Herbal Formula SS-1 Increases Tear Secretion for Sjögren’s Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects the exocrine glands, leading to glandular dysfunction. The hallmark symptoms of SS are dry eyes and mouth, compromising the quality of life of patients and decreasing their capacity to perform their daily activities.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the herbal formula SS-1 for its potential therapeutic benefits for patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.Materials and Methods: The bioactivity profile of SS-1 was determined using four different SS-1 concentrations across 12 human primary cell systems of the BioMAP profile. After that, a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial was performed including 57 patients treated with SS-1 for 28 weeks.Results: Biologically multiplexed activity profiling in cell-based models indicated that SS-1 exerted anti-proliferative activity in B cells and promoted anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. In the clinical trial, Schirmer’s test results revealed significant improvements in both eyes, with increases of 3.42 mm (95% CI, 2.44–4.41 mm) and 3.45 mm (95% CI, 2.32–4.59 mm), respectively, and a significant reduction in artificial tear use, which was −1.38 times/day, 95% CI, −1.95 to −0.81 times/day. Moreover, the increases in B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) levels were dampened by 53.20% (295.29 versus 555.02 pg/ml) and 58.33% (99.16 versus 169.99 pg/ml), respectively.Conclusion: SS-1 treatment significantly inhibited B-cell maturation antigen. No serious drug-related adverse effects were observed. Oral SS-1 administration may be a complementary treatment for Sjögren’s syndrome.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Patients Treated for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome, or Systemic Sclerosis in a French Rural Region

“…Acupuncture did not show an effect on the endpoints or improved SLE activity scores [6]. A few randomized clinical trials show significant results on symptom improvement in pSS (acupuncture, natural remedies, and herbs) [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and SS (acupuncture, dietary supplements, zootherapy, tai chi) [14][15][16][17].…”

“…Patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (AIDs) may be particularly inclined to turn to CAM because remaining symptoms (fatigue, pain) are not totally improved by conventional treatments [3][4][5]. Limited data exist concerning general CAM use during AID, notably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [6], primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) [7][8][9][10][11][12][13], or systemic sclerosis (SS) [14][15][16][17]. The only study conducted in the Western world in SLE estimated the prevalence of CAM use at 50% [18].…”

Decreased Risk of Osteoporosis Incident in Subjects Receiving Chinese Herbal Medicine for Sjögren syndrome Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study with a Nested Case-Control Analysis

“…Chen and colleagues observed that some herbals, such as Gan-Lu-Yin and Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San, have been implicated in controlling SS symptoms [ 12 ]. The mechanisms by which CHM aids those with SS may include regulation of inflammatory responses, increased antioxidant capacity, and improvement of sicca [ 13 ]. However, no studies have yet directly compared the therapeutic effect of CHM in delaying or minimizing the onset of osteoporosis in those with SS.…”

Commentary: Efficacy and safety of acupuncture on symptomatic improvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

“…Their results suggested that acupuncture did not improve these symptoms more than a placebo did. However, in contrast to pharmacological interventions (2)(3)(4)(5)(6), acupuncture therapies depend on procedural expertise and are often complex and multifaceted.…”