What do systematic reviews say?

STW5 (Iberogast) vs placebo

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 814 participants
  Very low

Curcuma longa vs placebo

Curcuma longa may leads to higher global symptoms of dyspepsia (responders) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.5 [1.06, 2.11]
  1 study · 76 participants
  Low

Curcuma longa vs placebo

Curcuma longa showed no clear difference in adverse events Assessed clinically compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.26 [0.51, 3.08]
  1 study · 89 participants
  Moderate

Curcuma longa vs placebo

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 89 participants
  Moderate

STW5 (Iberogast) vs placebo

STW5 (Iberogast) showed no clear difference in global symptoms of dyspepsia (responders) compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.55 [0.98, 2.47]
  2 studies · 324 participants
  Low

STW5 (Iberogast) vs placebo

STW5 (Iberogast) showed no clear difference in adverse events Assessed clinically compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.92 [0.52, 1.64]
  4 studies · 786 participants
  Low

STW5 (Iberogast) vs placebo

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 52 participants
  Low

Peppermint/caraway oil vs placebo

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 210 participants
  Moderate

Peppermint/caraway oil vs placebo

Peppermint/caraway oil probably leads to higher global symptoms of dyspepsia (responders) compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.53 [1.3, 1.81]
  3 studies · 305 participants
  Moderate

Peppermint/caraway oil vs placebo

Peppermint/caraway oil showed no clear difference in adverse events Assessed clinically compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.56 [0.69, 3.53]
  3 studies · 305 participants
  Low

Peppermint/caraway oil vs placebo

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 99 participants
  Moderate

Curcuma longa vs placebo

• Non‐Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 110 participants
  Moderate

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

It is very uncertain whether active cancer therapy combined with TCM changes TCM symptoms ‐ ineffectiveness compared with active cancer therapy (very low certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.22 [0.05, 0.93]
  2 studies · 88 participants
  Very low

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM showed no clear difference in adverse events ‐ mucositis Diagnosed by clinicians compared with active cancer therapy (low certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.92 [0.8, 1.06]
  1 study · 50 participants
  Low

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM may leads to lower adverse events ‐ radiation oesophagitis compared with active cancer therapy (low certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.66 [0.47, 0.94]
  2 studies · 160 participants
  Low

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM probably leads to lower adverse events ‐ arrest of bone marrow compared with active cancer therapy (moderate certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.28 [0.14, 0.58]
  1 study · 90 participants
  Moderate

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

It is very uncertain whether active cancer therapy combined with TCM changes adverse events ‐ gastrointestinal reactions Diagnosed by clinicians compared with active cancer therapy (very low certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.54 [0.36, 0.81]
  4 studies · 268 participants
  Very low

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM may leads to lower adverse events ‐ renal and hepatic impairment ‐ Fuzheng Guben granules compared with active cancer therapy (low certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.33 [0.13, 0.84]
  1 study · 90 participants
  Low

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM vs active cancer therapy

Active cancer therapy combined with TCM showed no clear difference in adverse events ‐ renal and hepatic impairment‐ Xiaoaiping Diagnosed… compared with active cancer therapy (low certainty).

• Chinese herbal medicine for oesophageal cancer 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.12, 6.48]
  1 study · 60 participants
  Low