Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series

Backgrounds: Ephedrae Herba is widely used to treat obesity. There is a concern for adverse events (AEs) using it and we need to develop strategies to attenuate it without its effectiveness for weight-reducing potential. We investigated the effects of a combination of Ephedra Herba with Zhizichi dec...

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Main Authors: Eunji Lee, Sang-Hoon Yoon, Hyunho Kim, Young Doo Kim, Jungtae Leem, Jinbong Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-06-01
Series:Integrative Medicine Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422020300408
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author Eunji Lee
Sang-Hoon Yoon
Hyunho Kim
Young Doo Kim
Jungtae Leem
Jinbong Park
author_facet Eunji Lee
Sang-Hoon Yoon
Hyunho Kim
Young Doo Kim
Jungtae Leem
Jinbong Park
author_sort Eunji Lee
collection DOAJ
description Backgrounds: Ephedrae Herba is widely used to treat obesity. There is a concern for adverse events (AEs) using it and we need to develop strategies to attenuate it without its effectiveness for weight-reducing potential. We investigated the effects of a combination of Ephedra Herba with Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex (Anmyungambi (AMGB) decoction) in reducing the incidence of Ephedra Herba-related AEs. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review from a clinical case series of patients visiting the Jaonmi Korean Medicine Clinic (Seoul, Korea). The inclusion criteria was patients who were prescribed AMGB decoction, (containing Ephedrae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, and Zhizichi decoction [Gardeniae Fructus, and Glycine Semen Preparata] in different proportions) for weight reduction. Exclusion of Phellodendri Cortex in the original AMGB preparation was allowed; conventional medications, acupuncture, and dietary supplements were not allowed. The primary outcome was absolute weight loss at the end of treatment. Results: Twenty-seven patients (6 men and 21 women), aged 18–75 years (mean age, 42.6 ± 11.1 years) and the average treatment duration was 39.4 days. Absolute weight loss at the end of treatment was 4.49 ± 2.40 kg. Fifteen patients lost more than 5% weight (55.6%). Treatment >45 days resulted in significantly greater weight loss compared to treatment <30 days (p < 0.001). Not severe AEs were reported in 16 patients including constipation, fatigue, etc. Conclusion: A combination of Ephedra Herba with Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex may be a safe and effective treatment for weight reduction in obese and overweight patients.
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spelling doaj-art-e00a666b80524378ac0a084269da31cf2025-08-20T02:00:41ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202020-06-019210040810.1016/j.imr.2020.100408Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case seriesEunji Lee0Sang-Hoon Yoon1Hyunho Kim2Young Doo Kim3Jungtae Leem4Jinbong Park5Chung-Yeon Korean Medicine Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Chung-Yeon Central Institute, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaChung-Yeon Korean Medicine Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Chung-Yeon Central Institute, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaChung-Yeon Central Institute, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dongshin Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul, Republic of KoreaJaonmi Korean Medicine Clinic, Seoul, Republic of KoreaChung-Yeon Central Institute, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Dongshin Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Corresponding authors at: Dongshin Korean Medicine Hospital, 351, Omok-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 07999, Republic of Korea (J. Leem); Department of Oriental Pharmacology, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea (J. Park).Department of Pharmacology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Corresponding authors at: Dongshin Korean Medicine Hospital, 351, Omok-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 07999, Republic of Korea (J. Leem); Department of Oriental Pharmacology, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea (J. Park).Backgrounds: Ephedrae Herba is widely used to treat obesity. There is a concern for adverse events (AEs) using it and we need to develop strategies to attenuate it without its effectiveness for weight-reducing potential. We investigated the effects of a combination of Ephedra Herba with Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex (Anmyungambi (AMGB) decoction) in reducing the incidence of Ephedra Herba-related AEs. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review from a clinical case series of patients visiting the Jaonmi Korean Medicine Clinic (Seoul, Korea). The inclusion criteria was patients who were prescribed AMGB decoction, (containing Ephedrae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, and Zhizichi decoction [Gardeniae Fructus, and Glycine Semen Preparata] in different proportions) for weight reduction. Exclusion of Phellodendri Cortex in the original AMGB preparation was allowed; conventional medications, acupuncture, and dietary supplements were not allowed. The primary outcome was absolute weight loss at the end of treatment. Results: Twenty-seven patients (6 men and 21 women), aged 18–75 years (mean age, 42.6 ± 11.1 years) and the average treatment duration was 39.4 days. Absolute weight loss at the end of treatment was 4.49 ± 2.40 kg. Fifteen patients lost more than 5% weight (55.6%). Treatment >45 days resulted in significantly greater weight loss compared to treatment <30 days (p < 0.001). Not severe AEs were reported in 16 patients including constipation, fatigue, etc. Conclusion: A combination of Ephedra Herba with Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex may be a safe and effective treatment for weight reduction in obese and overweight patients.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422020300408Case reportEphedrae HerbaKorean traditional medicineObesitySafety
spellingShingle Eunji Lee
Sang-Hoon Yoon
Hyunho Kim
Young Doo Kim
Jungtae Leem
Jinbong Park
Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series
Integrative Medicine Research
Case report
Ephedrae Herba
Korean traditional medicine
Obesity
Safety
title Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series
title_full Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series
title_fullStr Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series
title_full_unstemmed Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series
title_short Ephedrae Herba in combination with herbal medicine (Zhizichi decoction and Phellodendri Cortex) for weight reduction: a case series
title_sort ephedrae herba in combination with herbal medicine zhizichi decoction and phellodendri cortex for weight reduction a case series
topic Case report
Ephedrae Herba
Korean traditional medicine
Obesity
Safety
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422020300408
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