TY - JOUR
AR - JICOA-2020-1-110
TI - Symptoms of Intermittent Claudication and Decreased Walking Tolerance in Patients Suffering from Peripheral Arterial Disease can be Improved with a Simple Herbal Supplement
AU - Chook , Ping
AU - Kwok Chi , Yui Timothy
AU - Ping-Chung, Leung
AU - Woo Kam , Sang
AU - Yan Ping , Yen Bryan
JO - Journal of Integrative Cardiology Open Access
PY - 2020
DA - Mon 22, Jun 2020
SN - 2674-2489
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.JICOA.2020.01.10
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/symptoms-of-intermittent-claudication-and-decreased-walking-tolerance-in-patients_JICOA-2020-1-110 
KW - Peripheral arterial disease, herbal supplement, cardiovascular tonic
AB - Introduction: We have developed an innovative herbal formula containing two herbs of popular use for the
supplementation of cardiovascular health. Three clinical trials, viz. on patients with coronary arterial
obstruction, hypertension, and post-menopausal borderline hyperlipidaemia, have been done, all showing
promising results detected in ultrasonography as diminished intima media thickness (IMT), a surrogate
marker recommended for clinical trials related to cardiovascular health. 49+49 patients with known
peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were treated with twin formula or placebo group for 24 weeks. Assessment
using ultrasonography showed thinning down of the carotid intima (2.67%) only in the treatment group.
Maximal walking distance also increased by 21.8% in the treatment group compared with 7.2% in the
placebo group (p=0.499).
Discussion: The positive results in the PAD study as well as in the other studies done previously
demonstrated the effectiveness of the twin formula in the maintenance of cardiovascular health. It is safe
and offers direct protection of the internal environment of the artery while at the same time carries the
multiple roles of anti-inflammation, anti-oxygenation and anti-fibrosis, as were shown in in vitro and animal
bioactivity studies.
Conclusion and Outlook: The twin formula offers a good example of evidence-based medicinal
supplements with specific functions. Its developmental process also offers a more comprehensive way to
test traditional wisdom and practice through pragmatic clinical trials in the attempt to properly introduce it
to modern health care practice.