Table 6.
Review of before-and-after studies.
| First author (year) | Country | Sample size | Sex (M:F) | Average age | Duration of disease (average) | Diagnosed by | Herbal medicine | Duration of treatment | Other intervention | Outcomes | Significant findings | Side effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liu (2001) [40] | China | 32 | 24:8 | 51.5 | No mention | The latest domestic and foreign disease diagnosis guidelines | Jianpibushen decoction | 9 m | None | TER TCM syndrome score MRC muscle scale EMG |
TER 84.38% Improvement in tongue quality and pulse Increasing the motor neuron conduction rate Reduction in the possibility of fascia fibrillation |
None |
| Liu et al. (2006) [41] | China | 40 | 31:9 | No mention | 3–36 m (19.2 m) | Chinese Medical Association Neurology Branch | Jianpibushenxifeng decoction Qiangjijianli capsule |
3 m | Huangqi injection | Clinical symptoms | Improvement in speaking, eating, bed arrangement, running, and climbing stairs | No mention |
| Kim et al. (2009) [42] | Korea | 12 | 6:6 | 50 | (43.41 m) | El Escorial criteria | Combination of several herbal medicines∗ | 30 d | Acupuncture Bee-venom pharmacoacupuncture Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture Fel Ursi pharmacoacupuncture Needle-embedding therapy |
ALSFRS-R MRC muscle scale |
An increase in the scores of the ALSFRS-R and MRC muscle scale | No mention |
| Kim et al. (2010) [43] | 3 m | Acupuncture Bee-venom pharmacoacupuncture Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture Saline injection Needle-embedding therapy |
ALSFRS-R MRC muscle scale |
Slower progression compared with patients without Oriental medical treatment | No mention | |||||||
| Sun (2009) [44] | China | 23 | 18:5 | No mention | 3–84 m (18 m) | El Escorial criteria | Jianpiyifei decoction | 3 m | None | ALSFRS Norris Appel TCM syndrome score |
Enhancement of motor functions(feeding, clothing, writing, and bed emancipated) Improvement in hypodynamia, palpitation, sweating, appetite, and pale tongue |
None |
| Zhong (2011) [45] | China | 20 | 14:6 | No mention | 2–72 m (17.2 m) | El Escorial criteria | Jianpiyifei decoction | 5 m | None | ALSFRS-R ALSSS kubota drinking water test Frenchay Dysphagia score |
Delayed disease progression | None |
| Li (2012) [46] | China | 28 | 17:11 | No mention | 3–64 m (20 m) | El Escorial criteria | Jianpiyifei decoction | 2 m | None | ALSFRS-R ALSAQ-40 |
Stable clinical symptoms Improvement of quality of life |
None |
| Luo (2012) [47] | TCM syndrome score ALSFRS |
Delayed disease progression | None | |||||||||
| Zhao (2013) [48] | China | 36 | 23:13 | 53.39 | 3–64 m (18 m) | El Escorial criteria | Jianpiyifei decoction | 2 m | None | MRC muscle scale ALSFRS-R ALSAQ-40 TCM syndrome score Lung function scale |
Maintenance of quality of life, motor function, and lung function | None |
| Wu (2015) [49] | China | 31 | 22:9 | 55.65 | 1–62 m (18.74 m) | El Escorial criteria | Qiangshenjianpi decoction | 3 m | None | ALSFRS-R TCM syndrome score TER |
Improvement of the TCM symptom score TER 87.10% |
None |
| Meng (2018) [50] | China | 29 | 19:10 | No mention | No mention | Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ALS in China | Cervus elaphus powder | 3 m | Acupuncture | TCM syndrome score ADL-Barthel index ALSFRS-R |
Improvement of the TCM syndrome score, ADL-Barthel index, and ALSFRS-R | None |
| Wen et al. (2019) [51] | China | 30 | 18:12 | 55.9 | 3–84 m (20 m) | Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ALS in China | Jianpiyifei decoction | 8 w | Riluzole | ALSFRS-R TCM syndrome score TER |
Improvement of the TCM symptom score TER 56.7% |
None |
∗ Details are not specified. M, male; F, female; d, day(s); w, week(s); m, month(s); TER, total effective rate; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; MRC, Medical Research Council; EMG, electromyography; ALSFRS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale; ALSFRS-R, ALSFRS-Revised; ALSSS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis severity scale; ALSAQ, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis assessment questionnaire; and ADL, activities of daily living.