Journal of Herbal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Efficacy of combined Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of hypothyroidism: a systematic review and network meta-analysis","authors":"Ma Yixuan ,&nbsp;Yang Wenhui ,&nbsp;Wang Huizhen ,&nbsp;Zhai Mingming","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To systematically evaluate combined Chinese and Western medicine for hypothyroidism, provide a reference for clinical treatment, and promote integrative medicine development in hypothyroidism treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of combined Chinese and Western medicine for the treatment of hypothyroidism were searched from CNKI, WanFang, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, etc., from database inception to April 2024. Additionally, Network Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 59 papers involving 24 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interventions were included. Zhenqi Fuzheng capsules combined with conventional western medicines had significantly improved the total clinical effectiveness rate and free thyroxine (FT4); Xiaoying decoction combined with conventional western medicines had significantly reduced thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); acupuncture combined with conventional western medicines had significantly improved free triiodothyronine (FT3); Jianggui Yiying Prescription combined with Yougui pills combined with conventional western medicines had significantly reduced thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb); Yougui pills combined with conventional western medicines had significantly reduced triglyceride (TG); Zhenwu decoction combined with conventional western medicines had significantly raised high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), reduced total cholesterol (TC)/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and lowered TCMSS (Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Score).The incidence rates and types of adverse reactions varied among different intervention measures.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Combined Chinese and Western medicine showed greater efficacy than Western medicine alone for hypothyroidism. Optimal regimens vary by clinical condition, and patients should select treatments accordingly. However, conclusions require further validation due to limited literature quality and quantity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101055"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145160127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Effect of N-Acetylcysteine and Thyme Syrup on Arterial Blood Gases in Intubated ICU Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial","authors":"Mehdi Safarabadi ,&nbsp;Hooman Mohammad Talebi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Rostamkhani ,&nbsp;Abolfazl Jokar ,&nbsp;Masoud Etedali","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Tracheal intubation often causes mucus buildup, affecting arterial blood gas levels. N-acetylcysteine (<strong>NAC</strong>) is used to clear secretions. Also, thyme can alleviate respiratory symptoms. This study compares the effects of NAC and thyme extract on ABG levels in intubated intensive care unit (<strong>ICU</strong>) patients.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This randomized, double-blind clinical trial compared the effectiveness of herbal thyme syrup and intravenous NAC in 70 intubated patients in ICU. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either thyme syrup (2 g orally, twice daily for 5 days) or intravenous NAC. Both groups received standard airway secretion clearance techniques. Primary outcomes included ABG parameters (O₂, pH, HCO₃⁻, CO₂) and pulmonary secretion volume, recorded daily for 5 days. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.22 with <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05 considered significant.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 70 ICU patients were enrolled, with 35 patients in each treatment group. The Thyme group showed significantly higher oxygen levels (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and improved pH (<em>P</em> = 0.005) compared to the NAC group, while CO₂ levels were significantly lower in the Thyme group (<em>P</em> = 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of bicarbonate levels (<em>P</em> = 0.110). Exudate clearance did not show significant improvement in either group (<em>P</em> = 0.995). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two groups, with no significant differences in age, gender, or smoking status.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Thyme concentrate may improve oxygenation, reduce CO2, and balance acid-base levels in ICU patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101054"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145121302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-candida Efficacy of Myrceugenia exsucca Essential Oil: An In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation","authors":"Alejandro Madrid ,&nbsp;Valentina Silva ,&nbsp;Bastián Fuentes ,&nbsp;Evelyn Muñoz ,&nbsp;Camila Venegas ,&nbsp;Iván Montenegro","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div><em>Myrceugenia exsucca</em> O. Berg (‘pitra’), a South American plant used in traditional medicine, holds potential antimicrobial properties. Against the backdrop of rising drug resistance in candidiasis, a significant global health issue, this study aimed to determine the chemical composition of <em>M exsucca</em> essential oil (<strong>EO</strong>), evaluate its <em>in vitro</em> antifungal efficacy against clinical <em>Candida</em> species, and predict interactions with key virulence proteins (Als9-2, CYP51) using molecular docking.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The EO from fresh leaves was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (<strong>GC-MS)</strong>. Antifungal activity (minimum inhibitory concentration/minimum fungicidal concentration) of the EO and its major constituents was assessed against five clinical <em>Candida</em> spp. using broth microdilution. Cell morphology was analysed by transmission electron microscopy. Molecular docking was performed with AutoDock using Protein Data Bank structures.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>GC-MS analysis identified terpinen-4-ol (13.20%), β-pinene (12.15%), (<em>E</em>)-nerolidol (11.32%), and caryophyllene oxide (10.54%) as major constituents. The EO, (<em>E</em>)-nerolidol, and caryophyllene oxide exhibited significant antifungal activity. (<em>E</em>)-nerolidol demonstrated potent fungicidal action, particularly against <em>C guilliermondii</em> (MFC 1 µg/ml). Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed that the EO and (<em>E</em>)-nerolidol destabilise the <em>C albicans</em> cell membrane. <em>In silico</em>, (<em>E</em>)-nerolidol showed the highest predicted binding affinity for both Als9-2 and CYP51.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This first report on the EO of fresh <em>M exsucca</em> reveals significant anti-<em>Candida</em> activity, primarily attributed to (<em>E</em>)-nerolidol and caryophyllene oxide. Supported by <em>in silico</em> data, the EO is a promising source for developing novel therapeutic strategies against candidiasis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101052"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145121235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Clinical Antimicrobial Efficacy of Garlic Extract (Allium sativum) Compared to Chlorhexidine Mouthwash: A Systematic Review","authors":"Youmna Ahmed Abdelaal ,&nbsp;Heba Talal Saeed ,&nbsp;Malak Ahmad Elayyan ,&nbsp;Sara Mahmoud Bkairat ,&nbsp;Saif Youssef Dib","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Chlorhexidine is widely used as a gold standard mouthwash but is associated with side effects and concerns over antimicrobial resistance. Garlic (<em>Allium sativum</em>), known for natural antimicrobial properties, has emerged as a potential alternative, though clinical evidence remains limited. This systematic review compares the antimicrobial efficacy of garlic extract with chlorhexidine in clinical practice, assessing its viability as a herbal substitute.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses 2020 guidelines and utilized the PICO framework to establish the research question. A total of 389 articles were identified from six electronic databases in January 2024, and an additional 13 articles were included through manual citation searching. After removing duplicates and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, only five articles were included.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Studies, including randomized controlled trials and clinical studies, showed variable characteristics and low-to-moderate risks of bias. Garlic extract mouthwash showed comparable efficacy to chlorhexidine, particularly at higher concentrations. The effectiveness varied based on mouthwash concentration and duration of application, contributing to differences in outcomes. Some studies favored chlorhexidine for maintaining higher plaque/salivary pH, while others reported garlic extract to be more effective at certain concentrations. However, garlic mouthwash may cause greater discomfort.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Garlic extract can serve as a viable alternative to chlorhexidine, especially at higher concentrations. However, side effects such as burning sensation and unpleasant taste may affect patient adherence. Further clinical studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed to confirm effectiveness and improve clinical applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101053"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145160126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ganduqing Granules for Treatment of the Common Cold: A Randomised Controlled Trial","authors":"Jing Guo ,&nbsp;Fei Wang ,&nbsp;Huaqin Cao ,&nbsp;Yilan Wang ,&nbsp;Wenfeng Hao ,&nbsp;Wenyuan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101051","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101051","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The common cold poses significant health concerns, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of Ganduqing granules (<strong>GG</strong>), a proprietary Chinese medicine, in treating cold symptoms among susceptible population.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants aged 18–70, who experienced more than four colds annually, with symptom onset within 48 hours, and who had received no prior treatment were included. They were randomly assigned to GG group or placebo group and were evaluated at baseline and follow-up. The participants and investigators were double-blinded. The primary outcome was the overall symptom recovery time. Other outcomes included individual symptom recovery, clinical remission rates, immune cell percentages, cytokine levels, and oxidative stress markers.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 120 participants were enroled and evenly divided into two groups. The full analysis set included 118 participants, and the per protocol set included 108 participants. The mean time to overall symptom recovery in the Ganduqing group (60 cases) was 84.93 ± 25.95 hours, and that in the placebo group (58 cases) was 96.19 ± 20.50 hours; the former was significantly shorter than the latter by 11.26 hours (95% CI: −19.69 to −2.84, <em>P</em> = 0.009). By day three, the GG group showed markedly higher recovery rates compared to the control group, with a relative risk of 2.11 (95% CI: 1.14–3.90). Immune cells and cytokine analyses suggested immunomodulatory effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>GG effectively shortens the duration of cold symptoms, possibly by modulating the immune system and reducing inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101051"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145121236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential Protective Effects of Quercetin on Acute Kidney Injury: An Integrated Study of Network Pharmacology, GEO Database, and Experimental Validation","authors":"Yuanyuan Jiang ,&nbsp;Yihan Lai ,&nbsp;Guihua Zeng ,&nbsp;Chengsheng Liu ,&nbsp;Jian Ruan ,&nbsp;Guoqing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>This study explored the active components and mechanisms of <em>Cistanche deserticola Ma</em> (<strong>CH</strong>) in treating acute kidney injury (<strong>AKI</strong>) using network pharmacology, GEO data, and experimental validation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Active compounds and targets of CH were identified from TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction, and Herb databases. AKI-related genes were sourced from GeneCards, OMIM, and GEO. A protein-protein interaction network of overlapping targets was constructed via STRING, with key nodes ranked using CytoNCA. Gene ontology/Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment was performed in R, and a target-pathway network was built in Cytoscape. Molecular docking was conducted with Discovery Studio and visualised in Pymol. <em>In vitro</em> assays, including MTT, flow cytometry, and Western blotting, validated quercetin’s effects on lipopolysaccharides-induced human renal tubular epithelial cell injury.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Five active CH compounds and 397 potential targets were identified, with 221 overlapping AKI targets. Core targets included TP53, IL-6, AKT1, EGFR, TNF, and SRC. Enrichment analysis highlighted the PI3K/AKT pathway, apoptotic regulation, and xenobiotic response. Quercetin showed strong binding to core targets and reduced apoptosis via PI3K/AKT inhibition <em>in vitro</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>CH may protect against AKI through PI3K/AKT pathway modulation, supporting its therapeutic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101049"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines in reducing serum uric acid levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Zhuanzhuan Li ,&nbsp;Yingmei Fu ,&nbsp;Caiyun Zhou ,&nbsp;Xin Wang ,&nbsp;Weihong Cong ,&nbsp;Shanqiong Xu ,&nbsp;Yuqing Ye ,&nbsp;Bingbing Fan ,&nbsp;Fang Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hyperuricemia (HUA), a metabolic disorder resulting from abnormalities in purine metabolism or impaired renal uric acid excretion, has shown a rising global prevalence. Although Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) exhibits therapeutic potential for HUA, strong evidence supporting its efficacy and safety remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral CHM in lowering serum uric acid (SUA) levels.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2013 and February 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang databases. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4, along with sensitivity analyses, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses to explore heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 53 RCTs involving 5<!--> <!-->176 patients were included. CHM monotherapy or CHM combined with Western medicine (WM) significantly reduced SUA levels compared to WM alone (MD = −45.28, 95% CI: −55.06 to −35.50, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001). Adverse events occurred in 8.79% of patients receiving CHM or CHM + WM, significantly lower than in the WM control group (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48–0.83, <em>P</em> = 0.0009).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Oral CHM shows significant efficacy and a favourable safety profile in reducing SUA levels, representing a promising alternative for HUA management. However, these findings require confirmation through large-scale, high-quality RCTs due to heterogeneity and methodological limitations in existing studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101041"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145049233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of lavender supplementation in treating the most common mental health conditions in primary care settings: a narrative review","authors":"Taylor Irwin ,&nbsp;Heather Justice ,&nbsp;Kara Roman ,&nbsp;Sophie Tajadod ,&nbsp;Carilyn Ellis ,&nbsp;Kristy Asbell ,&nbsp;Jason Brumitt","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Primary care providers (PCPs) are challenged to meet increasing psychiatric needs in the United States. The number of visits that PCPs managed for mental health concerns increased by fifty percent from 2006 to 2018. The most common mental health conditions in the United States that present to PCPs are anxiety, depression, and substance abuse disorders. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) may provide a low-cost option with reduced psychotropic side effects.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of lavender supplementation on reducing symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and substance abuse disorder.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and MEDLINE databases were searched. Systematic reviews with meta-analysis that reported outcomes associated with lavender supplementation for the aforementioned psychiatric diagnoses were included.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 15 full-text articles were included in this narrative review. Lavender supplementation was reported to improve symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. One study reported decreased cigarette cravings in those who used lavender.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Lavender offers a minimal side effect profile for treatment of mental health conditions and is beneficial when considering the significant side effects of mainstream therapies. Lavender is both effective in the treatment of anxiety and depression and allows for clinicians to offer more treatment options. Through providing more treatment options, lavender can fill in treatment gaps for those that are not candidates for standard therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"54 ","pages":"Article 101050"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145098702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chinese herbal medicine for urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 randomised controlled trials","authors":"Shasha Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiaojie Ding ,&nbsp;Mi Zhou ,&nbsp;Ruiping Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Yan ,&nbsp;Bin Li ,&nbsp;Le Kuai ,&nbsp;Yong Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the treatment of urticaria.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A search was conducted in the databases of Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Embase, China Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science until February 2024 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving the use of CHM for the treatment of urticaria. Two researchers independently conducted a literature search and data extraction, and conducted a methodological quality assessment of the included studies using the Cochrane Bias Assessment Tool. They also conducted a meta-analysis using the RevMan5.3 software.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 26 literatures were included (19 of which were related to chronic urticaria), involving 2<!--> <!-->608 patients (patients with chronic urticaria accounted for approximately 78.0%). The meta-analysis results showed that in the treatment of urticaria, CHM was more effective than Western medicine (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.00001), had a lower recurrence rate (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.00001), and had a lower incidence of adverse reactions (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.00001). Subgroup analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine was significantly advantageous in patients with chronic urticaria (RR<!--> <!-->=<!--> <!-->1.23, 95% CI, 1.11–1.37).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In this study, the treatment of urticaria with CHM proves superior to that with Western medicine and is of greater safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101046"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combination therapy of Qi Huang Tong Mi soft capsule and probiotics enhances clinical outcomes in severe acute pancreatitis","authors":"Huicong Ma ,&nbsp;Feng Cheng ,&nbsp;Zhaohui Du ,&nbsp;Zhaoyang Du ,&nbsp;Hongchang Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhaolei Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hermed.2025.101044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) involves systemic inflammation and intestinal barrier dysfunction. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Qi Huang Tong Mi soft capsules combined with gut probiotics in the treatment of SAP.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 120 SAP patients were randomised into four groups: the experimental group (Qi Huang Tong Mi + probiotics + standard care), Qi Huang group, probiotics group, and control group. Treatments lasted 14 days. Inflammatory markers, intestinal barrier indicators, and clinical outcomes were evaluated on days 7 and 14.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The experimental group demonstrated the highest efficacy rate (96.67%), with significant reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, procalcitonin (PCT), alone with improved gut barrier function. Faster symptom relief, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications were observed (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Qi Huang Tong Mi combined with probiotics effectively and safely reduces inflammation, restores intestinal barrier function, and improves clinical outcomes in SAP patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herbal Medicine","volume":"53 ","pages":"Article 101044"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}