Study	Reason for exclusion
Chen 1997	It is not a placebo control trial. The 'positive drug' hydergine was used as the control.
Qiao 2004	Inadequate randomisation, the 'positive drug' danshen was the control, and the outcomes focused on lipid.
Wang 2000	An 'optional allocation' but not a real RCT. Identified by telephone interview.
Wang 2002	After telephone interviewed, it was identified was an 'optional allocation' but not a real RCT.
Yan 2001	Not a real RCT and not a placebo controlled trial. The 'positive drug' hydergine was used as the control. Outcomes included cerebral blood flow, hyper‐coagulative status, free radical scavenging capability.
Zhang 2004	It is not a placebo control trial. The 'positive drug' Naofukang was used as the control.