I: Long Dan Xie Gan formula (elixation/po./bid.) + jidesheng sheyao tablets (external; grind into powder and mix with water to make a paste, q.s./p.a.a./q3h) + (acyclovir + vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 + somedon) (same as control)
I: herbal gargle (add 500 mL water boil to 250 mL elixation/p.a.a. 20∼25 min/bid.; Patients with oral herpes: 30–50 ml/Garg.3∼5 min/bid.) + (acyclovir + ibuprofen or tramadol) (same as control)
10–30 d
Incidence of PHN; cure rate
C: acyclovir (5∼10 mg/kg/ivgtt./q8h.) + ibuprofen or tramadol (p.r.n./po./unknown)
I: Long Dan Xie Gan formula or Ba Zhen formula (elixation/po./bid.) + (ganciclovir + unknown AA for external use + compound glycyrrhizin injection + BCG-PSN + vitamin B12 + calamine) (same as control)
14–21 d
Pain time (days); incidence of PHN; adverse effects
C: 18/17
C: ganciclovir (0.5 g/ivgtt./q8h.) + unknown antiviral agent for external use (q.s./p.a.a./unknown) + compound glycyrrhizin injection (40 mL/5% GS. Unknowm/Qd. 7 times) + BCG-PSN (1 mg/im./qod. for 4 times) + vitamin B12 (q.s./po./unknown) + calamine (p.r.n./p.a.a./unknown)
I: Long Dan Xie Gan formula or Chu Shi Wei Ling formula (elixation half dose/po./bid.) + Sanhuang wash lotion (q.s./po./unknown) + (valacyclovir + acyclovir) (same as control)
28 d
Pain (VAS score); cure rate; quality of life (WHOQOL); adverse effects
I: Long Dan Xie Gan formula or Chu Shi Wei Ling formula (elixation half dose/po./bid.) + Sanhuang wash lotion (q.s./po./unknown) + (valacyclovir + acyclovir) (same as control)
I: moxibustion (regular moxibustion: unknown/31 min) + acupuncture (blood-letting puncture: three-edged needle/several drop of blood reducing acupuncture method: 0.38 mm25 mm, 15°/30 min. Encircling needling + reducing acupuncture method: 0.38 mm25 mm, 15°/30 min; transverse needling: 0.38 mm25 mm, 15°/30 min) C: acyclovir (200 mg/p.o/tid.) + acyclovir external (q.s./p.a.a./tid.)
27 d
Cure rate
Note: I: intervention group, C: control group, M: male, F: female, CHM: Chinese herbal medicine; and the cure rate of HZ (cure: the complete absence of pain and herpes; cure rate: number of cured/total number × 100%). Wu JL, 2011, is the only trial reported cointervention: HAART, with no further details. C:/ means that the age data of the control group in Yu F, 2013 were unreported.