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Clinical Trial
. 2005 Sep;116(3):517-24.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.05.029.

Efficacy and tolerability of anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention in adult patients with moderate-severe allergic asthma

Ming-Chun Wen  1 , Chun-Hua Wei, Zhao-Qiu Hu, Kamal Srivastava, Jimmy Ko, Su-Ting Xi, Dong-Zhen Mu, Ji-Bin Du, Guo-Hua Li, Sylvan Wallenstein, Hugh Sampson, Meyer Kattan, Xiu-Min Li
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Efficacy and tolerability of anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention in adult patients with moderate-severe allergic asthma

Ming-Chun Wen et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of human use. A novel herbal formula, anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI), has been shown to be an effective therapy in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy, safety, and immunomodulatory effects of ASHMI treatment in patients with moderate-severe, persistent asthma with prednisone therapy.

Methods: In a double-blind trial, 91 subjects underwent randomization. Forty-five subjects received oral ASHMI capsules and prednisone placebo tablets (ASHMI group) and 46 subjects received oral prednisone tablets and ASHMI placebo capsules (prednisone group) for 4 weeks. Spirometry measurements; symptom scores; side effects; and serum cortisol, cytokine, and IgE levels were evaluated before and after treatment.

Results: Posttreatment lung function was significantly improved in both groups as shown by increased FEV(1) and peak expiratory flow findings (P<.001). The improvement was slightly but significantly greater in the prednisone group (P<.05). Clinical symptom scores, use of beta(2)-bronchodilators, and serum IgE levels were reduced significantly, and to a similar degree in both groups (P<.001). T(H)2 cytokine levels were significantly reduced in both treated groups (P<.001) and were lower in the prednisone-treated group (P<.05). Serum IFN-gamma and cortisol levels were significantly decreased in the prednisone group (P<.001) but significantly increased in the ASHMI group (P<.001). No severe side effects were observed in either group.

Conclusion: Anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention appears to be a safe and effective alternative medicine for treating asthma. In contrast with prednisone, ASHMI had no adverse effect on adrenal function and had a beneficial effect on T(H)1 and T(H)2 balance.

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