Traditional medicines for asthma in children and adults: A systematic review of placebo‐controlled studies

Abstract

Background Traditional medicines (TMs) adjunctive to conventional medications are widely used for asthma in east‐Asia and have gained popularity in western countries. Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of TMs for asthma in children and adults based on placebo‐controlled trials in order to inform physicians and assist them in discussions with patients. Methods Seventeen electronic databases were searched. Participants had acute or chronic asthma. Interventions included orally administered traditional medicines used in east‐Asia. Outcomes included lung function, symptoms, quality of life, exacerbations, medication use and safety. RevMan 5.3 (random effect model) was used for meta‐analysis. Baseline values were assessed for balance and asthma severity. Within‐group changes were calculated to assess minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Results Eighteen studies (2080 participants) were included. All combined TMs with conventional medicines. The single study of acute asthma (n = 300) showed an improvement. For chronic asthma, severity at baseline ranged from very mild to severe. When asthma was mild, significant differences in lung function (FEV1%, PEF/R) were not detectable. When participants had moderate and/or severe asthma at baseline improvements were more evident. For measures of lung function, improvements within the TM groups tended to be greater when the asthma was more severe. Some studies showed MCIDs. No serious adverse events or interactions were reported but safety data were incomplete. Conclusions The application of certain traditional herbal medicines used in east‐Asia as adjuncts to conventional medications improved outcomes in acute and chronic asthma, but most evidence was based on single trials. Therefore, no single TM could be recommended. Effect sizes varied according to asthma severity at baseline. Future studies should consider baseline severity when enrolling participants.

Traditional Medicinal Plants Conferring Protection Against Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Experimental Animals: A Review

“…Dulla and Jahan 70 indicated that some traditional Chinese medicines indicated their effectiveness against asthma in children when compared to modern medicines such as salbutamol and montelukast. In another research, some of the traditional herbal medicines in East-Asia were used as adjuncts in improving acute and chronic asthma outcomes 85 which boosts the evaluation of TMPs for clinical trials. Wang et al 86 reported that the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, which binds to proteins, are potential targets for asthma therapy.…”