Dinggui Oil Capsule in treating irritable bowel syndrome with stagnation of qi and cold: a prospective, multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dinggui Oil Capsule in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with stagnation of qi and cold. Methods: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study was undertaken. One hundred and ninty-eight patients with IBS and syndrome of stagnation of qi and cold were randomly divided into high-dose Dinggui Oil group (DGO-H, 1.2 g, 3 times daily; n=66), low-dose Dinggui Oil group (DGO-L, 0.8 g, 3 times daily, n=66), and placebo group (placebo, 5.0 g, 3 times daily, n=66). Patients in the three groups were all treated for 2 weeks. Results: The total significant effective rates for IBS were 54.1%, 28.8% and 21.9% in the DGO-H, DGO-L, and placebo groups, and the total effective rates for the syndrome of stagnation of qi and cold were 54.1%, 25.8% and 23.4% in the three groups, respectively. Dinggui Oil Capsule showed a higher efficacy than the placebo in relieving the abdominal pain (P<0.01). No adverse effects were found in this trial. Conclusion: Dinggui Oil Capsule is effective and safe in relieving abdominal pain due to IBS with stagnation of qi and cold.