Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine Xiaojidaozhi Decoction in the Treatment of Childhood Constipation
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2018-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Constipation is the most common complaint in childhood gastrointestinal disease,affecting an
estimated 20% of the global children.The treatment strategies consist of diet
control,behavioural intervention and oral and sometimes rectal laxatives. Given higher
success rate and fewer side effects,the laxative PEG3350 has been considered the first choice
in childhood constipation.However, effectiveness of PEG 3350 laxative is not lasting,
additional treatment interventions are still necessary.With an unsatisfactory response to
current treatments, many patients seek help from Chinese Herbal Medicine.In view of the
traditional theory, childhood constipation is derived from weakness of gastric and splenic
function.The functional weakness is characterized by food stagnation and further pathological
heat accumulation in the gastrointestine. The food stagnation can slow the gastrointestinal
motility while heat causes constipation by drying the intestines and their content.
Therefore, the therapeutic principles and practices for childhood constipation must focus on
the pathophysiological basis accordingly. In the documented traditional medicine
dictionary(Pi Wei Lun), Xiaojidaozhi Decoction is well described in improving the gastric and
splenic function, eliminating food stagnation and removing pathological heat accumulation,
and it has always been used in treatment of constipation throughout Asia since the first
description in Pi Wei Lun in 1249. It comprises twelve herbs. Through the combined action of
these herbs, Xiaojidaozhi Decoction can increase fluid in the intestines and facilitate the
gastrointestinal motility, relieving the symptoms of constipation. Despite of the long
history of successful use of Xiaojidaozhi Decoction in childhood constipation, a large
randomized placebo-controlled trial is still not available.The aim of this study was to
explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Xiaojidaozhi Decoction in
the treatment of childhood constipation.