Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines for chronic functional constipation. Methods We searched CNKI (1989 to November, 2009), CBM (1989 to November, 2009), VIP (1989 to November, 2009), Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2009), PubMed (1966 to November, 2009) and EMbase (1986 to November, 2009). All randomized and quasi-randomized clinical trials of treating chronic functional constipation with Chinese herbal medicines versus untreated, placebo or western drug groups were included. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. The methodological quality of trials was evaluated with Cochrane Handbook 5.0.2 criteria. Meta-analyses were conducted by the RevMan 5.0 software. Results Twenty-one trials involving 2 602 patients were included. The Meta-analysis results showed that: Chinese herbal medicines improved both syndromes and colonic transit function of recipients; moreover, it is superior to both gastrointestinal prokinetic agent in effective rate (RR=1.18, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.25), healing rate (RR=1.59, 95%CI 1.35 to 1.88), and cathartic in effective rate (RR=1.18, 95%CI 1.10 to 1.27), healing rate (RR=1.16, 95%CI 1.29 to 2.10). Integration of Chinese herbal medicines and gastrointestinal prokinetic agent is superior to gastrointestinal prokinetic agent in effective rate (RR=1.21 95%CI 1.09 to 1.34) and healing rate (RR=1.41, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.79). Conclusion Some Chinese herbal medicines may be effective and safe in treating chronic functional constipation, which can not be bly proved at present for lack of studies with high quality.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical effect of healthy education on functional constipation caused by unhealthy lifestyle, and to analyze the disadvantages affecting the curative effect. MethodsA total of 167 cases of functional constipation from February 2009 to February 2012 were included. All of the patients were followed up for one year. We collected clinical data of curative effect and influencing factors, determined the clinical value of healthy education, and analyzed the influence of different factors on the curative effect of healthy education. ResultsThe total curative effect after one-year follow-up was 84.4%. The curative effect in elderly patients was significantly higher than that in middle-aged ones (P<0.05). The curative effect in urban patients was remarkably higher than that in rural ones (P<0.05). And the curative effect of patients with college degree wass much higher than that in patients with education background of primary school or below (P<0.05). ConclusionHealthy education has important value on releasing and eliminating functional constipation caused by unhealthy lifestyle. And it needs individual education aimed at patients with different age, education degree, and domicile.