Objective:

2

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbs in the treatment of sub-health systematically.

Methods:

2

Nine databases were systematically and extensively searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about Chinese herbs in the treatment of sub-health. The outcomes included overall effective rate

main symptoms

quality of life

etc. Literature screening

data extraction and quality assessment were conducted according to Cochrane Handbook 5.1. Meta-analysis was conducted to the included literature with Review Manager Software.

Results:

2

Seventy-two studies involving 9

296 patients with sub-health were included with 4

908 patients in experimental groups and 4

387 patients in control groups. The overall quality of included clinical research was not high. In the aspect of improving overall effective rate

relieving main symptoms

Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score

Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) score

Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14)

Cornell Medical Index (CMI) score and discontinuation rate

the effects of experimental groups were better than that of control groups. According to available research reports

adverse reactions in Chinese herb groups were mainly mild gastrointestinal symptoms

which did not affect the treatment.

Conclusion:

2

Chinese herbs have a curative effect in the treatment of sub-health. However

there are no clear criteria for diagnosis and curative effectiveness judgment globally

which would affect the accuracy of curative effect evaluation.