It is not uncommon for patients to search for patent medicines online. The frustrating aspect of this search is the fact that many patent medicines with the same name vary wildly in formulation. This variance is not necessarily a negative or dangerous issue, as many of the patent variations can be nuanced formulations with excellent applications in the clinical reality of patients shifting symptoms / patterns frequently.
Here’s a patient case study that showcases how two formulas with the same name can provide not simply different results, but also an opportunity to educate patients.
Prostate Issues
I received a phone call from a patient who’d reached out to me in the past for issues accompanying a diagnosis of swollen prostate. His condition was completely resolved with the combination of the patent medicines Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and Jie Jie Wan (Kai Kit Pill). Over three months, these two patent medicines completely resolved his main complaint of nighttime urination and urinary dribbling.
After resolution of main symptoms, the patient decided to keep taking Liu Wei Di Huang Wan for the tonic benefits and was extremely pleased with the overall improvement in his energy levels and sleep quality. This particular case was particularly easy to resolve, as the patient’s symptoms were mild (simple nighttime urination / dribbling) and his compliance for taking herbal medicines was high.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan was the traditional formulation and Jie Jie Wan was a simple version focused mainly on tonifying qi, invigorating the blood, benefiting the flow of urine, resolving swelling, dissipating masses, and resolving toxins. This version was chosen because the patient showed absolutely no heat signs via tongue or pulse, objective or subjective symptoms (however some may consider swollen prostate “heat”).
This particular formulation was an exact copy of the original formula from Guangzhou’s Prostate Gland Pills using primarily blood-moving herbs to reduce prostate swelling and urine-promoting herbs, and herbs to boost spleen qi to raise clear fluids.
After the patient experienced such effective results, he shared his success story with many of his friends who were suffering from similar prostate issues. The main reason for his aforementioned phone call was to ask for help for his friend. He had recommended the patent remedy Jie Jie Wan to his friend, who was suffering from chronic prostatitis, but his friend was not experiencing any positive benefits. (My patient had a leftover supply of Jie Jie Wan and gave his friend his supply in an effort to help.)
After hearing this, I scheduled a phone consult with his friend to evaluate the situation. Upon inquiry, the new patient’s main symptoms were burning urination, constipation, and a hot, tender scrotum; and a diagnosis of acute prostatitis and possible UTI. Due to the new patient living out of state, I was unable to evaluate his pulse, but his tongue was scarlet red with a thick, sticky yellow coat. Overall, his symptoms were almost completely different than my original patient.
In light of this, I explained how this particular version of Jie Jie Wan would not provide effective results and prescribed a variation more suited to his particularly issues. This particular variation had the actions of clearing heat, resolving toxins, benefiting the flow of urine, invigorating blood, tonifying qi, and stopping pain.
This version was formulated for acute issues as well as chronic prostate infections. The main herbs, shi wei and jin qian cao, constitute half of the entire formula and strongly clear damp-heat while promoting urination. Another unique facet of this particular formula as the addition of the herb da huang, which strongly clears heat, resolves toxins and relieves constipation.
After two weeks on this version of Jie Jie Wan, the patient experienced dramatic clearance of his constipation and chronic urinary pain. After one month, all symptoms were completely resolved.
This case was a wonderful opportunity to educate both patients on the unique diagnostic lens of Chinese medicine and the nuanced yet confusing “same name, different formula” issues with various patent medicines.
“I guess I need to call you before I order medicines or hand out medicines” was stated by my original patient, and he then expressed laughter and gratitude for learning how each person can have “the same condition but use a different formula.”
The clinical takeaway: Each encounter with a patient can be an opportunity to not only resolve suffering, but also educate on the unique facets of Chinese medicine and patient-centered care: one formula, two different versions, two satisfied patients.
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