BLUE POPPY PRESS RECENT RESEARCH REPORT #162

Immune Infertility
(From The Treatment of 78 Cases of Immune Infertility with Bu Shen Xie Zhuo Tang [Supplement the Kidneys & Drain Turbidity Decoction] by Liang Wen-zhen, Xin Zhong Yi [New Chinese Medicine] , #4, 1998, p. 44)

Cohort description:
The 78 patients in this study were divided into two groups at a ratio of 3:2. Of the 47 cases in the treatment group, there were 17 cases of primary onset infertility and 30 cases of secondary onset infertility. All the patients were 29-39 years of age, with a median age of 26 3.1 years. The shortest course of disease was one year and the longest was seven years, with a median duration of 3 1.5 years. Antisperm antibodies in the blood were positive in 38 cases. Cervical mucus was positive in seven cases, and two cases had both markers. Gynecological examination revealed one case of chronic endometritis and 25 cases of chronic adnexitis plus nine cases of chronic cervicitis. Of the 31 cases in the comparison group, there were 11 cases of primary onset infertility and 20 cases of secondary onset infertility. Ages ranged from 20-9, with a median age of 26 3.2 years. The shortest duration of disease was one year and the longest was eight years, with a median duration of 3 1.6 years. Antisperm antibodies in the blood were positive in 23 cases, in the cervical mucus in seven cases, and in both in one case. Gynecological examination showed one case of chronic endometritis, 15 cases of chronic adnexitis, and five cases of chronic cervicitis. Therefore, there was no significant statistical difference in analysis between these two groups.

before menstruation. The treatment group received the oral administration of Bu Shen Xie Zhuo Tang, a selfcomposed formula: Semen Cuscutae Chinensis (Tu Si Zi), Fructus Lycii Chinensis (Gou Qi Zi), Herba Epimedii (Yin Yang Huo), Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (Jin Yin Hua), Herba Violae Yedoensis Cum Radice (Zi Hua Di Ding), Semen Plantaginis (Che Qian Zi), Cortex Radicis Moutan (Mu Dan Pi), Rhizoma Alismatis (Ze Xie), Radix Cyathulae (Chuan Niu Xi), Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Huai Niu Xi), 10g @, Semen Coicis Lachrymajobi (Yi Yi Ren), 20g, Cortex Phellodendri (Huang Bai), 5g, uncooked Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gan Cao), 9g. One ji was decocted per day and administered in two doses. Additions & subtractions: If heat was severe, Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis (Huang Qin) was added. If depression was severe, Tuber Curcumae (Yu Jin) was added. If stasis was severe, Semen Pruni Persicae (Tao Ren) was added. If dampness was severe, Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling) was added. If there was yang vacuity, Gelatinum Cornu Cervi (Lu Jiao Jiao) was added. If there was yin vacuity, Radix Glehniae Littoralis (Bei Sha Shen) was added. And if there was spleen vacuity, stir-fried Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Bai Zhu) was added. The comparison group was treated with the usual antibiotics (for the type of infection they were diagnosed as suffering from), such as keflex, holosone, etc.

Treatment method:
Treatment was given to both groups 6-15 days 1

Treatment outcomes:
Cure was defined as pregnancy within 10 months. Some effect meant that antisperm antibodies disappeared within 10 months. No effect meant that there was no change in antisperm antibodies after 10 months. Based on these criteria, of the 47 women in the treatment group, 36 were cured, 10 got some effect, and 1 got no effect. In the comparison group, eight were cured, five got some effect, and 18 got no effect. Therefore, there was a marked statistical difference in outcomes between these two groups (P + 0.01).

her vaginal discharge was normal, and the antisperm antibodies had turned negative. Therefore the medicinals were suspended to see what would happen. On May 8, 1994, the patient was seen for the third time. She had already been pregnant for 43 days.

Authors discussion:
The author states that many women with immune infertility exhibit the symptoms of low back pain, abdominal pain, and abnormal vaginal discharge. Therefore, based on a pattern discrimination of these signs and symptoms, they designed Bu Shen Xie Zhuo Tang to boost the kidneys and transform stasis, clear heat and disinhibit dampness. Based on their clinical experience, they believe that immune infertility is typically tied to kidney vacuity, stasis and stagnation, and damp heat. The kidneys govern reproduction. Their essence should be filled and should not be drained. In those with kidney vacuity, stasis, stagnation, and damp heat, when boosting the kidneys, it is not ok to warm and dry. When disinhibiting dampness, it is not ok to (use) bitter (medicinals) to discharge. And when transforming stasis, it is not ok to be too attacking. Within this formula, Cuscuta, Lycium, and Epimedium, warm, moisten, and supplement the kidneys but are not unduly drying. Coix, Alisma, and Phellodendron discharge kidney turbidity, dry damp evils, and harden yin. Plantago sweetly and coldly glistens the orifices. Lonicera and Viola clear heat and resolve toxins. These are combined with Moutan and Achyranthes to course and disinhibit the chong and ren. Licorice relaxes urgency (cramping or tension) and stops pain. In particular, Cuscuta combined with Lycium and Coix combined with Moutan are the main medicinals in this formula.

Representative case history:

The patient was a 26 year old woman who was first examined on Dec. 6, 1993. She had been married for two years without becoming pregnant. She had started menstruating at 14 years of age. Her cycles were 28-30 days in length and her menses lasted 6-7 days. Their consistency was sticky and thick and their color was dark red. They were accompanied by insidious lower abdominal pain. Typically she had a tendency to profuse vaginal discharge. Its color was pale yellow. There was lumbosacral pain and soreness. Gynecological examination showed chronic adnexitis and chronic cervicitis. Blood antisperm antibodies were positive. Her tongue was pale red with thin, yellow fur which was slightly slimy. Her pulse was fine and slippery. She was prescribed Bu Shen Xie Zhuo Tang without Lycium Berries but plus Poria and Herba Artemisiae Capillaris (Yin Chen), 10g @. Each month she was administered 10 ji. This was continued for two months. One Mar. 10, 1994, the patient was examined for the second time. After taking the above medicinals, her lumbosacral pain had decreased,

Functionally translated by Bob Flaws Blue Poppy Press 1998 For information on other research reports or to receive a catalog, call 800-487-9296