Is Oral Chinese Herbal Medicine Beneficial for Psoriasis Vulgaris? A Meta-Analysis of Comparisons with Acitretin

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Shuiqing Zhang ◽  
Lihong Yang ◽  
Anthony Lin Zhang ◽  
Brian H. May ◽  
Jason Jingjie Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Psoriasis Vulgaris ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Chinese Herbal

scholarly journals Add-On Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine Bath to Phototherapy for Psoriasis Vulgaris: A Systematic Review

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Jingjie Yu ◽  
Claire Shuiqing Zhang ◽  
Anthony Lin Zhang ◽  
Brian May ◽  
Charlie Changli Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Psoriasis Vulgaris ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Additional Benefit ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Review Manager

Psoriasis vulgaris is the most common form of psoriasis. Phototherapy has been proven effective for psoriasis, but side effects have become a concern. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) bath combined with phototherapy has been used in clinical settings, but the additional benefit requires evaluation. This review aims to evaluate the additional benefit and safety of adding CHM bath to phototherapy for psoriasis vulgaris. Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and CQVIP were searched from their inceptions to 6 August 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CHM bath plus phototherapy to phototherapy alone for psoriasis vulgaris were included. Data was analyzed using Review Manager 5.1.0. Thirteen RCTs were included in the review, and eight were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed higher efficacy of CHM bath plus phototherapy when compared with phototherapy alone in terms of PASI 60 (RR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.18–1.32). Mild adverse events were reported in ten studies, but these could be alleviated by reducing UV dosage or applying emollient. In conclusion, CHM bath appears to be a beneficial and safe adjunctive therapy to phototherapy for psoriasis vulgaris. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the low methodological quality of the included studies.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine (“3 Medicines and 3 Formulations”) for COVID-19: Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Yang Hu ◽  
Yangzihan Wang ◽  
Junqiao Chen ◽  
Trisha Greenhalgh ◽  
Jon Wardle
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
English Language ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Clinical Trial Registries ◽  
Inverse Variance ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

Abstract Background: To evaluate the evidence behind claims that Chinese Herbal Medicine, specifically “three medicines and three formulations” (3M3F, comprising Jinhua Qinggan, Lianhua Qingwen, Xuebijing, Qingfei Paidu, Huashi Baidu and Xuanfei Baidu), is an effective treatment for COVID-19. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE and CNKI databases, preprint servers, clinical trial registries and supplementary sources for Chinese- or English-language randomised trials or non-randomised studies with comparator groups, which tested the constituents of 3M3F in the treatment of COVID-19 up to September 2020. Primary outcome was change in disease severity. Secondary outcomes included various symptoms. Meta-analysis (using generic inverse variance random effects model) was performed when there were two or more studies reporting on the same symptom. Results: Of 607 articles identified, thirteen primary studies (six RCTs and seven retrospective non-randomised comparative studies) with 1467 participants met our final inclusion criteria. Studies were small and had significant methodological limitations, most notably potential bias in assessment of outcomes. No study convincingly demonstrated a statistically significant impact on change in disease severity. Eight studies reported sufficiently similar secondary outcomes to be included in a meta-analysis. Some statistically significant impacts on symptoms, chest CT manifestations, laboratory variables and length of stay were demonstrated, but such findings were sparse and many remain unreplicated.Conclusions: These findings neither support nor refute the claim that 3M3F alters the severity of COVID-19 or alleviates symptoms. More rigorous studies are required to properly ascertain the potential role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in COVID-19.Systematic review registration: This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020187502) prior to data collection and analysis.

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