Herbal traditional Chinese medicine and its evidence base in gastrointestinal disorders

Table 10 Clinical trials with herbal traditional Chinese medicine preparations for dyspepsia

Ref.	Patients	Treatment	Control	Outcome	Remarks
Liu et al[177], 2013	180 pat.; functional dyspepsia (FD), as postprandial distress syndrome	90 pat.; Xiao Pi-II, 100 mL, 3×/d, 2 wk	90 pat.; 5 mg mosapride 3 ×/d, 2 wk	3D-ultrasound, questionnaire: bloating, eructation, gastric liquid emptying rate fullness P < 0.05	Not blinded, gastric emptying by 3D-ultrasound, randomized
Zhang et al[178], 2013	162 pat; FD with spleen deficiency and qi stagnation	108 pat.; gastrosis No.1 compound, no dose; 4 wk, 4 wk follow-up	54 pat.; placebo, no dose, 4 wk	Symptomatic improvement (P < 0.01)	No scores given; randomized
Xiao and Li[179], 2013	89 pat.; FD + anxiety or depression	23 pat.; modified Banxia Houpo decoction (MBHD); no dose given; 4 wk	22 pat.; domperidone, no dose; 22 pat., St. John’s Wort, no dose; 4 wk each	Domperidon + St. John’s Wort most effective, domperidone ineffective. Few significant differences (MBHD vs domperidone)	HAMA, HAMD, FD symptom scoring system, randomized
Zhang et al[181], 2013	160 pat.; FD + spleen deficiency and qi stagnation	106 pat.; Liu Jun Zi decoction in 2 × 150 mL water; 4 wk, 4 wk follow-up	54 pat.; placebo in 2 × 150 mL water; 4 wk, 4 wk follow-up	Dyspepsia symptom score, barium emptying markers; TCM group P < 0.01	7 dropouts (5 verum, 2 placebo). Careful conclusions, appropriate, randomized
Li et al[187], 2013	134 pat.; FD	66 pat.; Xiaopi-I, no dose given, 4 wk	68 pat.; 10 mg 3 ×/d domperidone; 4 wk	Not visible whether there were differences between groups	6 dropout verum, 8 dropout domperidone, randomized
Fan et al[180], 2012	170 pat.; FD	Unknown number; individual therapy by Chinese medical syndrome ty- ping; no dose, 4 wk	34 pat.; domperidone or esomeprazole, no dose, 4 wk?	Symptom score, healing rate, effectivity, SF-36 score, physical and mental component summary: n.s.	16 drop outs in verum, 4 drop outs in control. Conclusions are not supported
Wu et al[182], 2011	163 pat.; FD + spleen deficiency and qi stagnation, Rome II	83 pat.; IFC-A pills, 6 g/tid, 4 wk	80 pat.; IFC-S, 6 g/tid, 4 wk	IFC-A better than IFC-S on symptom scale (authors scale)	Randomized, double blind. 3 drop outs. Drug difference Citrus aurantis vs Camellia sinensis
Xia et al[183], 2008	63 pat.; FD	33 pat.; Hewei Xiaopi capsule, dose not given, for 4 wk	30 pat.; domperidone, dose not given, 4 wk	Clinical symptoms-n.s.; EGG: less waves in treated group, 41.9 ± 18.2 vs 50.9 ± 16.0	Clinical symp-toms, electrogastrogram randomized
Gao et al[186], 2007	32 pat.; FD, dyskinesia	Qingre Liqi granule; no dose given, 6 d	No control group	All parameters improved, correlation between gastric emptying time and symptoms	Cohort study
Zhao and Gan[188], 2005	73 pat.; FD + depression, anxiety	Unknown number, Xinwei decoction,unknown dose, 8 wk	Unknown number, domperidone or placebo, unknown dose, 8 wk	Symptom score, total effectivity in TCM sign. better than domperidone, this better than placebo	Curing rate in TCM 70%
Ge et al[189], 2002	100 pat.; functional dyspepsia, TCM symptom	50 pat.; Jian Weishu capsules, decocted separately	50 pat.; Jian Weishu capsules, decocted together	No difference in effects	Claims effectiveness of the herbal TCM preparation
Gu et al[185], 1998	64 pat.; FD	20 pat.; 3 × 100 mL/d Weihuigui decoction; 14 d	44 pat.; no treatment	Improves clinical symptoms, gastric emptying time, no data
Tatsuta and Ishii[184], 1993	42 pat.; chronic idiopathic dyspepsia	22 pat.; Liu Jun Zi Tang (TJ-43) 2.5 g 3 ×/d; 7 d	20 pat.; placebo, no dose given, 7 d	No change in pain, sign for fullness, heartburn, belching and nausea	Gastric emptying by acetaminophen serum conc. No changes in pain at all. Randomized

EGG: Electrogastrogram; FD: Functional dyspepsia; HAMA: Hamilton anxiety scale; HAMD: Hamilton depression scale; MBHD: Modified Banxia Houpo decoction; SF36: Short Form 36 life scale questionnaire.