Herbal traditional Chinese medicine and its evidence base in gastrointestinal disorders

Table 4 Clinical trials with herbal traditional Chinese medicine preparations for gastric or duodenal ulcers

Ref.	Patients	Intervention	Control	Outcome	Remarks
Hu et al[61], 2012	565 pat.; duodenal ulcer or gastritis, gastroscopy	LAC (see control), + 3 caps. 2/d Jinghua Weikang, 7 d, then Jinghua Weikang for 14 more days	30 mg lansoprazole, 1000 mg amoxicilline, 500 mg clarithromycine (LAC) 2/d, 7 d, then lansoprazole 30 mg 1/d for 14 more days; or LAC + 220 mg bismuth citrate 2/d, 7 d, then bismuth citrate for 14 more days	14C-urea test - no difference (abstract unclear). Similar efficiency, better symptomatic improvement (bloating, belching)	11 hospitals; data presentation in abstract unclear. All gastritis patients were included in the intervention group. Study also included under “gastritis”
Hu et al[62], 2010	642 pat.; chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer + H. pylori	196 pat.; PCM + Wenweishu 224 pat.; PCM + Yangweishu; 7 d	222 pat.; 40 mg bid pantoprazole, 500 mg bid clarithromycine, 400 mg bid metronidazole (PCM); 7 d	Better symptom relief, no difference in eradication	No parameter for symptoms given
Zhang et al[78], 2009	46 pat.; active peptic ulcer, no H. pylori infections	Yiqi Huoxue formula + omeprazole, 5_wk. No information on patient number, dosage	Omeprazole, 5 wk. No information on patient number, dosage	bFGF, vEGF in-creased in treatment, histological improvement. No difference in recurrence	Scant data description
Deng et al[79], 2007	60 pat.; gastric ulcer, after 1 wk triple therapy	Qifang Weitong powder + omeprazole, 5 wk. No further details	Omeprazole, 5 wk. No further details	Mucosa thickness, glandular morphology improved (significant)	Scant data description
Lin et al[84], 2007	56 pat.; gastric ulcer + TCM symptom	26 pat.; Jianwei Yuyang granule, 4 wk. No further data	30 pat.; famotidine + sucralfat, 4 wk. No further data	Compliance, symptom integral sign. better; ulcer healing, clinical effects n.s.	Incomplete results description
Zhou et al[77], 2007	50 pat.; acute gastric ulcer + TCM symptoms	30 pat.; 1 dose/d in 2 × 100 mL solution; Jianpi Qingre Huayu recipe; 8 wk	20 pat.; 2 × 300 mg ranitidine; 8 wk	Effective rate n.s.; cure rate significant better. Sign. differences in T lymphocyte subsets	Randomized, statistics implausible, irrelevant parameters
Zhou et al[81], 2005	120 pat.; peptic ulcer, 10 controls no ulcer	6 groups, no clear description of treatment (ranitidine, Jianweiyuyang granules)	No description of control group	Combination improves symptoms and syndrome. No effect on ulcer healing, H. pylori eradication	No description of groups and intervention
Ji et al[82], 2006	200 pat.; duodenal ulcer	100 pat.; 160 mg Jinghua Weikang capsule 3/d; 4 wk	100 pat.; 20 mg famotidine 2/d; 4 wk	H. pylori eradication, anorexia, eructation, incidence of UAW sig. better, remission, healing n.s.	Only P values are given
Zhang et al[80], 2005	438 pat.; duodenal ulcer	330 pat.; Haigui Yuyang capsule, 6 wk. No dose given	108 pat.; ranitidine, 6 wk. No dose given	No difference between groups; only distension better in verum	“Double blind, double dummy, randomized”
He et al[85], 2001	120 pat.; gastric ulcer	60 pat.; Qingwei Zhitong pill. No dose or duration	60 pat.; Sifangwei tablet. No dose or duration	Better ulcer healing, no difference in TCM symptoms	Unclear description
Wan et al[86], 1996	200 pat.; peptic ulcer	Yuyang powder, no further data	Cimetidine, no further data	Cure rate n.s., recurrence significantly better	Scant data presented
Yang et al[87], 1995	150 pat.; peptic ulcer	Bushen Kangkui decoction; no further details	Cimetidine; no further details	Cure rate n.s., recurrence significantly better	Scant data presented
Li et al[88], 1995	80 children; peptic ulcer	Unspecified treatment for 8 wk	No control	Effective after 8 wk (92% cure rate)	(empirical recipe)
Yang et al[83], 1994	80 pat.; duodenal ulcer	Kuiyangqing pills; duration, dose not given	32 pat.; bismuth aluminate. No dose, duration	Effective treatment	Unclear group description, no parameter for efficiency, outdated control therapy
Ma and Guo[89], 1992	508 pat.; intractable peptic ulcer	260 pat.; 50 g/d Chuanjia Weidan; 4 wk	248 pat.; 800 mg/d cimetidine; 4 wk	Cure rates similar, H. pylori eradication, relapse superior
Li and Yin[90], 1991	494 pat. (?); peptic ulcer	354 pat.; Jian Wei Yu Yang tablets. No further data	140 pat.; ranitidine, no further data	Treatment superior in cure rate	Scant data presented
Zhou et al[91], 1991	Not defined, peptic ulcer	Wei Yang An	Cimetidine, no further data	Short term effects similar, in long term Wei Yang An superior	No data presented

bFGF: Basic fibroblast growth factor; H. Pylori: Helicobacter pylori; PCM: Pantoprazole, clarithromycine, metronidazole; vEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.