Use Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Articles

The long-term trend in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine and associated factors among older people in Taiwan.

Both the size of the older population and the use of complementary and alternative medicine are increasing worldwide. This study evaluated the long-term trend in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and associated factors among older people in Taiwan. Using the database of population-based interview surveys, we evaluated the one-month prevalence of TCM use among 13,945 older people aged over 65 years from 2001-2017. The sociodemographic status and medical comorbidities of older people who did and did not use TCM were compared by calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the multiple logistic regressions. The one-month prevalence of TCM use increased from 5.5% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2017 among older people in Taiwan. Overall, 7.3% of older people had used TCM within the previous month. People with a history of heart disease (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.24-2.12), use of folk therapy (OR 3.16, 95% CI 2.00-4.99), and purchase of non-prescribed Chinese herbal medicine (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.48-2.91) were more likely to use TCM than the comparison group. However, age ≥80 years (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.31-0.72) and previous hospitalization (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.85) were associated with the reduced use of TCM. From 2001-2017, the use of TCM increased in the older population in Taiwan. The use of folk medicine and purchase of non-prescribed Chinese herbal medicine were significant predictors for the use of TCM.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Cancer Treatment.

In recent years, due to advancements in medical conditions and the development of scientific research, the fundamental research of TCM antitumor treatments has progressed from the cellular level to the molecular and genetic levels. Previous studies have demonstrated the significant role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in antitumor therapy through various mechanisms and pathways. Its mechanism of action is closely associated with cancer biology across different stages. This includes inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, blocking invasion and metastasis to surrounding tissues, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, regulating immune function, maintaining genome stability, preventing mutation, and regulating cell energy metabolism. The use of TCM for eliciting antitumor effects not only has a good therapeutic effect and low side effects, it also provides a solid theoretical basis for clinical treatment and medication. This paper reviews the mechanism of the antitumor effects of TCM based on tumor characteristics. Through our review, we found that TCM not only directly inhibits tumors, but also enhances the body's immunity, thereby indirectly inducing an antitumor effect. This function aligns with the TCM theory of "strengthening the body's resistance to eliminate pathogenic factors". Furthermore, TCM will play a significant role in tumor treatment in clinical settings.

Traditional Chinese and Mongolian Medicine Utilization Among Hypertensive Older Adults: Community Health Institutions, Hohhot, China

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional Mongolian medicine (TMM) systems treat hypertension in community health institutions within China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. This paper aims to investigate the use and influence of TCM and TMM among hypertensive older Chinese adults receiving treatment at these community health institutions. A cross-sectional survey method was used in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. A total of 1,499 completed questionnaires were collected from eight community health service centers in four municipal districts of Hohhot between May and June 2022. In all, 662 (44.2%) respondents had used community hypertension treatment services in the last year. Of the 662 respondents, 213 (32.2%) used TCM hypertension treatment services, and 64 (9.7%) used TMM treatment services less frequently and at a lower cost. Chinese herbal medicine (63.5%) and Mongolian herbal medicine (74%) were used more than other treatments. Cognition, attitude, and service provision were the main factors that affected service utilization. Ethnicity also had an impact on TMM’s service utilization. Older Chinese adults with hypertension did not fully utilize the TCM and TMM services provided. Further promotion and expansion of traditional medicine are needed from relevant government and health institutions.

Risk prediction for severe COVID-19 progressing to critical illness and death in the ICU and efficacy analysis of using traditional Chinese medicine.

To reveal the key factors influencing the progression of severe COVID-19 to critical illness and death in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to accurately predict the risk, as well as to validate the efficacy of treatment using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), thus providing valuable recommendations for the clinical management of patients. A total of 189 patients with COVID-19 in 25 ICUs in Chongqing, China, were enrolled, and 16 eventually died. Statistical models shown that factors influencing the progression of COVID-19 to critical illness include the severity of illness at diagnosis, the mode of respiratory support, and the use of TCM. Risk factors for death include a history of metabolic disease, the use of antiviral drugs and TCM, and invasive endotracheal intubation. The area under curve of the noncollinearity model predicted the risk of progression to critical illness and the risk of death reached 0.847 and 0.876, respectively. The use of TCM is an independent protective factor for the prevention of the progression of severe COVID-19, while uncorrectable hypoxemia and invasive respiratory support are independent risk factors, and antiviral drugs can help reduce mortality. The multifactorial prediction model can assess the risk of critical illness and death in ICU COVID-19 patients, and inform clinicians in choosing the treatment options and medications.

The acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine among patients with Parkinson’s disease: A hospital survey

ObjectiveThe efficacy of medications for Parkinson’s disease (PD) tend to decline over time, which has a serious impact on patients’ health and quality of life. To some extent, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can resolve the distressing problem of ineffective dopaminergic medication in PD patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitude, acceptance, and independent predictors of TCM in PD patients admitted to the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. MethodsA cross-sectional study of PD patients was conducted in the outpatient department of a large tertiary hospital in Beijing from March 2022 to June 2023. A self-report questionnaire was developed to investigate PD patients’ attitudes and acceptance of TCM based on the questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were also performed to further clarify the independent predictors influencing patients’ adoption of TCM therapy. ResultsA total of 397 patients completed the questionnaire, of which 78.09% were willing to be treated with TCM and 21.91% indicated that they were not willing to use TCM. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that several parameters were correlated with a patient’s willingness to include TCM in their therapeutic regime. These included education level of a bachelor’s degree (odds ratio [OR) = 8.554; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.112–17.794; P < 0.001, vs junior high school education), living in an urban setting (OR = 8.022; 95% CI: 4.577–14.060; P < 0.001, vs rural), having other underlying diseases (OR = 5.126; 95% CI: 3.078–8.537; P < 0.001, vs none), having previously used TCM (OR = 3.083; 95% CI: 1.852–5.134; P < 0.001, vs not used), believing that TCM therapy is safe (OR = 3.530; 95% CI: 1.446–8.616; P = 0.006, vs not thought), believing that TCM therapy is effective (OR = 3.859; 95% CI: 1.482–10.047; P = 0.006, vs not understood), and being willing to discuss ongoing TCM therapy with an attending physician (OR = 62.468; 95% CI: 30.350–128.574; P < 0.001, vs not informed). ConclusionThis study initially investigated the acceptance, attitude, and independent predictors of TCM use among PD patients. To expand the prevalence of TCM use among patients with PD, we recommend to broadening the public outreach for TCM via contemporary means of Internet and broadcast communication, enhancing access to TCM services in rural communities, and strengthening the communication between doctors and patients.Please cite this article as: Wang P, Hong J, Tang ZQ, Gong BZ, Qi XR, Jiang H, Pan B, Chen Q. The acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine among patients with Parkinson’s disease: A hospital survey. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(2): 180–187.

Effectiveness of adjuvant traditional Chinese medicine on macrovascular invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a real-world propensity score-matched study.

The study aimed to investigate the potential of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in reducing the risk of macrovascular invasion (MVI) in Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This retrospective analysis involved 2,267 HCC patients treated at our hospital. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to compare TCM users (n = 485) with non-users (n = 485) in terms of age, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging, type of treatment, and AFP. The impact of TCM on the hazard ratio (HR) of MVI was evaluated using a Cox multivariate regression model. The efficacy of TCM therapy on MVI was further examined using the log-rank test. The analysis revealed that TCM medication was a significant protective factor for MVI in HCC patients, as evidenced by the Cox analysis (adjusted HR = 0.496, 95% CI: 0.387-0.635, p < 0.001). After PS matching, the Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated a lower occurrence rate of MVI in TCM users compared to non-users. The study findings suggest that TCM treatment has the potential to decrease the incidence of MVI in HCC patients, irrespective of etiology, BCLC staging, liver function, or treatment type. Notably, as the use of TCM increased, the percentage of MVI in patients showed a gradual decrease, indicating the potential of TCM therapy as a successful strategy for preventing MVI.

Usage Patterns of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan.

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) receive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for clinical needs unmet with psychotropic medications. However, the clinical characteristics of practices and outcomes of TCM in BD are not fully understood. This cohort study investigated the clinical characteristics, principal diagnoses, TCM interventions, and TCM prescriptions in patients with BD. Data for a total of 12,113 patients with BD between 1996 and 2013 were withdrawn from Taiwan's longitudinal health insurance database 2000 (LHID 2000). The chi-square test was used for categorical variables, and the independent t-test was used for continuous variables. A p-value less than 0.05 indicated significance. One thousand three hundred nineteen patients who visited TCM clinics after the diagnosis of BD were in the TCM group, while those who never visited TCM were in the non-TCM group (n = 1053). Compared to the non-TCM group, patients in the TCM group had younger average age, a higher percentage of female individuals, more comorbidities of anxiety and alcohol use disorders, and higher mood stabilizer usage rates. The TCM group exhibited pain-related indications, including joint pain, myalgia, myositis, headache, and sleep disturbances. Corydalis yanhusuo and Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang were the most useful single herbs and herbal formulae. Physicians need to be aware of the use of TCM in patients with BD.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of menopause-like syndrome for breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn recent years, breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality have been the highest in females. Menopause-like syndrome (MLS), arising from hypoestrogenism caused by endocrine therapy, significantly affects the quality of life for females. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has advantages in ameliorating MLS, but the efficacy of TCM in patients with BC has not been systematically evaluated.MethodsA comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Clinical Trial Registry from inception to September 4, 2023. The Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool was used for the quality evaluation of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Review Manager 5.4 software was used for statistical analysis, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation was used for quality evaluation of the synthesized evidence.ResultsThis review included 42 studies involving 3112 female patients with BC. The results showed that the TCM group was better at decreasing the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) scores (standardized MD, SMD = − 1.84, 95% confidence interval, CI [− 2.21–-1.46], Z = 9.63, P < 0.00001). Regarding the main symptoms of MLS, the TCM groups could significantly decrease the scores of hot flashes and night sweats (SMD = − 0.68, 95% CI [− 1.1–-0.27], Z = 3.24, P = 0.001), paraesthesia (SMD = − 0.48, 95% CI [− 0.74–-0.21], Z = 3.53, P = 0.0004), osteoarthralgia (SMD = − 0.41, 95% CI [− 0.6–0.21], Z = 4.09, P < 0.0001), anxiety (MD = − 0.85, 95% CI [− 1.13, − 0.58], Z = 6.08, P < 0.00001) and insomnia (MD = − 0.61, 95% CI [− 0.8, − 0.43], Z = 6.51, P < 0.00001). TCM can effectively improve the symptoms of MLS in patients with BC. Moreover, TCM could improve the objective response rate (ORR) by 50% (RR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.37–1.64], Z = 9.01, P < 0.00001). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (E2) had no significant difference compared with the control group (p = 0.81 and p = 0.87), and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the TCM group decreased significantly (MD = − 0.99, 95% CI [− 1.38, − 0.5], Z = 5.01, P < 0.00001). This means that the use of TCM does not negatively affect endocrine therapy and may even have a synergistic effect. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was lower in the TCM groups than in the control groups.ConclusionsThe meta-analysis stated that TCM could better improve the MLS of patients, alleviate related symptoms, and did not increase adverse drug reactions in BC survivors. This review brings more attention to MLS, and the present findings shed light on the potential applications of TCM in the treatment of MLS in BC survivors.

Application of Metabolomics and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment.

Diabetes is a major global public health problem with high incidence and case fatality rates. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used to help manage Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and has steadily gained international acceptance. Despite being generally accepted in daily practice, the TCM methods and hypotheses for understanding diseases lack applicability in the current scientific characterization systems. To date, there is no systematic evaluation system for TCM in preventing and treating T2DM. Metabonomics is a powerful tool to predict the level of metabolites in vivo, reveal the potential mechanism, and diagnose the physiological state of patients in time to guide the follow-up intervention of T2DM. Notably, metabolomics is also effective in promoting TCM modernization and advancement in personalized medicine. This review provides updated knowledge on applying metabolomics to TCM syndrome differentiation, diagnosis, biomarker discovery, and treatment of T2DM by TCM. Its application in diabetic complications is discussed. The combination of multi-omics and microbiome to fully elucidate the use of TCM to treat T2DM is further envisioned.

Characteristics of early short-term traditional Chinese medicine in breast cancer patients: A population-based cohort study.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is frequently utilized as a complementary therapy for breast cancer patients. TCM primarily involves the use of Chinese herbal products (CHPs), which consist of single or multiherb formulas with diverse therapeutic effects documented in medical classics. The study aims to investigate the association between medication possession ratios to CHPs within 2-year post breast cancer diagnosis and 5-year survival, to explore the potential beneficial class effect of TCM. This retrospective population-based cohort study included newly diagnosed breast cancer patients between 2003 and 2006, identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analysis were utilized to assess the likelihood of medication possession ratios (MPRs) for CHPs and to examine the association of variables with 5-year survival. A total of 3472 patients with breast cancer were included. Patients who had MPR of 1% to 9% and 10% to 19% for CHPs within 2 years after breast cancer diagnosis exhibited better 5-year survival rates compared with those who did not use CHPs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.86, p = 0.001; aHR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.88, p = 0.016). Furthermore, the use of TCM formulations specifically targeting insomnia, such as Tian-wang-bu-xin-dan and Suan-zao-ren-tang, demonstrated a significantly positive association with survival (aHR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.98, p = 0.035) among patients who were short-term users of CHPs (MPR of 1% to 19%). Short-term use of TCM (ie, MPR to CHPs 1~19%) within 2-year post breast cancer diagnosis present positive association with survival outcome. Tian-wang-bu-xin-dan and Suan-zao-ren-tang may have benefits to 5-year survival, but their causality still need further investigation.

HiPSCs and organoids: prediction of arrhythmogenic risks for optimized traditional Chinese medicine

Accurate assessment of the risks associated with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), such as the potential to induce serious cardiovascular adverse reactions including cardiac arrhythmias, is crucial. This article introduced the pharmacological evaluation strategies for cardiac safety and the progress in cardiac organ research, with a focus on discussing the application prospects of human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs) and organoids in assessing the risks of TCM-induced cardiac arrhythmias. Compared with traditional animal models, hiPSCs and organoid models provide better reference and predictive capabilities, allowing for more accurate simulation of human cardiac responses. Researchers have successfully generated various cardiac tissue models that mimic the structure and function of the heart to evaluate the effects of TCM on the heart. The hiPSCs model, by reprogramming adult cells into pluripotent stem cells and differentiating them into cardiac cells, enables the generation of personalized cardiac tissue, which better reflects individual differences and drug responses. This provides guidance for the assessment of TCM cardiac toxicity risks. By combining organoid model with cardiac safety pharmacology strategies such as electrocardiogram monitoring and ion channel function assessment, the impact of TCM on the heart can be comprehensively evaluated. In addition, the application of the Comprehensive in Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay(CiPA) approach improves the accuracy of evaluation. Applying the CiPA approach to TCM research reveals potential risks and provides a scientific basis for the clinical application and industrial development of TCM. In conclusion, organoid model and cardiac safety pharmacology evaluation strategies provide important tools for assessing the cardiac toxicity risks of TCM. The combination of hiPSCs model, comprehensive assessment methods, and the CiPA strategy enables an accurate assessment of the risks of TCM-induced cardiac arrhythmias, thus providing a scientific basis for the safe use and international recognition of TCM in clinical practice. This contributes to ensuring the safety and efficacy of TCM and promoting its clinical application and global acceptance.

Gastric precancerous lesions:occurrence, development factors, and treatment.

Patients with gastric precancerous lesions (GPL) have a higher risk of gastric cancer (GC). However, the transformation of GPL into GC is an ongoing process that takes several years. At present, several factors including H.Pylori (Hp), flora imbalance, inflammatory factors, genetic variations, Claudin-4, gastric stem cells, solute carrier family member 26 (SLC26A9), bile reflux, exosomes, and miR-30a plays a considerable role in the transformation of GPL into GC. Moreover, timely intervention in the event of GPL can reduce the risk of GC. In clinical practice, GPL is mainly treated with endoscopy, acid suppression therapy, Hp eradication, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, aspirin, and diet. Currently, the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or combination with western medication to remove Hp and the use of TCM to treat GPL are common in Asia, particularly China, and have also demonstrated excellent clinical efficacy. This review thoroughly discussed the combining of TCM and Western therapy for the treatment of precancerous lesions as conditions allow. Consequently, this review also focuses on the causes of the development and progression of GPL, as well as its current treatment. This may help us understand GPL and related treatment.

Popularity of Traditional Chinese Medicine Use Among Breast Cancer Patients in North China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in breast cancer treatment is controversial. The aim of this study is to explore the popularity of TCM among the breast cancer patients who have been treated with Western medicine (WM) in north China. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted. We consecutively recruited 691 breast cancer patients who were diagnosed in Shanxi Bethune Hospital between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2020 and completed follow-up between June and August 2022. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. Participants were asked about TCM use by phone. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed as appropriate. At median follow-up of 41 months (range, 17-61 months), 326 (47.2%) participants used TCM. The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that residential area, education, annual income per capita, experienced TCM treatment before, stage of diagnosis, and trust in TCM were independent predictors of TCM use. The detail of TCM use and the reason for non-TCM use were presented comprehensively. The use of TCM was prevalent among breast cancer patients treated with WM in north China. If WM physician encourage the patients with higher intention to use TCM and provide them with appropriate advices, the quality of life of patients will be further improved through integrating TCM into standard adjuvant therapy.

Traditional Chinese medicine for the COVID-19 pandemic: An online cross-sectional survey among health care workers.

: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced a heightened risk of infection. Preventative measures are critical to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect HCWs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recommended to prevent and treat COVID-19 in China. We conducted this survey to investigate the use of infection control behaviors, preventative and therapeutic interventions, and outcomes among HCWs during the surge of Omicron variant infections to explore the association of preventative measures with outcomes and to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of TCM as a preventative measure. : The questionnaire consisted of 23 sections with 154 questions intended for HCWs. The targeted respondents comprised all HCWs from Xiamen Hospital Affiliated of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The recruitment process was open between March 17 and June 1, 2022. Chi-square test was used to estimate the relationship between prevention and outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors influencing the use of TCM as a preventative measure. : Among the 1122 participants who completed the questionnaire, 79.71% took preventative measures, including TCM (56.21%), physical activities (52.37%) and food supplements (26.99%). Xiamen preventative formula (a government-approved fixed prescription) (45.22%) and Lianhua Qingwen preparations (18.95%) were the most commonly used Chinese medicines. Thirty-six participants reported flu-like symptoms and three were diagnosed with COVID-19. Flu-like symptoms were not associated with prevention, vaccination, or TCM. Frontline working experience (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46-0.80), good knowledge of post-COVID-19 syndrome (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.84), Western medicine qualifications (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.51-3.86), nurses (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.21-2.40), and medical technicians (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.25-4.10) were associated with the willingness of using TCM as a preventative measure. : Complementary medicine, especially TCM, could be used for COVID-19 prevention. Knowledge of COVID-19 may prompt people to use TCM to prevent COVID-19. Multicenter studies and prospective cohort follow-up studies are needed to provide further insights into the use of TCM for COVID-19 management.

Applying a co‐design approach with key stakeholders to design interventions to reduce illegal wildlife consumption

Abstract Co‐design, an approach that seeks to incorporate the experiences and perspectives of different stakeholders, is increasingly being used to develop audience‐oriented behaviour change interventions. The complexity of wildlife consumption behaviour makes the co‐design approach an important potential tool for the design of conservation interventions that aim to reduce illegal wildlife trade. Yet, little is known about how to adapt and apply the co‐design approach to the wildlife trade sector. Here, we applied a co‐design approach to develop interventions aimed at reducing illegal animal‐based medicine consumption in China. We conducted three workshops with key stakeholders: consumers of animal‐based medicines, pharmacy workers who sell them and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctors who prescribe them. We then developed a theory of change to ensure the relevance of the co‐designed intervention prototypes. Our co‐design process identified five main pathways of interventions, including two inclusive solutions that may have been previously overlooked in behaviour change work in this context. These were an intervention to promote the appropriate use of TCM and one to increase consumers' capacity to identify the legality of products. Our prototype interventions also enhanced existing views related to the role of medical practitioners in health‐risk communication. We used our co‐design process and reflections on its application to this specific market to provide guidelines for future conservation program planning in the broader wildlife trade context. Some intervention prototypes produced during co‐design may need wider stakeholder involvement to increase their feasibility for implementation. We show that the co‐design process can integrate multiple stakeholders' perspectives in the ideation stage, and has the potential to produce inclusive intervention designs that could drive innovation in conservation efforts to reduce illegal consumption of a range of wild species. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Differences in medical costs between TCM users and TCM nonusers in inpatients with thalassemia

BackgroundThalassemia has brought serious health threats and economic burdens to patients worldwide. There is no sovereign remedy for thalassemia, both conventional and Traditional Medicine (TM) methods have certain effects on this disease. As typical of TM, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the treatment of thalassemia. Previous studies mainly focused on conventional treatments for thalassemia and patients’ medical burden, but no research has examined the effects of TCM use on the economic burdens for thalassemia inpatients in mainland China. The main objective of this study is to compare the medical cost differences between TCM users and TCM nonusers, furtherly, we will discuss the role of TCM use in the treatment of thalassemia.MethodsWe employed the 2010–2016 Medicare claims database provided by the China Health Insurance Research Association (CHIRA). Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze the differences between TCM users and TCM nonusers. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the ordinary least squares method to compare the TCM users’ inpatient medical cost with TCM nonusers’, and to further examine the correlation between TCM cost, conventional medication cost and nonpharmacy cost for TCM users.ResultsA total of 588 urban thalassemia inpatients were identified, including 222 TCM users and 366 TCM nonusers. The inpatient medical cost of TCM users was RMB10,048 (USD1,513), which was significantly higher than TCM nonusers (RMB1,816 (USD273)). Total inpatient cost for TCM users was 67.4% higher than those of TCM nonusers (P < 0.001). With confounding factors fixed, we found that the conventional medication cost and nonpharmacy cost were positively correlated with TCM cost.ConclusionTotal hospitalization expenses for TCM users were higher than TCM nonusers. Both the conventional medication cost and nonpharmacy cost of TCM users were all higher than TCM nonusers. We infer TCM plays a complementary role, rather than an alternative, in the treatment of thalassemia due to the lack of cooperative treatment guidelines. It is recommended that a cooperative diagnosis and treatment guidelines should be generated to balance the use of TCM and conventional medicine for treating thalassemia, so as to reduce the economic burdens on patients.

New Traditional Chinese Medicine Supplement Reduces Pain Faster than Conventional Pain Pills Alone: A Phase I/II Prospective, Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial.

The opioid crisis demands novel solutions for postoperative pain control. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has used herbs for the treatment of pain for thousands of years. We studied whether a synergistic multimodal TCM supplement could reduce the need for conventional pain pills for low risk surgical procedures. In a Phase I/II, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (PRCT), 93 patients were randomized to either TCM supplement or placebo oral medication for low-risk outpatient surgical procedures. Study medications began 3 days preoperatively and continued for 5 days postoperatively. Conventional pain pill use was not restricted. Patients were monitored postoperatively for all forms of pain pill use (Pain Pill Scoring Sheet) and subjective pain ratings (Brief Pain Inventory Short Form). Primary outcomes included type and number of pain pills used and subjective pain ratings. Secondary outcomes included an assessment of mood, general activity, sleep, and enjoyment of life. TCM use well tolerated. Conventional pain pill use was similar between groups. Linear regression analysis revealed that TCM reduced postoperative pain 3 times faster than placebo (P < .0001) with a 4-fold greater magnitude of relief by postoperative day 5 (P = .008). TCM also significantly improved sleep habits (P = .049) during the postoperative period. TCM effect was independent of type of surgery or amount of preoperative pain. This PRCT is the first to show that a multimodal, synergistic TCM supplement is safe and can effectively reduce acute postoperative pain more rapidly, and to a lower level, than conventional pain pills alone.

Traditional Chinese medicine use is associated with lower risk of pneumonia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the association between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy and the risk of pneumonia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: This population-based control study analyzed the data retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research database in Taiwan. From a cohort of 2 million records of the 2000-2018 period, 9,714 newly diagnosed patients with SLE were initially included. 532 patients with pneumonia and 532 patients without pneumonia were matched 1:1 based on age, sex, and year of SLE diagnosis using propensity score matching. The use of TCM therapy was considered from the SLE diagnosis date to the index date and the cumulative days of TCM therapy were used to calculate the dose effect. Conditional logistic regression was used to investigate the risk of pneumonia infection. Furthermore, to explore the severity of pneumonia in SLE, sensitivity analyses were performed after stratification using the parameters of emergency room visit, admission time, and antibiotic use. Results: TCM therapy for >60days could significantly reduce the risk of pneumonia in patients with SLE (95% CI = 0.46-0.91; p = 0.012). Stratified analysis showed that TCM use also reduced the risk of pneumonia in younger and female patients with SLE by 34% and 35%, respectively. TCM for >60days significantly reduced the risk of pneumonia in the follow-up periods of >2, >3, >7, and >8years. In addition, the exposure of TCM for >60days reduced the risk of pneumonia in patients with SLE who were treated with antibiotics for moderate or severe pneumonia. Finally, the study found that using formulae to tonify the kidney for more than 90days and formulae to activate blood circulation for less than 30days could significantly reduce the risk of pneumonia infection in patients with SLE. Conclusion: TCM use is associated with a lower risk of pneumonia among patients with SLE.

Expert consensus on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of common symptoms of post-COVID-19 short-term condition.

A proportion of patients who recovered from COVID-19 have ongoing, recurrent, or new symptoms with negative nucleic acid/antigen test results, which has become a new public health problem that needs to be concerned. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown its unique advantages in preventing, treating, and rehabilitating COVID-19. To further standardize clinician's clinical diagnosis and use of TCM for the treatment of common symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection following negative nucleic acid/antigen results, the front-line clinical experts were invited for discussion on the concepts, etiology, clinical manifestations of post-COVID-19 condition, and on treatment with TCM to form the consensus. Clinicians of TCM, Western medicine, or integration of both can use this consensus document for clinical practice and research purposes.

Traditional Chinese medicine may be associated with a reduced risk of recurrent exacerbation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A matched cohort study based on 1383 individuals

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis study determines whether traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment is associated with the risk of recurrent exacerbation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methodsIn this retrospective study, we selected 1383 patients who were diagnosed with RA between 2013 and 2021 from the medical record information management system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Then, patients were classified into TCM users and non-TCM users. Gender, age, recurrent exacerbation, TCM, death, surgery, organ lesions, Chinese patent medicine, external medicine, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were adjusted one TCM user-to-one non-TCM user with propensity score matching to reduce selection bias and confusion using propensity score matching (PSM). A Cox regression model was used to compare the hazard ratio of the risk of recurrent exacerbation and the Kaplan Meier curve of recurrent exacerbation proportion between the two groups. ResultsMost of the tested clinical indicators in this study improved in patients, which was correlated with the use of TCM, with a statistical significance. TCM was preferred in female and younger (<58 years old) patients with RA. Of note, recurrent exacerbation was observed in more than 850 (61.461%) RA patients. The results of the Cox proportional hazard model showed TCM as a protective factor for the recurrent exacerbation of RA patients (HR = 50%, 95% CI = 0.65–0.92, P < 0.01). Kaplan Meier curves demonstrated that the survival rate of TCM users was higher than that of non-TCM users (log-rank P < 0.01). ConclusionConclusively, the use of TCM may be related to a lower risk of recurrent exacerbation in RA patients. These findings provide evidence for the recommendation of TCM treatment for RA patients.