Chinese herbal pill eases pain in chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Ningmitai (NMT) capsule, a preparation containing multiple components of Chinese herbal medicine, is safe and effective in the treatment of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), helping alleviate pain and improve quality of life (QoL), a study has shown.

A total of 120 men with CP/CPPS were randomized to receive NMT or placebo for 4 weeks. The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was measured at baseline, week 2, and week 4.

NIH-CPSI pain scores in the NMT group were significantly lower than that in the placebo groups both at week 2 and week 4. NMT also proved superior in terms of NIH-CPSI total scores and QoL at both time points.

The responder rate was much higher in the NMT group than in the placebo group at weeks 2 and 4.

There were no adverse events documented throughout the treatment period.

The NMT capsule preparation is composed of Camellia azalea, Rhizoma Imperatae, Kadsura pepper stem, barberry root, Hairyvein Agrimonia Herb and Bud, Folium Hibisci Mutabilis, and Fructus Forsythiae. It has been increasingly used as an alternative method for managing CP in China. Currently, CP is treated using antibiotics therapy. The increasing resistance to antibiotics provides an opportunity for using alternative therapies. [Medicine 2018;97:e11840]