The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)
- Volume 25 Issue 4
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- Pages.139-146
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- 2004
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- 1010-0695(pISSN)
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- 2288-3339(eISSN)
A Pilot Study for Developing an Assessment Scale for the Effect of Herbal Medicine in Healthy Children: Open-Label Study with Gami-Jiwhangtang
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Bahn Geon-Ho
(Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine) ;
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Kim Chang-Ju
(Subdivision of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Physiology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine) ;
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Chung Joo-Ho
(Department of Pharmacology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine) ;
- Kim Yong-Hee (Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine) ;
- Paik Eun-Kyung (Haema Oriental Medical Clinic) ;
- Park Jae-Hyung (Haema Oriental Medical Clinic)
- Published : 2004.12.01
Abstract
Objective : While the demand for herbal medicine has increased continuously, scientific data attesting to pharmacological activity are still insufficient. One important reason, especially in child patients, is the shortage of standardized instruments for clinical research. This study was designed to develop a scale to assess the effect of herbal medicine in children. Methods : The authors chose Gami-jiwhangtang (GJT) as a standard formulation and developed a scale, Bahn's Drug Evaluation Scale (BaDES), for this experiment. Forty-two healthy children, 7 and 8 years old, living in Seoul, Korea, volunteered to use GJT. The experimental group received GJT for 6 weeks, whereas the control group received no medicine. The children's mothers in both groups completed the BaDES on the sixth and twelfth week after GJT was commenced. Results : The experimental group showed a significant improvement in overall physical condition and gastrointestinal function as compared with the control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that BaDES may be a useful assessment tool for measuring the effect of herbal medicine.