymatic
Therapy.
Iberogast has been tested in several trials for its ability to benefit
dyspepsia. Symptoms of dyspepsia include belching, sour eructation,
frequent or excessive passage of gas, abdominal fullness, vague abdominal
pain, epigastric burning, nausea, and unsatisfactory evacuation.
Three different subtypes of functional dyspepsia have been described,
attributing the symptoms to ulcers, dysmotility, or some
unspecified cause. Symptoms can be rated according to the gastrointestinal
symptom (GIS) score, a sum of ten dyspepsia symptoms.
Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
We reviewed two trials that compared Iberogast with either metoclopramide
or cisapride in treatment for functional dyspepsia. A single-
blind, drug comparison trial included 77 patients with functional
dyspepsia given either Iberogast or metoclopramide (both 20 drops
three times daily) after meals for up to two weeks. As a result, an almost
parallel improvement in dyspepsia symptoms was observed in
both groups. A statistically significant change compared to baseline
was reached for symptoms (pressure/pain, nausea, belching, heartburn,
stomach cramps, vomiting, fullness, and lack of appetite) between
days three and seven (Nicolay, 1984). The trial did not score
well in the quality rating because it was single-blind (the two liquids
were different colors) and the randomization process was not adequately
described.
First nine of a total thirty ingredients (for more information, see the
Product Profile):
Chyavanprash concentrate
Cow-itch plant (Mucuna pruriens [L.] DC.) seed
Gotukola (Centella asiatica [L.] Urb.) leaves
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus Willd.) root
Loosestrife (Asparagus adscendens Roxb.) root
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal.) root
Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna [Roxb. ex. DC.] Wight & Arn.)
bark
Elephant creeper (Argyreia speciosa [L. f.] Sweet) root
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) root
Geriforte® is manufactured by The Himalaya Drug Company in
India, and distributed in the United States by Himalaya USA. Each
tablet contains 1.005 g of a proprietary herbal blend of thirty ingredients
(see the product report for a full list of ingredients). The current
recommended dose is one tablet twice a day (Himalaya USA, 2002).
A prior formulation of Geriforte, label dated May 1999, also cited 12
mg vitamin C and 40 mg calcium. No details of the product used in
the following trial were included in the trial report. Geriforte is also
available under the name of GeriCare®.
Menopausal Symptoms
The benefits of Geriforte were assessed in a small controlled study
that included 25 women with postmenopausal depression and symptoms
of headache, vague body ache, hot flashes, chest pain, palpitations,
personality change, insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss, and
others. The study participants were given placebo for six weeks and
then Geriforte (two tablets three times a day) for six weeks. They
were evaluated every week during the 12-week period. Geriforte was
effective in reducing symptoms of headache, hot flashes, insomnia,
and improved self-confidence compared to placebo (Damle and
Gore, 1983). However, the study was not well described and appeared
to have significant methodological limitations. Thus, according
to our reviewer, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, any potential benefit for
menopausal symptoms cannot be determined from this trial.
No significant side effects were reported and no abnormalities
were revealed by laboratory tests. Epigastric distress was reported in
six patients (24 percent) in the initial phase of the study. The study report
explained that this side effect disappeared with a reduction in
dose, but did not give any further details such as how much the dose
was reduced (Damle and Gore, 1983).
Ingredients:
Crowfoot (Aconitum palmatum D. Don.) root
Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) fruit
False black pepper (Embelia ribes Burm. f.) fruit
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) rhizome
Triphala:
Amalaki (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) fruit
Vibhitaka (Terminalia bellerica [Gaertn.] Roxb.) fruit
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) fruit rind
Mint (Mentha arvensis L.) leaves
Lemon (Citrus limon [L.] Burm. f.) fruit
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit
Gastrim® (previously called Gasex®) is manufactured by the
Himalaya Drug Company in India, and distributed in the United
States by Himalaya USA. Gastrim is also available under the name
GastriCare®. The current product label lists the ten herbal ingredients
indicated earlier. Also listed on the label, in the category of other
ingredients, are purified conch shell ash and purified cowrie shell ash.
The recommended dose is one to two 515 mg tablets, before meals or
as needed.
The material used in one of the clinical trials is described as tablets
containing 214 mg total ingredients. The dose in the trialwas two tablets
three times a day, for a total of 1.28 g per day. The ingredients and
their quantities were listed in one trial report as Aconitum palmatum
(65 mg), Piper nigrum (19 mg), extract of Embelia ribes (22 mg), extract
of Triphala (22 mg), extract of Zingiber officinale (22 mg),
cowrie bhasma (purified cowrie shell ash) (32 mg), and shankh
bhasma (purified conch shell ash) (32 mg)—all prepared in the juices
and decoctions of Mentha arvensis, Moringa pterygosperma, Carica
papaya, Citrus limon, etc. (Chandra et al., 1978). The other clinical
trial did not provide a list of product ingredients (Mishra and Singh,
1981). The current product differs from that described in the trial in
that Moringa pterygosperma is not mentioned on the label.
Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
A trial included 100 patients with symptoms of dyspepsia (indigestion)
who were given either Gasex or placebo for two weeks. The
dose of Gasex was two tablets three times daily for one week, and
then two tablets twice daily for the second week. Thirty-six of the 50
patients in the placebo group did not have any response after two
weeks and were switched to Gasex treatment. Of all the subjects
given Gasex, 71 of 86 were judged as having a good to excellent therapeutic
response (Mishra and Singh, 1981). Our reviewers, Drs.
Karriem Ali and Richard Aranda, commented that the crossing over
of the placebo nonresponders to the treatment arm, without any distinction
in the reporting of the results, obscures the purpose of having
a placebo group.
Postoperative Gastric Distress
Another trial with Gasex studied 150 women recovering from
gynecological surgery. Treatment began on the postoperative day at
the onset of bowel sounds, with either Gasex (two tablets three times
daily) or vitamin B complex tablets as placebo, and continued for one
to two weeks. All patients taking Gasex showed considerable improvement
in symptoms compared to the controls. In the Gasex
group, a good to excellent response was observed in 95 percent of patients
with abdominal discomfort, and in 88 percent with flatulence,
compared to 14 percent and 4 percent of the control group, respectively
(Chandra et al., 1978). The randomization and blinding processes
were inadequate, and the use of vitamin B complex as placebo
was not explained.
Ingredients:
Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) root
Cordyceps [Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc.]
Reishi mushroom [Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis: Fr.) P.
Karst.]
Enoki mushroom [Flammulina velutipes]
Siberian ginseng [Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. &
Maxim.) Maxim.] root
Tangerine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) peel
2ndWind™ is a proprietary blend of six different ingredients: ginseng
(root extract), cordyceps (fermentation), reishi mushroom (fermentation),
enoki mushroom (fermentation), Siberian ginseng (root
extract), and tangerine (peel extract). It is manufactured and distributed
by Botanica BioScience Corporation.
2ndWind is formulated to accelerate recovery after exercise by enhancing
the clearance of lactic acid (lactate) from the muscles during
and after exercise. Lactic acid is produced during exercise, and its
accumulation in muscles can result in soreness and fatigue. With intense
exercise, lactic acid buildup can reduce blood pH and cause a
condition known as acidosis. Thus, enhancing the clearance of lactic
acid is a key principle in increasing athletic performance, and is a
means to speeding recovery from exercise. Lactate measurements in
the blood give an indirect, but reliable indication of lactate levels in
muscle cells (Burke, 1996).
2nd Wind
Recovery After Exercise
Two unpublished, placebo-controlled clinical studies were reviewed.
In the first study, including 20 healthy young males, 1 g of
the formula per day caused a statistically significant increase in the
clearance of lactic acid in the blood following exercise after two
weeks of treatment compared to baseline measurements. Clearance
of lactic acid in the placebo group did not improve (Burke, 1996). The
second study, with 12 healthy students given 1.35 g 2ndWind or placebo
daily for five weeks, also reported comparatively less lactic acid
in the blood following exercise. The plasma pH following exercise
appeared to be more stable in the treatment group as well (Seifert,
Burke, and Lahr, 1998). A review by Dr. Mary Hardy found that neither
study established therapeutic benefit due to an inadequate description
of the methods and results in the trial reports.
Ingredients:
Shilapushpa (Didymocarpus pedicellata R. Br.) leaves
Pasanabheda (Saxifraga ligulataWall.) root
Rough chaff tree (Achyranthes aspera L.) seed
Indian madder (Rubia cordifolia L.) root
Ash-colored fleabane (Vernonia cinerea [L.] Less.) whole
Umbrella’s edge (Cyperus scariosus R. Br.) tuber
Sedge (Onosma bracteatumWall.) aerial parts
Mineral pitch
Cystone® tablets contain a combination of seven herbal extracts
and mineral pitch, a total of 540 mg per tablet. Current labels suggest
a dose of one to two tablets twice daily, for a total quantity of 1.08 to
2.16 g per day. Cystone is manufactured by The Himalaya Drug
Company in India, and distributed in the United States by Himalaya
USA. Cystone is also available under the name UriCare®. The current
Cystone product label lists the ingredients indicated previously.
The material used in the clinical study had the same name, but contained
an additional ingredient: Hajrul yahood bahsma.
Cystone is an herbal formula tested in the treatment of kidney and
bladder stones. Urinary tract stones form in the bladder and kidney.
Human urine is saturated with calcium oxalate, uric acid, and phosphates
that normally remain in solution. However dehydration, urinary
stasis, pH changes, foreign bodies, and infection can lead to the
formation of stones. Stones are hard buildups of mineral composed
mostly of calcium salts, uric acid, or struvite (phosphate of magnesium
and ammonia). Treatment depends upon differentiation between
the various stone types as well as recognition and control of
any underlying metabolic diseases or structural abnormalities of the
urinary tract (Pizzorno and Murray, 1999).
 |
| Kidney stones |
Kidney and Bladder Stones
The effect of Cystone on patients with kidney and bladder stones
(nephroureterolithiasis) was studied in a four-arm, open, clinical trial
including 100 participants. Two groups were given Cystone (two tablets
three times daily) and either encouraged to drink plenty of liquids
or given forced diuresis (intravenous liquids). Two control groups
were given antispasmodics and also either encouraged to drink plenty
of fluids or given forced diuresis. In the Cystone treatment groups, 76
and 80 percent, respectively, of participants were able to pass their
stones over a period of one to six months and thereby avoid surgery.
In the control groups given antispasmodics, only 20 and 28 percent,
respectively, were able to avoid surgery (Misgar, 1982). However,
due to poor methodological flaws, including the lack of characterization
of the size of the kidney and bladder stones in the various treatment
groups, our reviewers, Drs. Elliot Fagelman and Franklin Lowe,
found the benefit to be undetermined.
No adverse effects were reported in a clinical trial in which 50 subjects
were given two tablets three times daily for six months.
