Related Terms

• Herbal formula, herbal therapy, herbs, Kampo, TCM, traditional Chinese medicine.

Background

• Fuzheng jiedu tang is a mixture of five Japanese herbs, which are mixed in set proportions. Japanese experts claim that fuzheng jiedu tang relieves fatigue, boosts immunity, and helps relieve the symptoms of chemotherapy. Currently, this herbal formula is being used in research to treat patients who are resistant to conventional forms of antibiotics.

Theory/Evidence

• This formula is commonly used in China alongside Western medicine to treat chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.

• A systematic review, published in the journal Liver, and two systemic reviews, published in the Cochrane Review Database, found that fuzheng jiedu tang has no demonstrated benefit to patients with hepatitis B and/or C. However, all three trials cite poor study design as a major hurdle to fairly evaluate the herbal formula.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

• Herbal remedies and medicines can potentially interact with drugs, herbs or supplements. Therefore, a qualified healthcare provider should be consulted before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding due insufficient evidence of the safety and efficacy of fuzheng jiedu tang.

Author Information

• This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

1. Liu JP, Manheimer E, Tsutani K, Gluud C. Medicinal herbs for hepatitis C virus infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(4):CD003183. View Abstract

2. Liu JP, McIntosh H, Lin H. Chinese medicinal herbs for asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B virus infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(2):CD002231View Abstract

3. Liu J, McIntosh H, Lin H. Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic hepatitis B: a systematic review. Liver. 2001 Aug;21(4):280-6. View Abstract