Table 1 General characteristics of included trials and HM-placebo use in trials
Category | Descriptive characteristics | N = 55 (%) |
|---|---|---|
Characteristics of the trial design | ||
Diseases | Multiple sclerosis | 18 (32.7) |
Generalized myasthenia gravis | 14 (25.5) | |
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis | 13 (23.6) | |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | 7 (12.7) | |
Systemic sclerosis | 2 (3.6) | |
Familial Mediterranean fever | 1 (1.8) | |
Trials design | N-of-1 | 1 (1.8) |
Crossover | 4 (7.3) | |
Parallel placebo control | 50 (90.9) | |
Type of comparison | non-inferiority | 1 (1.8) |
superiority | 49 (89.1) | |
Not reported | 5 (9.2) | |
Allocation ratio | 1:1:1 | 1 (1.8) |
2:1 | 1 (1.8) | |
1:1 | 53 (96.4) | |
HM intervention | Single herbal | 13 (23.6) |
HM formula | 42 (76.4) | |
Ethics approval | Yes | 28 (50.9) |
Not reported | 27 (49.1) | |
Inform consent | Yes | 44 (80.0) |
Not reported | 11 (20.0) | |
Characteristics of placebo use | ||
Dosage form | Granule | 24 (43.6) |
Capsule | 8 (14.5) | |
Decoction | 2 (3.6) | |
Tablet | 8 (14.5) | |
Injection | 2 (3.6) | |
Oral-liquid | 5 (9.1) | |
Spray | 3 (5.5) | |
Plaster | 1 (1.8) | |
Bath | 1 (1.8) | |
Not reported | 1 (1.8) | |
Administration route | Oral | 53 (96.4) |
Externala | 2 (3.6) | |
Sample size of placebo groupb | 1—30 | 29 (52.7) |
31—60 | 15 (27.3) | |
61—90 | 8 (14.5) | |
91—120 | 1 (1.8) | |
121—150 | 2 (3.6) | |
Duration of placeboc |  ≤ One month | 10 (18.2) |
 ≤ Three months | 28 (50.9) | |
 ≤ Six months | 8 (14.5) | |
 ≤ One year | 6 (10.9) | |
 > One year | 3 (5.5) | |
Controlled treatment methods (only placebo or add-on) | Only placebo | 32 (58.2) |
Add-on therapy | 23 (41.8) | |