Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang) Against Microinflammation in Hemodialysis Patients: A Quasi-randomized Controlled Trial

Study medication and dosage:

For this study, the investigators used herbal granules prepared according to the formula of R-S-Y-R-T. The investigators purchased the study products from a manufacturer with a Good Manufacturing Practice (Si Wu Tang) certification in Taiwan. This was a concentrated decoction made by water extraction in 1:13 ratio from single batched roots of the 14 plants in proportions: Radix Paeoniae alba (Bai Sau) (90 g), Radix Angelicae sinensis (Dang Guay) (30 g), Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (Chenpi) (30 g), Radix Astragali (Huangqi) (30 g), Cortex Cinnamomi (Rougui) (30 g), Radix Ginseng (Renshen) (30 g), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu) (30 g), Radix Glycyrrhizae (Gancao) (30 g), Radix Rehmanniae praeparata (Soe Dee Huang) (20 g), Fructus Schisandrae (Wuweizi) (20 g), Poria cocos (Fuling) (20 g), Cortex et Radix Polygalae (Yuanzhi) (15 g), Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Jiang) (30 g)，Fructus Jujubae (Dazao) (10 g) as prepared according to the original pharmacopoeia. The plant origins in China were known to the buyer of the pharmaceutical company and the final product was free of E. coli, Salmonella and pesticide residues. The levels of heavy metals were 1.238 ppm for lead, 0.228 ppm for arsenic,0.10 ppm for cadmium, and <0.0022 ppm for mercury, all within regulated limits (5, 5, 0.5, and 0.5 ppm, respectively). Each pack weighed approximately 500 mg in aluminum packets.

The investigators determined the dosage of 1 pack a time for 3 times a day with warm water for 6 months. The exact number of packs taken was recorded in clinic visits and any unfinished packs were brought back to the study nurse at the next clinic visit.