Herbal traditional Chinese medicine and its evidence base in gastrointestinal disorders

Table 3 Clinical trials with herbal traditional Chinese medicine preparations for gastritis

Ref.	Patients	Intervention	Control	Outcome	Remarks
Hu et al[61], 2012	565 pat.; gastritis or duodenal ulcer, gastroscopy	LAC (see con- trol), + 3 caps. 2/d Jinghua Weikang, 7 d, then Jinghua Weikang for 14 more days	30 mg lansopra- zole, 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
Li et al[64], 2011	150 pat.; chronic atrophic gastritis	120 pat.; Wei Yan serial recipe (WYSR) I - IV; no dose given, 2 × 3 mo	30 pat.; Weifuchun pills; no dose given, 2 × 3 mo	WYSR is superior to control in total effective rate, symptoms, pathology. No difference in HIF, vEGF	Improved precancerous lesions
Li et al[65], 2011	229 pat.; chronic atrophic gastritis	119 pat.; Hua Zhuo Jiedu recipe, no dose given; 2 × 3 mo	110 pat.; Weifuchun tablets; no dose given; 2 × 3 mo	Significantly better: pathological results, tumor markers. No difference in acid secretion	No rationale or parameter selection
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 H. pylori eradication	No parameter for symptoms given
Hu et al[63], 2008	67 pat.; chronic gastritis + TCM symptoms; gastroscopy	42 pat.; 4 × 0.5 g, tid Yiweikang capsules; 2 mo	25 pat.; 4 caps. tid; Wenweishu; 2 mo	Improved symptoms in verum; no difference in H. pylori eradication	Diagnostically not homogenous; control in this group is verum in 2010 publication[62]
Zeng et al[74], 2006	90 pat.; chronic gastritis	80 mg or 160 mg Jinghua Weikang	3 × 10 mg/d domperidone; 14_d. No group size given	Unclear whether in group or be-tween group differences	Data presentation insufficient
Wu et al[66], 2005	68 pat.; chronic atrophic gastritis + TCM symptoms	36 pat.; Kangwei granules, 2 × 12 wk. No dose given	32 pat.; Weifuchun, 2 × 12 wk. No dose given	Gastroscopy, pathology significantly improved, symptoms n.s.	Parameters not specified
Xia[67], 2004	98 pat.; chronic gastritis	Herbal pairs; patient number, dose and treatment duration not given	Banxia Xiexin Tang decoction, pat. number, dose and treatment duration not given	Treatment is superior	No explanation given
Chen et al[73], 2003	362 pat.; gastropathy with H. pylori infection	288 pat.; Kang Wei granules. No further data given	74 pat.; triple therapy plus bismuth (De Nol)	Improves symptoms of TCM classification	No data given for diagnosis, intervention type and results
Ji et al[68], 1999	226 pat.; gastritis with H. pylori infection	136 pat.; Xialian Yiyou capsule, 4 wk. Dose not given	90 pat.; Lizhu Dele capsules, 4 wk. Dose not given	Significant improvement in clinical symptoms
Lu et al[69], 1998	75 pat.; chronic atrophic gastritis	45 pat.; Wei Shu capsules; 6 mo. Dose not given	30 pat.; Wei Ning granules; 6 mo. Dose not given	Atrophy, metaplasia, dysplasia significantly improved	No data specification
Zhong et al[70], 1997	202 pat.; chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia	117 pat.; modified Shijinzu decoction, 3 mo; dose not given	85 pat.; Weimeisu, 3 mo; dose not given	Treatment group significantly better	No data specification
Yin et al[71], 1996	143 pat.; chronic gastritis by EGD, + TCM symptoms	75 pat.; Piweiping caps. I, II, III, IV; 3-6 mo. Dose not given	68 pat.; Sanjiu Weitai; 3-6 mo; dose not given	Significantly better cure rate, symptom score, biochemical parameter	Some parameters do not make sense (lymphocyte transformation test, cAMP, DNA)
Li et al[75], 1995	200 pat.; chronic atrophic gastritis	Gastrosia con-valescens; no data of pat. number, dose and duration	Domperidon; no data on patient number, dose and duration of treatment	Significantly superior to control	No parameter specified
Long et al[72], 1994	Verru-cous gas-tritis, no further informa-tion	Combined TCM + Western medicine; no further information	Western medicine (furazolidone, cimetidine); no further information	Combination is significantly better than WM alone	Insufficient data presentation
Liu et al[76], 1992	138 pat.; intestinal metaplasia; 104 pat.; atypical metaplasia	Xiao Wei Yan powder, 5-7 g/tid; 2-4 mo; no pat. number	No information; not treated?	Verum is effective	No description of control group

H. pylori: Helicobacter pylori; PCM: Pantoprazole, clarithromycine and metronidazole triple therapy; TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine.