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DOI: 10.1055/a-2652-1298
The effect of anti-nausea wristbands and STW-5 in children suffering from dyspepsia – a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled pilot-study
Die Wirkung von Anti-Nausea-Armbändern und STW-5 bei Kindern mit Dyspepsie – eine randomisierte, doppelblinde, Placebo-kontrollierte Pilotstudie
Abstract
Background
Functional dyspepsia (FD) is common in children and refers to discomfort in the epigastric/duodenal region, which cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. Since the pathophysiology is still not fully understood, no guidelines in terms of treatment do exist.
Aim
The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutical effect of plant extracts (STW-5) and acupressure in children with functional dyspepsia.
Methods
This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Before and after the allocated intervention of four weeks, participants had to fill in a cross-cultural validated questionnaire consisting of 52 questions to assess quality of life, as well as the extent of their discomfort (using a standardized visual analog scale (VAS)).
Results
33 patients were included in the study: 12 male and 21 female with an average age of 12.09 years (range: 7–17 years). Symptoms improved after four weeks of intervention in most treatment-groups: By 68% in children, who received STW-5, by 40% in the wristband (WB)- group and by 35% in the wrist-band-Placebo-group (WBPL). Patients receiving STW-5- Placebo showed even an increase of symptoms.
Discussion
This double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study showed, that STW-5 and/or anti-nausea wristbands are a cheap and effective option to treat children and teenagers suffering from functional dyspepsia.
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Funktionelle Dyspepsie (FD) ist bei Kindern häufig und bezieht sich auf Beschwerden in der epigastrischen/duodenalen Region, die nicht durch strukturelle oder biochemische Anomalien erklärt werden können. Da die Pathophysiologie noch immer nicht vollständig geklärt ist, gibt es keine Leitlinien für deren Behandlung.
Ziel
Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die therapeutische Wirkung von Pflanzenextrakten (STW-5) und Akupressur bei Kindern mit funktioneller Dyspepsie zu vergleichen.
Methoden
Es handelt sich um eine randomisierte, doppelblinde, Placebo-kontrollierte Studie. Vor und nach der jeweiligen vierwöchigen Intervention mussten die Teilnehmer einen kulturübergreifenden, validierten Fragebogen mit 52 Fragen ausfüllen, um die Lebensqualität sowie das Ausmaß ihrer Beschwerden (anhand einer standardisierten visuellen Analogskala (VAS)) zu bewerten. Ergebnisse: 33 Patienten wurden in die Studie eingeschlossen: 12 Männer und 21 Frauen mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 12,09 Jahren Range: 7–17 Jahre). Die Symptome verbesserten sich in den meisten Behandlungsgruppen nach der vierwöchiger Behandlung: Um 68% bei Kindern, die STW-5 erhielten, um 40% in der Armband (WB)-Gruppe und um 35% in der Armband-Placebo-Gruppe (WBPL). Patienten, die STW-5-Placebo erhielten, zeigten sogar eine Zunahme der Symptome.
Diskussion
Diese doppelblinde, Placebo-kontrollierte Pilotstudie hat gezeigt, dass STW-5 und/oder Anti-Nausea-Armbänder eine kostengünstige und wirksame Option zur Behandlung von Kindern und Jugendlichen sind, die an funktioneller Dyspepsie leiden.
Publication History
Article published online:
21 August 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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