Abstract
Eczema is a chronic relapsing atopic dermatitis (AD) associated with pruritus, sleep disturbance and poor quality of life of the patient. Treatment of eczema includes use of emollient, topical and systemic antimicrobial agents, corticosteroid or immunomodulating agents. Many patients also seek alternative treatments such as dietary avoidance, supplementation or both. This article reviews the basic pathophysiology of eczema and clinical trials involving Chinese medicine in the treatment of eczema. Research reports on Chinese herbal medicine for eczema were retrieved from PubMed and the Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews for this review. Only a few RCTs demonstrated the efficacy (or lack of efficacy) of Chinese medicinal herbs in treating atopic eczema. Further larger scale trials are warranted.
Highlights
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease commonly associated with allergy [1,2]
As there is still no cure for AD, various dietary therapies including Chinese medicine are adopted by the patients, especially in Asia [9]
The opportunity to continue treatment was offered to the parents of 37 children who had completed a doubleblind placebo-controlled trial of the same formulation of Chinese medicinal herbs for atopic eczema [26]
Summary
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease commonly associated with allergy [1,2]. The opportunity to continue treatment was offered to the parents of 37 children who had completed a doubleblind placebo-controlled trial of the same formulation of Chinese medicinal herbs for atopic eczema [26]. Mild adverse events such as nausea and diarrhea were noted in both groups without statistical difference This placebo-controlled study demonstrated that Hochuekki-to was a useful adjunct to conventional treatments for AD patients with Kikyo constitution. Twenty [20] mild-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients aged between 13 and 48 years were given a combined treatment of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and were followed prospectively. At baseline (visit 1), dietary intake, emollient, topical corticosteroid usage and information regarding the severity of AD were collected They received Chinese herbal medicine syrup 20 ml daily for 12 weeks. Chinese medicine practitioners have another concern that standardisation of herbal mixtures may contradict Chinese medicine theories [43]
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