Traditional Chinese medicine: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Regarding traditional Chinese herbal therapy, only a few trials of adequate methodology exist and its effectiveness therefore remains poorly documented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?orig_db=PubMed&db=pubmed&cmd=Search&term=36%5Bvolume%5D%20AND%205%5Bissue%5D%20AND%201086%5Bpage%5D%20AND%202007%5Bpdat%5D|title=Placebo-controlled trials of Chinese herbal medicine and conventional medicine comparative study|author=Shang A. et al.|publisher=PubMed.org for Int.J.Epidemol.|date=29 June 2007|accessdate=28 April 2011}}</ref> A high percentage of relevant studies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are in Chinese databases. Fifty percent of systematic reviews on TCM did not search Chinese databases, which could lead to a bias in the results.<ref>{{cite pmid | 24223063}}</ref> Many systematic reviews of TCM interventions published in Chinese journals are incomplete, some contained errors or were misleading.<ref>{{cite pmid | 21633698}}</ref>

A 2013 review found the data is too weak to support use of Chinese herbal medicine for benign prostatic hyperplasia.<ref>{{cite pmid |23728585}}</ref> A 2013 review found the research on the benefit and safety of CHM for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is of poor quality and cannot be relied upon to support their use.<ref>{{cite pmid | 24209508}}</ref> A 2013 Cochrane review found inconclusive evidence that CHM reduces the severity of eczema.<ref>{{cite pmid | 24018636}}</ref> A 2012 review found TCM seems to be effective for the treatment of fibromyalgia but the finding were of insufficient methodological rigor.<ref>{{cite pmid | 20423209}}</ref> A 2012 [[Cochrane review]] found insufficient evidence to support the use of TCM for patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction.<ref>{{cite pmid | 22592734}}</ref> A 2011 review found low quality evidence that suggests CHM improves the symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome.<ref>{{cite pmid | 21419078}}</ref> A 2008 Cochrane review found promising evidence for the use of Chinese herbal medicine in relieving [[dysmenorrhea|painful menstruation]], compared to conventional medicine such as [[NSAID]]s and the oral contraceptive pill, but the findings are of low methodological quality.<ref>{{cite pmid | 18425916}}</ref> A 2005 Cochrane found insufficient evidence for the use of CHM in HIV-infected people and AIDS patients.<ref>{{cite pmid | 16034917}}</ref> [[Quackwatch]] stated that, the TCM theories are so nebulous that no amount of scientific study will enable TCM to offer rational care".<ref name="Quackwatch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/acu.html |author=Stephen Barrett, M.D. |title=Be Wary of Acupuncture, Qigong, and "Chinese Medicine" |accessdate=2013-12-11}}</ref>

=== Cost-effectiveness ===