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Postgrad Med J 2007;83:633-637 doi:10.1136/pgmj.2007.060202
  • Review

A systematic review of randomised clinical trials of individualised herbal medicine in any indication

  1. R Guo,
  2. P H Canter,
  3. E Ernst
  1. Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, Exeter, UK
  1. Peter H Canter, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter, EX2 4NT, UK; peter.canter{at}pms.ac.uk
  • Received 27 March 2007
  • Accepted 21 May 2007

Abstract

Aim: To summarise and critically evaluate the evidence from randomised clinical trials for the effectiveness of individualised herbal medicine in any indication.

Methods: Search of electronic databases and approaches to experts in the field to identify randomised, controlled clinical trials of individualised herbal medicine in any indication. Independent data extraction and assessment of methodological quality by two authors and best evidence synthesis.

Results: Three randomised clinical trials of individualised herbal medicine were identified. Statistically non-significant trends favouring active over placebo treatment in osteoarthritis of the knee probably result from large baseline differences and regression to the mean. Individualised treatment was superior to placebo in four of five outcome measures in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, but was inferior to standardised herbal treatment in all outcomes. Individualised herbal treatment was no better than placebo in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced toxicity.

Conclusions: There is a sparsity of evidence regarding the effectiveness of individualised herbal medicine and no convincing evidence to support the use of individualised herbal medicine in any indication.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared

  • Abbreviations:
    BSS
    Bowel Symptom Score
    IBS
    irritable bowel syndrome
    MYMOP
    Measure Yourself Outcome Profile
    RCT
    randomised clinical trial
    WOMAC
    Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index

Responses to this article

  • The evidence applies to all individualised herbal medicine
    • Peter H Canter
    Postgrad Med J published online November 21, 2007
  • Oriental Medicine Doctors Licensed As Primary Care Providers in the U.S.
    • E.J. Koprowski
    Postgrad Med J published online November 9, 2007
  • Systematic review of individualised herbal medicine misunderstood
    • Peter H Canter,
    • Ruoling Guo, Edzard Ernst
    Postgrad Med J published online October 17, 2007
  • A startling inadequacy in the links between the review evidence and the authors’ conclusions.
    • Ally Broughton
    Postgrad Med J published online November 21, 2007
  • Fatally Flawed Study Design in Herbal Medicine Review Article
    • E. J. Koprowski, M.A.
    Postgrad Med J published online October 9, 2007

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