Survey methodology
The study "Herbal Medicine Treatments for Essential Tremor: A Retrospective Chart Review Study" looked at the effect of herbal remedies on essential tremors known in Korean folk medicine. [Ref. 1] This study is a retrospective examination of medical records of patients who have visited the Korean Medicine Hospital at Kyung Hee University. [Ref. 2] They underwent herbal medicine treatment for essential tremor between January 2010 and August 2015.
Treatment results were evaluated based on the change in numerical rating results documented from pre-treatment to follow-up. The results are categorized as "extremely effective" (over 70% reduction in symptoms), "very effective" (30-70% reduction in symptoms), "effective" (reducing symptoms by less than 30%), "ineffective" (without reducing symptoms) and "harmful" (symptoms increase).
What are the study results
Clinical data of the 69 patients with essential tremor who met the criteria for inclusion in the studies were extracted. The average age of patients was 57.8 years and 75.4% of patients were women. The average duration from the beginning of ET is 90.5 months.
Among all patients treated with herbal medicines, forty-eight patients (69.6%) reported improvement (extremely effective, very effective or effective) in their EC symptoms. Thirty-seven of these patients (53.6%) showed an improvement of 30% or more.
The most commonly used formulas for herbal medicines are modified UK-Gan-san, modified Cheon-Geum-Jo-Wi-tang, Boshim-Geon-Bi-tang and Chung-Hyul-Gang-Ki-tang. Among them, the most effective formula for Korean herbal medicine turned out to be the modified UK-Gan-san. Ukgansan, known as Yi-Gan San in Chinese and Yokukansan in Japanese, is used in East Asia to treat neurological disorders including Parkinson's, and according to the study under consideration - in essential tremors.
The publication "A Case Report of Essential Tremors Treated with Yeokhan-san" examines the use of Yeokhan-san in essential tremors of the mouth and hands. [ref. 3] Korean medical treatments, including Yeokhan-san, Ohaeng-Hwa acupuncture and electronic moxibuation, have been applied to relieve symptoms. To assess the effects of treatment, the visual analogue scale and the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin clinical assessment scale for tremor were used.
The results showed an improvement in patients' clinical symptoms. The result of the visual analog scale decreases from 10 to 2 for the tremor of the hands and from 10 to 1 for the tremor of the mouth. Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor results decreased from 3 to 1 for both shaking hands and mouth.
