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document
The effects of two Chinese herbal medicinal formulae vs. placebo controls for treatment of allergic rhinitis : a randomised controlled trial . BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis is a chronic illness , affecting 10 to 40 % of the worldwide population . Chinese herbal medicines , the treatment of allergic rhinitis , adopted thousands of years in ancient China , has recently raised much attention among researchers globally . This study evaluates the effects of two Chinese herbal formulae [ Cure-allergic-rhinitis Syrup ( CS ) and Yu-ping-feng San ( YS ) ] in treating undergraduate nursing students with allergic rhinitis over a 3-month follow-up , when compared to a placebo control group . METHODS A double-blind , randomised controlled trial with repeated-measures , three-parallel-groups design was conducted in a random sample of 249 participants recruited from one university in Hong Kong . After baseline measurements , participants were randomly assigned to CS , YS , or placebo groups ( n=83 per group ) . The main outcomes , including symptom severity , quality of life , and body constitution , were measured with self-administered questionnaires at baseline and immediately , 1 and 3 months after the 4-week interventions . RESULTS 240 participants completed the trial , with 9 ( 3.6 % ) drop-outs . The results of Generalised Estimating Equations test followed by pairwise contrasts tests indicated that the participants who received CS showed significantly greater reduction of symptoms ( mean difference of CS vs. placebo=26.13-34.55 , P < 0.0005 ) and improvements in quality of life ( mean difference of CS vs. placebo=12.81-16.76 , P < 0.001 ) , and body constitution in 'Qi-deficiency ' , 'Yang-deficiency ' , and 'Inherited Special ' ( mean difference of CS vs. placebo=7.05-8.12 , 7.56-8.92 , and 4.48-8.10 , P=0.01- < 0.0005 , 0.001-0.004 , and 0.01- < 0.0005 , accordingly , at three post-tests ) . The participants who received YS also indicated significant greater improvements in symptom severity , quality of life , and a few patterns of body constitution when compared to the placebo group . However , its effects were lesser in strength ( i.e. , smaller effect sizes ) , varieties of symptoms , and body constitution and sustainability over the 3 months . CONCLUSIONS The herbal formula CS was found effective to reduce symptoms and enhance quality of life in young adults ( nursing students ) with allergic rhinitis in 'Yang- and/or Qi-deficiency ' body constitution . Further controlled trials of its effects in Chinese and/or Asians with allergic rhinitis in terms of socio-demographic , ethnic and illness characteristics and a longer-term follow-up are recommended . TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial has registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with an ID : NCT02027194 ( 3 January 2014 ) .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Chinese herbal medicinal formulae
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Chinese herbal formulae [ Cure-allergic-rhinitis Syrup ( CS )
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Yu-ping-feng San ( YS )
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Intervention_Pharmacological
CS
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Intervention_Pharmacological
YS
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
CS
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Outcome_Physical
symptom severity
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Outcome_Physical
quality of
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Outcome_Physical
body constitution
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Outcome_Mental
Generalised Estimating Equations test
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Outcome_Physical
reduction of symptoms
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Outcome_Other
improvements in quality of life
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Outcome_Physical
body constitution in 'Qi-deficiency ' , 'Yang-deficiency ' , and 'Inherited Special '
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Outcome_Physical
symptom severity
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Outcome_Other
quality of life
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Outcome_Physical
body constitution
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Outcome_Physical
symptoms
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Outcome_Physical
body constitution
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Outcome_Physical
symptoms
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Outcome_Other
quality of life
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Participant_Condition
allergic rhinitis :
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Participant_Condition
Allergic rhinitis
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Participant_Condition
allergic rhinitis
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Participant_Sample-size
249
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Participant_Sample-size
240