Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies.
| Studies | Diagnosis | Intervention group | Control group | Outcomes | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen 2005 [26] | SCOPD/I~II | Chinese herb decoction + WM | WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; arterial blood gas; medical expense; kidney, liver, urine, and blood routine test; and safety examination | 6 months |
| He 2010 [27] | SCOPD/II~III | Chinese herb decoction + WM | WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; and SGRQ | 3 months |
| Ke 2010 [28] | SCOPD/I~IV | Chinese herb decoction + WM | Placebo + WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; SGRQ; 6MWD; BODE; kidney, liver, urine, and blood routine test; and safety examination | 2 months |
| Li 2006 [29] | AECOPD/I~II | Chinese herb decoction + WM | WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; arterial blood gas; kidney, liver, urine, and blood routine test; TNF-α; and safety examination | 10 days |
| Li 2008 [30] | SCOPD/I~II | Bufei-Yishen-Huayu decoction + WM | WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; kidney, liver, urine, blood, and stool routine test; safety examination; TNF-α; and TGF-β1 | 2 weeks |
| Li et al. 2012 [11], Xie et al. 2013 [23], Li et al. 2012 [31], and Li et al. 2013 [32] | SCOPD/I~III | Bu-Fei Yi-Shen granule + Shu-Fei Tie ointment + WM | Placebo + WM | Frequency and duration of acute exacerbation of COPD; pulmonary function; quality of life; 6MWD; clinical symptom; and safety examination | 4 months |
| Liu 2010 [33] | NA/NA | Chinese herb decoction + WM | Placebo + WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; SGRQ; and safety examination | 1 month |
| Luo 2007 [34] | AECOPD/I~III | Qinjin-Huatan decoction + WM | WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; kidney, liver, urine, blood, and stool routine test; arterial blood gas; and safety examination | 10 days |
| Matthys et al. 2013 [35] | SCOPD/II~III | EPs 7630 (roots of Pelargonium sidoides) + WM | Placebo + WM | Time to first exacerbation of COPD; number and duration of exacerbations; pulmonary function; SGRQ; Integrative Medicine Patient Satisfaction Scale; laboratory safety parameters; and sputum examination | 6 months |
| Murali et al. 2006 [36] | SCOPD/II | Herb (Bryonia alba, Cephaelis ipecacuanha, and Drosera peltata) extraction + WM | Placebo + WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; arterial blood gas; and safety observation | 6 months |
| Worth et al. 2009 [14] | AECOPD/II~III | Herb (Eucalyptole) extraction + WM | Placebo + WM | Frequency, duration, and severity of exacerbations; pulmonary function; clinical symptom; SGRQ; and safety examination | 6 months |
| Xiao 2008 [37] | SCOPD/I~III | Chinese herb extraction + routine medication | Theophylline + routine medication | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; and IL-10 and TNF-α in the peripheral blood | 3 months |
| Zeng 2010 [38] | SCOPD/I~II | Chinese herb decoction + WM | Placebo + WM | Frequency, duration, and severity of exacerbations; pulmonary function; clinical symptom; SGRQ; and safety examination | 4 weeks |
| Zhang et al. 2006 [39] | AECOPD/NA | Chinese herb injection + WM | Placebo + WM | Clinical symptom; pulmonary function; arterial blood gas; and safety observation | 1 week |
| Zhao 2010 [40] | SCOPD/II~IV | Chinese herb decoction + WM | WM | Clinical symptom; BODE index; 6MWD; sTNF and iNOs; and safety observation | 3 months |
BODE: BMI, obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise; SGRQ: St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire; WM: western medicine; 6MWD: six-minute walk distance.