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REVIEW ARTICLE
Review of the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Rehmannia Six Formula on diabetes mellitus and its complications
Article first published online: 15 AUG 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00130.x
© 2011 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Additional Information
How to Cite
POON, T. Y. C., ONG, K. L. and CHEUNG, B. M. Y. (2011), Review of the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Rehmannia Six Formula on diabetes mellitus and its complications. Journal of Diabetes, 3: 184–200. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00130.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 AUG 2011
- Article first published online: 15 AUG 2011
- Accepted manuscript online: 1 APR 2011 10:32AM EST
- Received 17 May 2010; revised 25 February 2011; accepted 24 March 2011.
Keywords:
- Alisma orientalis;
- Dioscorea opposita;
- Fructus Corni;
- Paeonia suffruticosa;
- Poria cocos
Abstract
Rehmannia Six Formula (RF) is a formula that is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat patients with diabetes. A literature search was performed in PubMed for the years 2000–2009 using the key words RF, Rehmannia glutinosa, Fructus Corni, Dioscorea sp. (D. alata, D. opposita, D. batatas), Poria cocos, Alisma sp. (A. orientalis, A. plantago aquatica), and Paeonia suffruticosa/Cortex Moutan. On the basis of the publications found, RF appears to have beneficial effects on blood glucose, neuropathy, and nephropathy. There is also evidence of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Although there are many studies on compounds extracted from individual herbs, there are not many studies on RF as a whole. Because there is preliminary evidence that RF may be a useful supplement for the prevention of diabetic complications, clinical studies are warranted. For future clinical studies, it is recommended that details are provided regarding the preparation of RF and that the ratio of the individual components in RF is standardized so that results across studies can be compared.