TCM Herbal Formula Zeng Ye Tang Found Useful Against Primary Sjogren's Syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune based condition where the body attacks its own moisture producing glands.  About 4 million people in the US are diagnosed with sjogren's and 90% of those are women.  It can lead to chronic debilitating problems.

Within Chinese Medicine both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used to treat a range of autoimmune conditions including things like MS, Chron's, Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as Sjogren's.  

Recently, a team of researchers publishing in Molecular Medicine Reports conducted a study evaluating the effectiveness of a particular Chinese Herbal Formula - Zeng Ye Tang.  Zeng Ye Tang translated into english means the "increase the fluids formula".  It is a relatively simple formula comprised of the following ingredients:

• Xuan Shen 
• Mai Men Dong
• Sheng Di Huang

In the study researchers used both an herbal extraction and an herbal formula treatment method.  They were specifically looking at aquaporin (AQP)-1 and AQP-5 which are proteins related to fluid production in the body.  They found that the herbal formula had a significant protective effect on Sjogren's by upregulating the expression levels of AQP-1 and AQP-5 - essentially increase fluids in the body.  While this was a small rat model study the researchers noted that their study "provides a significant reference for the prevention and treatment of primary Sjogren's Syndrome".