EFFECT OF TREATMENT WITH LIU-JUN-ZI-TANG (TJ-43) ON GASTRIC-EMPTYING AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN DYSPEPTIC PATIENTS

The effects of treatment with the Chinese herbal medicine Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang M-43) on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal symptoms were investigated in 42 patients with chronic idiopathic dyspepsia. By random allocation, 22 patients received oral treatment with 2.5 g TJ-43 three times daily, and 20 patients received placebo. Gastric emptying was measured by the acetaminophen absorption method. After 7 days of treatment, gastric emptying was significantly accelerated and gastrointestinal symptoms were significantly reduced in patients treated with TJ-43. Placebo treatment produced no significant effects. These findings indicate that TJ-43 had a prokinetic action on gastric emptying and that it was useful in treating chronic dyspepsia.