scholarly journals Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Ang ◽  
Eunhye Song ◽  
Hye Won Lee ◽  
Myeong Soo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Disappearance Rate ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a worldwide outbreak of respiratory illness. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse events of herbal medicines for the treatment of COVID-19. Methods: Twelve databases were searched through 12 May 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs assessing the effects of herbal medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 were eligible. The study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used for the assessment of the risk of bias in all included RCTs. Mean differences (MDs), risk ratios (RRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and the effect sizes of the studies were pooled. Results: Seven RCTs with a total of 855 patients were included. All included trials compared the combined therapy of herbal medicine with Western medicine to Western medicine alone. The combined therapy significantly improved the total effective rate (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.34, p < 0.001), cough symptom disappearance rate (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.89, p = 0.005), and sputum production symptom disappearance rate (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.50, p = 0.004). Beneficial effects of the combined therapy were also seen in TCM syndrome score of cough (MD −1.18, 95% CI −1.34 to −1.03, p < 0.001), fever (MD −0.62, 95% CI −0.79 to −0.45, p < 0.001), dry and sore throat (MD −0.83, 95% CI −1.45 to −0.20, p = 0.009), and fatigue (MD −0.60, 95% CI −1.04 to −0.17, p = 0.007). The overall risk of bias of the included studies was unclear. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Significant effects of the combined therapy of herbal medicine with Western medicine were found, and revealed the potential role of herbal medicine in treating COVID-19. More high-quality RCTs are needed to further validate the effectiveness and adverse events of herbal medicine in the treatment of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicine for Xerostomia in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bongki Park ◽  
Hyeonseok Noh ◽  
Dong-Jun Choi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Dry Mouth ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background: Xerostomia (dry mouth) causes many clinical problems, including oral infections, speech difficulties, and impaired chewing and swallowing of food. Many cancer patients have complained of xerostomia induced by cancer therapy. Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy of herbal medicine for the treatment of xerostomia in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Randomized controlled trials investigating the use of herbal medicines to treat xerostomia in cancer patients were included. We searched the following 12 databases without restrictions on time or language. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Results: Twenty-five randomized controlled trials involving 1586 patients met the inclusion criteria. A total of 24 formulas were examined in the included trials. Most of the included trials were insufficiently reported in the methodology section. Five formulas were shown to significantly improve the salivary flow rate compared to comparators. Regarding the grade of xerostomia, all formulas with the exception of a Dark Plum gargle solution with normal saline were significantly effective in reducing the severity of dry mouth. Adverse events were reported in 4 trials, and adverse effects of herbal medicine were reported in 3 trials. Conclusions: We found herbal medicines had potential benefits for improving salivary function and reducing the severity of dry mouth in cancer patients. However, methodological limitations and a relatively small sample size reduced the strength of the evidence. More high-quality trials reporting sufficient methodological data are warranted to enforce the strength of evidence regarding the effectiveness of herbal medicines.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Viral Hepatitis B and C: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-474
Author(s):  
Seung-mo Kim ◽  
Yu-ri Lee ◽  
Na-kyung Cho ◽  
Hong-sik Choi ◽  
Kyung-soon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Hbv Dna ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Viral Hepatitis B

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that applied herbal medicine to treat viral hepatitis B and C in order to determine the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine.EMBASE, Pubmed, NDSL, KMBASE, KISS, KISTI, Koreamed, Koreantk, and Oasis databases were searched to identify RCTs. The selected studies were assessed by the Cochrane group's risk of bias tool.A total of 15 RCTs were selected, and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA reduction was significantly higher in patients treated with herbal medicine combined with Western medicine than in patients treated with herbal medicine. Herbal medicine combined with Western medicine was also superior to Western medicine alone in achieving hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] reduction. Only herbal medicine alone was not superior to Western medicine treatments in achieving HBV DNA, HBeAg, and ALT reduction.

scholarly journals Effect of Crocus sativus (Saffron) Intake on Top of Standard Treatment, on Disease Outcomes and Comorbidities in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Synthesis without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) and Level of Adherence to the CONSORT Statement for Randomized Controlled Trials Delivering Herbal Medicine Interventions

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4274
Author(s):  
Sotirios G. Tsiogkas ◽  
Maria G. Grammatikopoulou ◽  
Konstantinos Gkiouras ◽  
Efterpi Zafiriou ◽  
Iordanis Papadopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Consort Statement ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Disease Outcomes ◽  
The Consort Statement

Rheumatic diseases (RDs) are often complicated by chronic symptoms and frequent side-effects associated with their treatment. Saffron, a spice derived from the Crocus sativus L. flower, is a popular complementary and alternative medicine among patients with RDs. The present systematic review aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding the efficacy of supplementation with saffron on disease outcomes and comorbidities in patients with RD diagnoses. PubMed, CENTRAL, clinicaltrials.gov and the grey literature were searched until October 2021, and relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were screened for eligibility using Rayyan. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane’s Risk of Bias-2.0 (RoB) tool. A synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) was performed by vote counting and an effect direction plot was created. Out of 125 reports, seven fulfilled the eligibility criteria belonging to five RCTs and were included in the SWiM. The RCTs involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and evaluated outcomes related to pain, disease activity, depression, immune response, inflammation, oxidative stress, health, fatigue and functional ability. The majority of trials demonstrated some concerns regarding overall bias. Moreover, the majority of trialists failed to adhere to the formula elaborations suggested by the CONSORT statement for RCTs incorporating herbal medicine interventions. Standardization of herbal medicine confirms its identity, purity and quality; however, the majority of trials failed to adhere to these guidelines. Due to the great heterogeneity and the lack of important information regarding the standardization and content of herbal interventions, it appears that the evidence is not enough to secure a direction of effect for any of the examined outcomes.

scholarly journals Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Treatment of Abnormal Endometrial Conditions in Women with PCOS: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Jiayu Hu ◽  
Wenhua Shi ◽  
Jiayue Xu ◽  
Shaoxuan Liu ◽  
Siya Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Endometrial Thickness ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background. Endometrial lesions in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit complex pathological features, and these patients are at risk of both short-term and long-term complications. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which is gradually becoming more accepted and is believed to be clinically effective, claims to be promising for treating PCOS, and thus its effect on the abnormal endometrium of PCOS patients should be assessed. The present meta-analysis sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CAM in treating endometrial lesions in patients with PCOS. Methods. Randomized trials on CAM were identified in four Chinese and seven English-language databases from their establishment to January 2020. The present study included patients diagnosed with PCOS and abnormal endometrial conditions who underwent CAM therapy independently or in combination with traditional western medicine. Data were extracted, and the Cochrane “risk of bias” tool was used to assess methodological quality. Effects were expressed as the relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD/SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) as calculated with Rev Man 5.3. Results. A total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 1,297 PCOS patients treated for endometrial abnormalities. Methodological quality was generally unclear or had a low risk of bias. The trials tested four different types of CAM therapies (i.e., traditional Chinese medicine treatment, acupuncture treatment, traditional Chinese medicine in combination with western medicine treatment, and acupuncture in combination with western medicine treatment). CAM treatment could significantly reduce the endometrial thickness in PCOS patients compared to western medicine alone (SMD −0.88, 95% CI [−0.12, −0.57]; I2 = 64%). Compared with clomiphene treatment for the induction of ovulation, CAM treatment showed a clear improvement in endometrial thickness during ovulation (SMD 2.03, 95% CI [1.64, 2.02]; I2 = 48%). Moreover, CAM was more effective than western medicine alone in reducing the endometrial spiral artery pulsatility index. No significant difference was seen between CAM and traditional treatment when these were used to improve traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores. Acupuncture alone or traditional Chinese medicines (taken orally) in combination with western medicine significantly increased the pregnancy rate of PCOS patients (RR 1.59, 95% CI [1.30, 1.93]; I2 = 51%, P < 0.00001 ), and CAM was more effective than western medicine alone for improving hormone levels. No serious adverse events were reported in 11 of the 13 trials. Conclusions. CAM may effectively ameliorate the endometrial condition of PCOS patients, and it can regulate the level of hormone secretion to increase the ovulation rate and the pregnancy rate.

scholarly journals Clinical Effectiveness and Adverse Events of Bee Venom Therapy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 558
Author(s):  
Soobin Jang ◽  
Kyeong Han Kim
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Bee Venom ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Skin Reactions ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Bee venom has been used to treat many diseases because of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, the secretions of bee venom can also cause life-threatening adverse reactions. The objective of this paper was to review the clinical effectiveness of bee venom and adverse events induced by bee venom, regardless of the disease. Four electronic databases were searched in April 2020. The reference lists of the retrieved articles and previous review articles were also hand-searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using any type of bee venom other than live bee stings for the clinical treatment of any disease other than cancer were included. The studies were selected, the data were extracted, and the quality of the studies was assessed by two authors. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias standards. Twelve RCTs were included in this review—three on Parkinson’s disease, four on arthralgia, four on musculoskeletal disorders, and one on polycystic ovary syndrome. The types of bee venom used were acupuncture injections, ultrasound gel, and an ointment. Six studies reported adverse events, and skin reactions such as pruritus and swelling were the most common. The large-scale clinical trials of bee venom therapy are needed to verify the statistical difference, and the reporting system for adverse events is also required to increase the safety of bee venom therapy.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicines for Treating Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soobin Jang ◽  
Bo-Hyoung Jang ◽  
Youme Ko ◽  
Yui Sasaki ◽  
Jeong-Su Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Alternative Medicines ◽  
Medical Theory

Objective. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines in the management of metabolic syndrome.Materials and Methods. On December 9, 2015, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, AMED, CNKI, KoreaMed, KMBASE, OASIS, and J-STAGE with no restriction on language or published year. We selected randomized controlled trials that involved patients with metabolic syndrome being treated with herbal medicines as intervention. The main keywords were “Chinese herbal medicines”, “metabolic syndrome”, and “randomized controlled trials”. Herbal substances which were not based on East Asian medical theory, combination therapy with western medicines, and concurrent diseases other than metabolic syndrome were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane’s “Risk of Bias” tool. The protocol or review was registered in PROSPERO (an international prospective register of systematic reviews) (CRD42014006842).Results. From 1,098 articles, 12 RCTs were included in this review: five trials studied herbal medicines versus a placebo or no treatment, and seven trials studied herbal medicines versus western medicines. Herbal medicines were effective on decreasing waist circumference, blood glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure.Conclusion. This study suggests the possibility that herbal medicines can be complementary and alternative medicines for metabolic syndrome.

scholarly journals Current Research Trends in Randomized Controlled Trials Investigating the Combined Effect of Korean Medicine and Western Medicine Treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Dohyung Ha ◽  
Seoyeon Kim ◽  
Yong Hyeon Baek ◽  
Jiyoon Won ◽  
Seri Nam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Complementary Alternative Medicine ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Korean Medicine ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Based Medicine

This review examined recently published (July 2014 to June 2017), randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which investigated the safety and effectiveness of combined Korean medicine/complementary alternative medicine (CAM) and Western medicine, to indicate the direction for integrative medical practice. The Korean Medicine Convergence Research Information Center evidence-based medicine database (KMCRIC EBM DB) was used to retrieve relevant RCTs indexed in the last 3 years. Study design, country, sample size, disease/condition with the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code, interventions, direction of outcomes, and adverse events were extracted and summarized. A total of 93 RCTs were included in this review. Acupuncture/moxibustion was the most commonly used intervention (<i>n</i> = 47; 51%), and 19% (<i>n</i> = 18) of the studies treated musculoskeletal disorders, followed by circulatory disorders (<i>n</i> = 16; 17%), and mental and behavioral disorders (<i>n</i> = 9; 10%). Integrative treatment was reported as more effective than monotherapy in approximately 83% of these studies. Adverse events were poorly reported in most studies. This review suggests that integrative treatments are feasible, effective, and safe for various diseases/conditions, based on the evidence from recently published RCTs. Future studies on integrative healthcare are warranted.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Acupotomy for Scoliosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-275
Author(s):  
Jung Hyeon Park ◽  
Gyu Hui Kim ◽  
Tae Kyung Kim ◽  
Eun Ju Lee ◽  
Hyun Min Yoon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Combined Therapy ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Visual Analog Scale Score ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Oswestry Disability Index Score ◽  
Mean Differences

This review investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy treatment for scoliosis. There were 7 online databases used in the search from inception to March 17, 2021, for randomized controlled trials of the use of acupotomy in patients with scoliosis. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included (n = 12). A quantitative synthesis of the randomized controlled trials was performed using RevMan Version 5.3. The effect sizes of studies were presented as mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes, with a 95% confidence interval. As part of combined therapy, acupotomy was reported to significantly improve Cobb’s angle compared with other treatments. Likewise, the Visual Analog Scale score, the Oswestry Disability Index score, and pulmonary function were also reported to be improved following acupotomy combination therapy. Although 5 studies mentioned the criteria for reporting adverse events, only 1 study reported adverse events. In conclusion, acupotomy may be an effective treatment for scoliosis. However, the small number, and heterogeneity of the included studies, as well as the poor methodological quality, indicate that higher-quality studies should be conducted to verify the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy treatment for scoliosis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document