Herba Saxifragae cream in treatment of chronic eczema: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

To explore the clinical efficacy of Herba Saxifragae cream (HS), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on chronic eczema. A total of 42 cases of chronic eczema were randomly divided into HS group (22 cases) and hydrocortisone (HC) group (20 cases). To the HS group, HS was externally applied twice a day continuously for 4 weeks. To the HC group, hydrocortisone was externally applied twice a day continuously for 4 weeks. The total score of symptom score reducing index (SSRI) was calculated before and after treatment in terms of itching degree, lesion shape and lesion area, in the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of HS on chronic eczema. After 2-week treatment, the total response rate of HS group was 77.3%, and the total response rate of HC group was 70.0%. After 4-week treatment, the total response rates were 86.4% and 85.0% in HS and HC groups respectively. There was no statistical difference in total scores of SSRI between the two groups (P>0.05), and neither was there the difference in the score of itching degree, lesion shape and lesion area (P>0.05). Herba Saxifragae cream has the same effect as hydrocortisone in treating chronic eczema.