[Effects of an herbal crataegus-camphor combination on the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases].

Abstract

One hundred and ninety (190) patients presenting with "functional cardiovascular disorders" (ICD 10, F 45.3) received purely herbal combination therapy comprising crataegus and camphor (Korodin Herz-Kreislauf-Tropfen) or a placebo, identical in colour and taste to the active treatment, over a period of four weeks within the scope of a multi-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The principal criterion was the fall in the overall score obtained for a heart-related symptom complex (HSK) during administration of the herbal combination or randomly allocated placebo. The overall score fell significantly by 5.5 or 4.5 points, respectively, from a baseline value of 10.0 points each (p = 0.0165). The sub-score for exhaustion, joint pain, heart disorders, pain on pressure and the total score on the Giessen discomfort chart (GBB) indicated better efficacy with the crataegus-camphor combination than with the placebo. On completion of treatment, the investigators assessed the efficacy of the active drug as "very good to good" in 70.5% of their patients compared with a similar evaluation in just 49.5% of the placebo patients. The degree of satisfaction with the drug therapy according to physician and patient reflected the objective results obtained. 71.6% of subjects in the active drug group were satisfied with their treatment compared with just 52.7% in the placebo group. Adverse events (undesirable side effects) were recorded in 8.3% and 8.5% of patients, respectively. A correlation with the active drug therapy was established in only two cases. Tolerance was therefore positively assessed.

• Authors: U Schmidt, M Albrecht, S Schmidt
• Journal: Arzneimittel-Forschung (Arzneimittelforschung) Vol. 50 Issue 7 Pg. 613-9 (Jul 2000) ISSN: 0004-4172 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Effekte einer pflanzlichen Crataegus-Campher-Kombination auf die Symptomatik funktioneller Herz-Kreislauf-Störungen.
• PMID: 10965417 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Plant Extracts
• Camphor

Topics

• Adult
• Camphor (therapeutic use)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Chest Pain (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Electrocardiography (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Rosales (chemistry)