Topical Ankaferd Bloodstopper in the Management of Critical Bleedings Due to Hemorrhagic Diathesis

Abstract

Ankaferd BloodStopper (R) (ABS) is an herbal extract which has been used historically as a haemostatic agent in traditional Turkish medicine. ABS comprises of standardized mixture of herbs Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum and Unica dioica. Basic effect mechanism of ABS is the formation of an encapsulated protein web which represents the focus points for the vital erythrocyte masses. The haemostatic effects have been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies. The usage of ABS as a hemostatic agent in external hemorrhages and in dental treatment in humans constitutes the first hints on ABS's safety and efficacy in humans. A phase I randomized, double-blinded, cross-over, placebo controlled clinical study in healthy volunteers indicated the safety of ABS. The aim of this report is to depict hemostatic effects of ABS in critical bleedings due to hemorrhagic diathesis, refractory to conventional measures in distinct clinical settings.