title: Efficacy and safety of topical herbal medicine treatment on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systemic review.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical treatment with natural herbal medicines on recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Nine electronic databases were searched to identify the randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials that reported the potential effect of natural herbal medicines on RAS published in Chinese or English. Ulcer size and duration, and remission of pain were assessed as main outcome measures. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook for Systemic Review of Interventions and Rev Man software. Thirteen trials with a total of 1,515 patients were included in the present analysis, which showed that topical treatment with natural herbal medicines seemed to benefit RAS patients by reducing ulcer size, shortening ulcer duration, and relieving pain without severe side effects. In conclusion, there is some evidence of the efficacy of topically applied natural herbal medicines with regards to improved RAS outcome measures and fewer side effects. However, given the limitations of this study, the evidence remains insufficient. Well-designed and high-quality randomized controlled trials are required for further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: He-Long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Qingdao Stomatological Hospital, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wan-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D000287:Administration, Topical; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: clinical controlled trials; herbal medicine; oral disease; randomized controlled trial; recurrent aphthous stomatitis; systemic review