Table 1.

Search strategy in English databases (using PubMed as an example).

Search	Search Strategy
#1	“Stroke” [MeSH]
#2	“Stroke” OR “Brain Infarction” OR “Cerebrovascular Accident” OR “Brain Ischemia”
#3	#1 OR #2
#4	“Probiotics”[Mesh] OR “Prebiotics”[Mesh] OR “Synbiotics”[Mesh]
#5	“Probiotics” OR “Prebiotics” OR “Synbiotics” OR “Probiotic∗” OR “Prebiotic∗” OR “Synbiotic∗”
#6	#4 OR #5
#7	“Bu Yang Huan Wu” OR “Bu Yang Huan Wu decoction” OR “BYHW” OR “BYHW decoction”
#8	#6 OR #7
#9	#3 AND #8

MeSH = Medical Subject Headings.