Yiran Chen , Xiaoxuan Ma , Xiaoya Fei , Ying Luo , Yue Luo , Xin Ma , Le Kuai , Bin Li , Bin Fan , Xiaojie Ding
{"title":"Chinese Herbal Bath for Eczema: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 39 Randomised Controlled Trials","authors":"Yiran Chen , Xiaoxuan Ma , Xiaoya Fei , Ying Luo , Yue Luo , Xin Ma , Le Kuai , Bin Li , Bin Fan , Xiaojie Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2024.100959","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Chinese herbal bath (<strong>CHB</strong>) shows promise in treating eczema, but high-grade clinical evidence is lacking. This review aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHB in the treatment of eczema.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform, and Wan Fang Database were searched for Randomised controlled trials comparing CHB with non-CHB interventions for eczema. RevMan5.4 software was used to calculate the 95% confidence interval (<strong>CI</strong>) risk ratio (<strong>RR</strong>) and perform meta-analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our meta-analysis incorporated data from 39 randomised controlled trials, demonstrating CHB's enhanced efficacy over conventional therapy (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11–1.20; <em>P</em> < 0.00001) and improved outcomes when used in conjunction with conventional therapy (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09–1.19; <em>P</em> < 0.00001). Significant improvements were observed in Eczema Area Severity Index scores (mean difference [MD], −1.04; 95% CI, −1.50 to −0.59; <em>P</em> < 0.00001), visual analogue scale scores (MD, −0.61; 95% CI, −0.64 to −0.58; <em>P</em> < 0.00001), and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (MD, −1.15; 95% CI, −1.68 to −0.61; <em>P</em> < 0.00001), alongside a lower recurrence rate (RR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.14–0.41; <em>P</em> < 0.00001) without an increased risk of adverse events. Additionally, immunological marker analysis revealed significant modulatory effects on the immune response.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Chinese herbal bath represents a safe and effective alternative for eczema treatment, offering significant clinical improvements and potential immunological benefits. Future research should focus on larger, high-quality randomised controlled trials and detailed biochemical analyses of CHB formulations to further validate these findings and explore the mechanisms of action.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 100959"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210803324001167","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
Chinese herbal bath (CHB) shows promise in treating eczema, but high-grade clinical evidence is lacking. This review aims to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHB in the treatment of eczema.
Methods
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Journal Service Platform, and Wan Fang Database were searched for Randomised controlled trials comparing CHB with non-CHB interventions for eczema. RevMan5.4 software was used to calculate the 95% confidence interval (CI) risk ratio (RR) and perform meta-analysis.
Results
Our meta-analysis incorporated data from 39 randomised controlled trials, demonstrating CHB's enhanced efficacy over conventional therapy (RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.11–1.20; P < 0.00001) and improved outcomes when used in conjunction with conventional therapy (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09–1.19; P < 0.00001). Significant improvements were observed in Eczema Area Severity Index scores (mean difference [MD], −1.04; 95% CI, −1.50 to −0.59; P < 0.00001), visual analogue scale scores (MD, −0.61; 95% CI, −0.64 to −0.58; P < 0.00001), and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores (MD, −1.15; 95% CI, −1.68 to −0.61; P < 0.00001), alongside a lower recurrence rate (RR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.14–0.41; P < 0.00001) without an increased risk of adverse events. Additionally, immunological marker analysis revealed significant modulatory effects on the immune response.
Conclusions
Chinese herbal bath represents a safe and effective alternative for eczema treatment, offering significant clinical improvements and potential immunological benefits. Future research should focus on larger, high-quality randomised controlled trials and detailed biochemical analyses of CHB formulations to further validate these findings and explore the mechanisms of action.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Herbal Medicine, the official journal of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, is a peer reviewed journal which aims to serve its readers as an authoritative resource on the profession and practice of herbal medicine. The content areas of the journal reflect the interests of Medical Herbalists and other health professionals interested in the clinical and professional application of botanical medicines. The objective is to strengthen the research and educational base of herbal medicine with research papers in the form of case studies, original research articles and reviews, monographs, clinical trials and relevant in vitro studies. It also publishes policy statements, opinion pieces, book reviews, conference proceedings and profession related information such as pharmacovigilance reports providing an information source for not only the Herbal Practitioner but any Health professional with an interest in phytotherapy.