Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Dysmenorrhea Caused by Endometriosis: A Review of Utilization and Mechanism

Table 2

Herbal mixture for dysmenorrhea caused by EM treatment in the literature.

Herbal mixture sample/case number (n)	Ingredients	Control sample number (n)	Total clinical effect rate	Model used	Therapeutic effects and actions	Refs.
Shaofu Zhuyu decoction (SZD); n = 20	Xiao Hui Xiang, Gan Jiang, Yuan Hu, Mo Yao, Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, Guan Gui, Mu Dan Gen, Pu Huang, Wu Ling Zhi	Ibuprofen; n = 20	T: 90.00% versus 70.00%	Human study	Alleviating dysmenorrhea.; CA-125↓, PEG2↓	[23]
Wengjing decoction (WJD); n = 48	Wu Zhu Yu, Mai Dong, Dang Gui, Mu Dan Pi, Chuan Xiong, Ren Sheng, Gui Zhi, E Jiao, Bai Shao, Sheng Jiang, Ban Xia, Gan Cao	Mifepristone; n = 48	T: 93.75% versus 79.17%	Human study	Alleviating dysmenorrhea.; CD4+↓, CD4+/CD8+↓, IL-4↓, IL-10↓	[26]
Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XZD); n = 60	Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, Tao Ren, Hong Hua, Zhi Qiao, Chi Shao, Chai Hu , Gan Cao, Jie Geng, Chuan Xiong, Niu Xi	Mifepristone; n = 60	T: 90.0% versus 73.3%	Human study	Alleviating dysmenorrhea.; Reducing VAS scores.	[30]
Danggui Sini decoction (DSD); n = 37	Dang Gui, Gui Zhi, Shao Yao, Xi Xin, Tong Cao, Zhi Gan Cao, Da Zao	Progesterone; n = 37	D: 89.19% versus 67.57%	Human study	Alleviating dysmenorrhea.	[34]
Danggui Shaoyao Powder (DSP); n = 40	Dang Gui, Shao Yao, Chuan Xiong, Fu Ling, Ze Xie, Bai Zhu	Progesterone; n = 40	T: 97.5% versus 82.5%	Human study	Alleviating dysmenorrhea.; Reducing VAS scores. PEG2↓, P↓	[35]

Note: T (Total effect rate) = number of effective cases/total number of cases; where effective case refers to the patients or animal models whose signs and symptoms were improved after treatment. D: dysmenorrhea alleviation rate.