Shen Qi San & Its Effect on Ankle-brachial Index in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

abstracted & translated by
Bob Flaws

On pages 17-18 of issue 7, 2009 of Xin Zhong Yi (New Chinese Medicine, one of my favorite Chinese medical journals), Wu Xiao-sheng published an article titled, “Research on Shen Qi San in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Affecting Ankle-brachial Index.” The ankle-brachial index (ABI) test is done by measuring blood pressure at the ankle and in the arm while a person is at rest. This test is used to diagnose atherosclerosis which, in turn, is linked to the likelihood of heart disease and stroke. A summary of this article is presented below.

Cohort description:

In this article, 76 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into two groups – a treatment group and a comparison group. The comparison group received standard Western medical care for diabetes, meaning dietary therapy and oral hypoglycemics, while the treatment group received this same basic treatment plus a very simple Chinese medicinal formula, Shen Qi San.  There were 40 cases in the treatment group, 18 males and 22 females with a median age of 53 ± 7 years. These patients’ mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.1 ± 3.1, their mean serum trigylcerides (TG) was 1.25 ± 0.73mmol/L, and their mean total serum cholesterol (TC) was 4.61 ± 1.23mmol/L. Their mean serum low-density lipids were 2.78 ± 0.72mmol/L, and their mean serum high-density lipids were 1.43 ± 0.31mmol/L. Their mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 136 ± 25mmHg, while their mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 79 ± 16mmHg. In the comparison group of 36 patients, there were 16 males and 20 females with a median age of 52 ± 8 years. These patients had a mean BMI of 23.5 ± 2.6, a mean TG of 1.18 ± 0.85, a mean TC of 4.56 ± 1.02, a mean LDL of 2.80 ± 0.80, a mean HDL of 1.40 ± 0.36, a mean SBP of 138 ± 24, and a mean DBP of 80 ± 15. Therefore, there were no statistically significant differences in any of these parameters between these two groups (P ≥ 0.05).

Treatment method:

Using dietary therapy and oral hypoglycemics, all members of the comparison group achieved a fasting blood glucose (FBG) of less than 8.0mmol/L and a two-hour post-prandial blood glucose (P2hBG) of less than 11.1mmol/L. In addition to this basic Western medical treatment, all members of the treatment group were orally administered 15 grams per day of Shen Qi San (American Ginseng & Pseudoginseng Powder) on an empty stomach. Shen Qi San is made up of only two ingredients:

Xi Yang Shen (Radix Panacis Quinquefolii)
San Qi (Radix Notoginseng)

One month equaled one course of treatment for both groups. A four-day rest was given between successive courses of the Chinese medicinals. Altogether, 12 courses were administered. Hence treatment lasted for essentially one year.

Study outcomes:

At the end of one year, FBG and P2hBG) had dropped significantly in both groups. However, this reduction was significantly greater in the group who received Shen Qi San in addition to their Western medical treatment. The following table shows the mean levels of these two parameters before and after treatment in both groups.

There were also significant drops in glycosylated hemoglobin and ABI in both groups at the end of the study. Yet again, the drop in both of these indeces was even more significant in those patients that received the integrated Chinese-Western medical protocol. The following table shows the mean values of these two parameters before and after treatment in both groups.

Discussion:

In his discussion of this study, Dr. Wu explains that Xi Yang Shen is bitter in flavor and slightly sweet and its nature is cold. It boosts the qi and nourishes yin, clears fire and engenders fluids. San Qi quickens the blood and transforms stasis. Many patients with diabetes present a pattern of qi and yin dual vacuity with blood stasis. In this case, qi and yin dual vacuity is seen as the root and blood stasis is seen as the tip or branch So this simple two-medicinal formula addresses both the root and branch at the same time. Further, this formula promotes the quickening of the blood without damaging yin. While a much “larger,” multi-ingredient decoction may have gotten quicker results, as Dr. Wu notes, diabetes is a chronic disease and patients need to be treated over a long period of time no matter what. Since this powder was easy to take and it addressed the main disease mechanisms in this condition, it was a good choice in terms of both compliance and effect. Dr. Wu thinks this protocol achieved completely satisfactory results and that it should be more widely used.

Copyright © Blue Poppy Press, 2009. All rights reserved.