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Su HW, Chen HT, Kao CL, Hung KC, Lin YT, Liu PH, Lin CM, Chen IW. Efficacy and safety of herbal medicine combined with acupuncture in pediatric epilepsy treatment: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303201. [PMID: 38723054 PMCID: PMC11081325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine and acupuncture combination for pediatric epilepsy treatment. METHODS Databases were searched from their interception until October 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials focusing on the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine-acupuncture combination (intervention group) for pediatric epilepsy. The primary outcome was the risk of treatment failure, whereas the secondary outcomes included the risk of post-treatment electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities and adverse events. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the type of herbal compound formulas. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to examine the influence of patient demographics and clinical history on the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine-acupuncture combination for pediatric epilepsy. To assess the cumulative evidence, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed. RESULTS The analysis included 10 trials involving a total of 882 pediatric patients. Meta-analysis revealed that the intervention group had a lower risk of treatment failure than the control group (risk ratio [RR] = 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19-0.47, P<0.00001, I2 = 0%, 10 trials). Subgroup analyses showed that therapeutic efficacy was consistent among the different herbal compound formulas. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the efficacy of the treatments did not significantly vary with patient age, male sex, and duration of seizure history. TSA suggested that herbal medicine-acupuncture combination exerted a robust and conclusive effect on seizure treatment. Although the combined used of herbal medicine and acupuncture was not associated with a lower risk of post-treatment EEG abnormalities (RR = 0.82, 95%CI:0.6-1.11, P = 0.2, 3 trials), the risk of adverse events was reduced (RR = 0.27, 95%CI:0.18-0.41, P<0.00001, 4 trials). CONCLUSION The meta-analysis suggested that combined use of herbal medicine and acupuncture is a promising and safe clinical approach for pediatric epilepsy treatment. Further large-scale studies are necessary to conclusively determine the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine and acupuncture in pediatric epilepsy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Wen Su
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Tien Chen
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Li Kao
- Department of Anesthesiology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chuan Hung
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Tsung Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Hsin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, E-Da Dachang Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ming Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - I-Wen Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan City, Taiwan
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Zhu Z, Dluzynski D, Hammad N, Pugalenthi D, Walser SA, Mittal R, Samanta D, Brown ML, Asadi-Pooya AA, Kakooza-Mwesige A, Spalice A, Capponi M, Lekoubou A, Kumar A, Paudel S, Carney PR, Mainali G, Naik S. Use of Integrative, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine in Children with Epilepsy: A Global Scoping Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:713. [PMID: 37189961 PMCID: PMC10136598 DOI: 10.3390/children10040713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in childhood. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is highly prevalent in patients with epilepsy. Despite CAM's widespread and increasing popularity, its prevalence, forms, perceived benefits, and potential risks in pediatric epilepsy are rarely explored. (2) Methods: We performed a scoping review of the available literature on the use of CAM in pediatric epilepsy. (3) Results: Overall, global cross-sectional studies showed a variable degree of CAM usage among children with epilepsy, ranging from 13 to 44% in prevalence. Popular types of CAMs reported were supplements, cannabis products, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, dietary therapy, massage therapy, and prayer. Families often report that CAM is effective, although there are limited objective measures of this. Potential risks lie in the use of CAM, such as herbal remedies, and/or unregulated, contaminated, or unpurified products. Studies also underscored inadequate patient-physician discussions regarding CAM. (4) Conclusions: A better understanding of this topic would aid clinicians in guiding patients/families on the use of CAM. Further studies on the efficacy of the different types of CAM used, as well as potential side effects and drug interactions are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Zhu
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Daniela Dluzynski
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Nouran Hammad
- School of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Al-Ramtha 3030, Jordan
| | - Deepika Pugalenthi
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Sarah A. Walser
- Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Rea Mittal
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
| | - Debopam Samanta
- Section of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Melanie L. Brown
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
- Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 71437, Iran
- Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige
- Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala 7062, Uganda
| | - Alberto Spalice
- Department of Maternal Sciences, University la Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Martina Capponi
- Department of Maternal Sciences, University la Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Alain Lekoubou
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
- Department of Neurology, Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Sita Paudel
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Paul R. Carney
- Pediatric Neurology Division, University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Gayatra Mainali
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Sunil Naik
- College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA (G.M.); (S.N.)
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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Pahuja M, Mehla J, Gupta YK. Status analysis of herbal drug therapies in epilepsy: advancements in the use of medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory properties. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2021; 25:1601-1618. [PMID: 33605852 DOI: 10.2174/1386207324666210219103430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of plants and plant products in health care has shown exponential increase in past two decades. INTRODUCTION In-spite of the availability of well-established pharmacotherapy for epilepsy, a large no of population still explores alternative treatments due to refractory seizures, adverse effects of drugs, chronic treatment, inaccessibility of standard therapies in rural areas and the social stigma attached to the disease. Various studies on medicinal plants showed the protective effect of herbals in animal models of epilepsy. METHOD In the present review, a status analysis of the traditional use of various medicinal plants in epilepsy with a special focus on plats having anti-inflammatory potential is recorded. RESULT AND CONCLUSION The shortcomings of research on medicinal plants which needs to be explored further in order to tackle the growing need of safer and effective drugs for epilepsy are discussed. Overall, there is a huge scope of herbal drugs in CNS disorders especially epilepsy, either as an adjunct by reducing the dose and thus side effects of standard anti-epileptic drugs or as standalone agent . Although, there is still an urgent need of well planned randomized controlled clinical trials to validate their efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Pahuja
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi - 110 029. India
| | - Jogender Mehla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis-63110, Missouri. United States
| | - Yogendra Kumar Gupta
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029. India
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