Clinical efficacy of EH0202, a Kampo formula, on the health of middle-aged women.

To investigate the clinical effects of EH0202, a Japanese herbal supplement, on the menopausal symptoms and physical status of peri- and post-menopausal women. Thirty-two post-menopausal women (53.0+/-5.1 years) presented with menopausal complaints were enrolled in the clinical study. Patients were administered an herbal supplement, EH0202 (6 g/day for 6 months), and were assessed for improvement of their overall symptoms using the Greene Climacteric Scale and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Blood pressure, skin surface blood flow and plasma lipid profiles were measured before and 1,3 and 6 months after EH0202 administration. There was a significant decrease in the climacteric scale score (P < 0.001) and VAS (P < 0.0001) after 6 months of EH0202 treatment. There was a significant decrease in systolic (P < 0.001) and diastolic (P < 0.05) blood pressure, and a significant decrease in facial skin surface blood flow (P < 0.05) after 3 months of EH0202 administration. We observed a significant decrease in plasma TG and LDL-cholesterol concentrations after 3 months of EH0202 administration (P < 0.05). EH0202 (MACH) reduced blood pressure, excess facial skin blood flow (flushing) and abnormal lipid levels, as well as clinically improved menopausal symptoms in post-menopausal women. In post-menopausal women, this product appears to help maintain normal biological function and improves quality of life.