A multicenter study on the efficacy and safety of So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang for perennial allergic rhinitis

• Published in: Complementary therapies in medicine 2019-08, Vol.45, p.50-56
• Main Authors: Kim, Min Hee, Hong, Seung-Ug, Kim, Hee-Taek, Seo, Hyung-Sik, Kim, Kyuseok, Ko, Seoung-Gyu, Choi, Inhwa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Allergic rhinitis; Allergy; Asthma; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - metabolism; Bronchitis; Clinical trials; Common cold; Common Cold - drug therapy; Common Cold - metabolism; Conflicts of interest; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Double-Blind Method; Drugs; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - adverse effects; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - therapeutic use; Effectiveness; Endoscopy; Female; Herbal medicine; Hospitals; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Male; Medicine; Medicine, Korean Traditional - methods; Nose; Oral administration; Otolaryngology; Patients; Phytotherapy - methods; Quality of Life; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - drug therapy; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial - metabolism; Rhinoconjunctivitis; Safety; So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang; Standard deviation; Substance abuse treatment; Traditional medicine; Treatment Outcome; Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang
• ISSN: 0965-2299; 1873-6963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.05.018

•So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang (SCRT) is a mixed herbal formula that is used to treat allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, allergic asthma, and common cold in traditional Korean medicine.•This is the first multicenter study with an eight-week follow-up period that investigated the efficacy of SCRT in patients with allergic rhinitis.•This study suggests that SCRT can be used as an effective and safe medicine for patients with chronic, perennial, and moderate-to-severe AR and an alternative or supportive medication that supplements the disadvantages (side effects and short term of use) of conventional medicine. So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang (SCRT), also known as Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang or Sho-seiryo-to, is a mixed herbal formula that is used to treat allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, allergic asthma, and common cold in traditional Korean medicine. To assess the efficacy and safety of the SCRT for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study of Korean adults with perennial allergic rhinitis. The trial consisted of a 4-week oral administration of SCRT or placebo, with two visits at 2-week intervals, and an 8-week follow-up period, with two visits at 4-week intervals. The primary outcome was a change in the total nasal symptoms score. The secondary outcomes included changes in the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), cytokines levels, and nasal endoscopy index. SCRT improved nasal symptoms and quality of life in patients with PAR after 4 weeks medication, and these effects did not last 8 weeks after the end of medication. The level of serum IgE, eosinophil counts, and cytokines did not alter after medication. Nasal endoscopy index did not show significant difference. No serious AEs and safety assessment changes were observed in this trial. SCRT is an effective and safe medication for patients with chronic, perennial, and moderate to severe AR. A clinical study with a >4-week period of medication use, and more participants for immune material test is needed to investigate the long-term efficacy of SCRT in relieving the symptoms of nasal obstruction and identifying the underlying mechanisms of action and indications for traditional Korean medicine.