Effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine Ping Chuan Ke Li for the management of mild/moderate persistent asthma

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Ping Chuan Ke Li (PCKL) for the treatment of patients with mild/ moderate persistent asthma.A total of 108 eligible patients with persistent asthma were included and were divided into a treatment group and a control group in this retrospective study. All 108 patients underwent oral montelukast. Additionally, subjects in the treatment group also received PCKL therapy. All patients in both groups were treated for a total of 1 month. The primary outcome of lung function was evaluated by the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC). The secondary outcome of quality of life was assessed by St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Moreover, adverse events (AEs) were also recorded in this study. All outcome measurements were assessed after 1-month treatment.After 1-month treatment, patients in the treatment group did not demonstrate better outcome in the improvement of lung function, measured by FEV1 (P =.57, table 2), and FEV1/FVC (P =.29); and enhancement of quality of life, measured by SGRQ scale (total, P =.37; symptom, P =.32; activity, P =.39; impact, P =.83). In addition, no AEs differ between 2 groups.The results of this study showed that Chinese herbal PCKL may not benefit for patients with mild/moderate persistent asthma after 1-month treatment.

Efeitos da acupuntura e fitoterapia chinesa na qualidade de vida e nos marcadores inflamatórios de pacientes asmáticos: estudo piloto

“…Wang et al [13] e Li et al [14] utilizaram o Ping Chuan Ke Li (PCKL) para o tratamento de asma de seus sujeitos. No trabalho de Li et al [14], após quatro semanas de tratamento com fitoterápico para asma, os pacientes do grupo tratamento não apresentaram melhoras significativas na função pulmonar, bem como na qualidade de vida, comparado com o grupo controle. Os eventos adversos mais frequentes incluíram náusea, tosse e corrimento nasal.…”

“…Além disso, não foram encontradas diferenças nos efeitos adversos entre os grupos. Nosso estudo corrobora os achados de Li et al [14] ao não encontrar melhoras significativas nos testes de função pulmonar, entretanto obtivemos diferença na qualidade de vida, ao contrário deste estudo. Os pacientes do Grupo 2 (Sham) e Grupo 3 (Intervenção) espontaneamente reduziram seus medicamentos, atitude contrária ao que foi solicitado antes do nosso estudo.…”

“…A OMS relatou efeito antiasmático em 93% dos casos e maior ventilação pulmonar em 60% dos casos. Jiang et al [8], em sua meta-análise reuniram os dados de nove estudos e demonstraram que tratamentos convencionais Fisioterapia Brasil 2023;24(2):125-138 mais acupuntura foram capazes de melhorar significativamente a resposta dos sintomas de asma (OR = 7,87, IC 95% = [4,13,14,99], p < 0,00001) e reduzir os níveis plasmáticos de IL-6 (MD = -11,42; IC95% = [-15,28, -7,56], p < 0,00001), em comparação com os tratamentos convencionais isolados. Entretanto, parâmetros de ventilação incluindo VEF1 (MD = 0,22, IC95% = [-0,11, 0,56], p = 0,19) e VEF1 / CVF (MD = 8,62, IC95% = [-0,35, 17,59], p = 0,06) não apresentaram melhorias com tratamentos convencionais associados à acupuntura.…”

Real-World Prescribing Pattern of Asthma Management in China: A Retrospective, Descriptive Analysis

“…Though the exact mechanisms of TCM are still unclear, it has shown some effects in anti-in ammation, airway relaxation, and reducing airway hypersensitivity [31]. TCM, used as adjuvant therapy, can reduce asthma symptoms, enhance patients' lung function, and improve the quality of life, but the treatment effects were limited and may not reduce the risk of exacerbations [31,32]. Our study showed a continuous decrease in TCM use over the years while increasing use of western medicine, which may be explained by the implementation of the guidelines or the limited e cacy of TCM in patients with moderate to severe asthma.…”