Database	Time span	Search strategy
Cochrane Hepato‐Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register	Date will be given at review stage.	(Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai*u or bupleur* or sho‐sai‐ko* or shosaiko* or minor bupleurum decoction*) AND ((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic)
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library	Latest issue	#1 (Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai*u or bupleur* or sho‐sai‐ko* or shosaiko* or minor bupleurum decoction*) #2 MeSH descriptor: [Hepatitis B, Chronic] explode all trees #3 ((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic) #4 #2 or #3 #5 #1 and #4
MEDLINE Ovid	1946 to the date of search	1. (Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai*u or bupleur* or sho‐sai‐ko* or shosaiko* or minor bupleurum decoction*).mp. [mp=title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary concept word, unique identifier, synonyms] 2. exp Hepatitis B, Chronic/ 3. ((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic).mp. [mp=title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary concept word, unique identifier, synonyms] 4. 2 or 3 5. 1 and 4
Embase Ovid	1974 to the date of search	1. (Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai*u or bupleur* or sho‐sai‐ko* or shosaiko* or minor bupleurum decoction*).mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word] 2. exp chronic hepatitis B/ 3. ((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic).mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word] 4. 2 or 3 5. 1 and 4
LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database) (Bireme)	1982 to the date of search	(Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai$u or bupleur$ or sho‐sai‐ko$ or shosaiko$ or minor bupleurum decoction) [Words] and ((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic) [Words]
Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science)	1900 to the date of search	#3 #2 AND #1 #2 TS=((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic) #1 TS=(Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai*u or bupleur* or sho‐sai‐ko* or shosaiko* or minor bupleurum decoction*)
Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (Web of Science)	1990 to the date of search	#3 #2 AND #1 #2 TS=((hepatitis B or hep B or hbv) and chronic) #1 TS=(Xiao‐Chai‐Hu or xiaochaihu or XCHT or chai*u or bupleur* or sho‐sai‐ko* or shosaiko* or minor bupleurum decoction*)
China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI)	1979 to the date of search	#1 hepatitis B in abstract #2 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu Tang' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu granule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu capsule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu tablet' in abstract #3 random in abstract #4 randomly grouped in abstract #5 #3 OR #4 #6 #1 AND #2 AND #5
Chinese Science Journal Database (VIP)	1989 to the date of search	#1 hepatitis B in abstract #2 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu Tang' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu granule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu capsule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu tablet' in abstract #3 random in abstract #4 randomly grouped in abstract #5 #3 OR #4 #6 #1 AND #2 AND #5
Wanfang Database (WF)	1990 to the date of search	#1 hepatitis B in abstract #2 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu Tang' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu granule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu capsule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu tablet' in abstract #3 random in abstract #4 randomly grouped in abstract #5 #3 OR #4 #6 #1 AND #2 AND #5
Sinomed Database (Sinomed)	1860 to the date of search	#1 hepatitis B in abstract #2 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu Tang' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu granule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu capsule' or 'Xiao‐Chai‐Hu tablet' in abstract #3 random in abstract #4 randomly grouped in abstract #5 #3 OR #4 #6 #1 AND #2 AND #5