BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, itching skin disease, and conventional therapies offer inadequate symptom management. Patients with AD are increasingly turning to Chinese medicine. OBJECTIVE We systematically evaluated the clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of oral Chinese herbal medicine for AD. METHODS Searches were conducted on major electronic databases using t...

Background & aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder. Recently, the tendency towards complementary therapies such as using herbs with anti-androgenic effects has been increased. This study reviewed the documents related to the effect of four types of herbal teas on the treatment of PCOS based on the literature review. Methods: The searched databases in...

HISTORY Since the emperor Shen Nong tasted 100 herbs and taught the Chinese people how to use them in diet and therapy, herbal medicine has been an integral part of Chinese culture and medical practice. Descriptions of herbal therapy occur in the earliest texts that discuss Chinese medical practice. The traditional Chinese materia medica includes minerals and animal parts as well as herbs. Late...

The last German edition of this book was published in 2002, the last and 3rd English edition: “Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals”, was printed not later than 2004, and no newer editions were available. Therefore everybody interested in Herbal Drugs and Herbal Medicinal Products, including non German speaking readers, appreciates very much this new publication. During the last years, medicin...

• Vol 10 • May 2008 390 Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology characterized by hyperglobulinemia, circulating antibodies and piecemeal necrosis on liver histology. There are only sporadic reports describing an association between autoimmune hepatitis and herbal medications [1]. Herbal remedies are among the most popular form of complementary treatments and are being ma...

Purpose Classical Chinese herbal therapy uses herb combinations within formulas based upon the belief that there is a synergistic effect between herbs. Herbal pairs and combinations may change the hydrophobicity and ion concentration of the decoction. These changes may increase extraction of constituents from other herbs within the formula. Furthermore, herbs may react within the decoction medi...

Medicinal plants have a long history of use in therapy throughout the world and still make an important part of traditional medicine. Thus, medicinal plants and herbal products must be safe for the patient (consumer). This review addresses biological contaminants (microbes and other organisms) and chemical contaminants (mycotoxins, toxic elements such as heavy metals, and pesticide residues) as...

The number of patients seeking alternate and herbal therapy is growing exponentially. Herbal medicines are the synthesis of therapeutic experiences of generations of practicing physicians of indigenous systems of medicine for over hundreds of years. Herbal medicines are now in great demand in the developing world for primary health care not because they are inexpensive but also for better cultu...

OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the management of female infertility and on pregnancy rates compared with Western medical (WM) treatment and update previous meta-analyses. METHODS We searched the Medline and Cochrane databases until December 2013 for randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses investigating Chinese herbal medicine therapy for...

Objectives: The purpose of this work was development, formulation and testing of new herbal ointment for the treatment of mild to severe atopic dermatitis in infants and children (4 to 56 months old) as possible alternative therapy to standard corticosteroids and immunomodulants. Patients and methods: 50 patients were treated 8 weeks (every four hours) with the ointment containing the following...