Chinese Herbal Formula Xiao Yao San for Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Objectives. To assess the beneficial and adverse effects of Xiaoyaosan for depression. Search Strategy. Electronic databases were searched until December 2009. Inclusion Criteria. We included randomized clinical trials testing Xiaoyaosan against placebo, antidepressants, or combined with antidepressants against antidepressants alone. Data Extraction and Analyses. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and data analyses were conducted according to the Cochrane standards. Results. 26 randomized trials (involving 1837 patients) were included and the methodological quality was evaluated as generally low. The pooled results showed that Xiaoyaosan combined with antidepressants was more effective in comprehensive effect, the score of HAMD and the score of SDS compared with antidepressants alone. Xiaoyaosan was superior to antidepressants for the score of HAMD. However, Xiaoyaosan was not different from placebo for the score of SDS. There was no adverse effects reported in the trials from Xiaoyaosan. Conclusions. Xiaoyaosan appears to be effective on improving symptoms in patients with depression. However, due to poor methodological quality in the majority of included trials, the potential benefit from Xiaoyaosan need to be confirmed in rigorous trials and the design and reporting of trials should follow international standards.

A critical review of traditional Chinese medicine use amongst women with menopausal symptoms

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Xiao Yao San Improves the Anxiety-Like Behaviors of Rats Induced by Chronic Immobilization Stress: The Involvement of the JNK Signaling Pathway in the Hippocampus

“…Xiao Yao San is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that has been most frequently used to treat anxiety and depression 1) by smoothing the liver, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the blood. The combination of Xiao Yao San (XYS), acupuncture and moxibustion significantly relieves the anxiety and depression of patients following testtube fertilization and placenta transplantation.…”

Prescription of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Pattern-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Depression: A Systematic Review

“…We imposed no language restriction. We also checked the reference lists of the included papers and previous systematic reviews [7–14] for relevant articles.…”

“…Previous studies have been conducted to examine the efficacy of CHM for depression [7–14]; however, limited information is available on pattern-based CHM treatment. According to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, eight major parameters, yin and yang , external and internal , hot and cold , and excess and deficiency , are used to describe the patterns of bodily disharmony.…”