Table 1.

Summary of the included studies in the review.

First author (year)	Sample size (T/C)	Population characteristics	Intervention	Comparison	Duration of treatment	Outcome assessment	Conclusion
Liu, 2008 [37]	120 (84/36)	Age: 21 to 60 (T/C: NA) Course: NA	JG (4 g, Tid, PO)	Placebo (300 mg, Tid, PO)	T: 28 days C: 28 days	VAS (0 to 100) Diff: 18.53	The results suggested JG was better than placebo for reductions of pain in the treatment of CR.
Jin, 2008 [38]	120 (60/60)	Age: 27 to 59 (T/C: NA) Course: 3 hours to 5 days (T/C: NA)	JG (4 g, Tid, PO) + C	First three days: 20% mannitol (250 mL, Ivgtt, Qd) + dexamethasone (10 mg, Ivgtt, Qd) After three days: 20% mannitol (250 mL, Ivgtt, Qd) + dexamethasone (5 mg, Ivgtt, Qd)	T: 6 days C: 6 days	VAS (0 to 10) Diff: 1.75	The result of randomized controlled clinical trial showed that both JG and western medicine therapies were effective and superior to single western medicine in relieving pain for CR.
Liu, 2013 [39]	160 (80/80)	Age: 26 to 66 (T: 26 to 66; C: 30 to 65) Course: 3 months to 5 years (T/C: 3 months to 5 years)	JG (4 g, Qd, PO) + C	ICST (2 pills/time, Bid)	T: 14 days (JC) C: 5 days	VAS (0 to 10) Diff: 1.30 NDI Diff: 8.40	The improvements in VAS and NDI scores difference of intervention group were better than those of the control group.

T: treatment group; C: control group; Diff: difference between before and after treatment in both groups; NA: not reported.

JG: Jingtong granule; ICST: ibuprofen codeine sustained tablets.

Tid: three times a day; Bid: twice a day; Qd: once a day; PO: oral administration; Ivgtt: intravenous guttae.

VAS: visual analogue scale; NDI: neck disability index; CR: cervical radiculopathy.