Herbal traditional Chinese medicine and its evidence base in gastrointestinal disorders

Table 7 Clinical trials with herbal traditional Chinese medicine preparations for biliary diseases

Ref.	Patients	Treatment	Control	Outcome	Remarks
Wu et al[142], 2012	80 pat.; PBC	40 pat.; UDCA, Fuzheng Huayu capsule; no dose; 48 wk	40 pat.; UDCA, no dose; 48 wk	Significant: itching, fatigue, liver enzymes, IgG, IgM, antibodies, blood flow	Most parameters significant only at one of four time points
Tong et al[143], 2012	60 pat.; PBC, histology	30 pat.; UDCA, Tongdan decoction; no dose; 24 wk	30 pat.; UDCA, no dose; 24 wk	IgM, IgG decreased after 2 yr, less inflammation after 3 yr	No percentages, no scoring system
Qi et al[144], 2009	160 pat.; chronic cholecystitis	80 pat.; Dan An Tang, no dose, no duration	80 pat.; Xiao Yan Li Dan Pian, no dose, no duration	Tr.: total effective rate 95%, control 80% significant	Dan An Tang: cholecystitis relieving; Xiao Yan bile draining
Jiang and He[145], 2003	16 pat.; PBC	No pat. number; UDCA + “some Chinese herbs”, no duration, no dose	No pat. number; UDCA, no dose, no duration	No results that can be interpreted	Conclusions not based on results. Clinical observation
Hu et al[136], 1996	116 pat., CAH with bilirubinemia	60 pat.; Ganyan IV	56 pat.; Western medicine	Decreased jaundice, ALT	No actual data given, only percentages
Cui et al[141], 1989	89 pat.; extrahepatic jaundice	No pat. number; Li Dan Ling; no dose, or duration	No pat. number; “control group”; no dose, or duration	Herbal TCM better for incomplete obstruction, worse for complete	No data presented

PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; TCM: Traditional Chinese medicine; UDCA: Ursodeoxycholic acid.