| Kim(2019)15) | Cheongsangbangpoong-tang | 56/56 | (A) OHM(n*=28, 3times per day for 14d†) | (B) Placebo(n=28, 3times per day for 14d) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count(3) NRS(4) IGA(5) KAGS(6) Cortisol and DHEA-S | (1) Significant difference (A) but not in (B)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6) No significant | Abnormality AST/ALT(A;1, B;1) |
| Kim(2012)16) | Keiagirengyoto Extract | 22/22 | (A) OHM(n=11, 3times per day for 28d) | (B) Nothing(n=11) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count(3) Skindex-29(4) IGA | (1), (3), (4) No significant (A) and (B)(2) Significant difference (A) but not (B) | (A;0, B;0) |
| Ma(2004)17) | Qingre Cuochuang Tablet | 60/60 | (A) OHM(n=40, 3times per day for 1m‡) | (B) Spironolactone, metronidazole, tetracycline (n=20, 3times per day for 1m) | (1) Effective rate(2) Serum Testosterone, Estiradiol | (1), (2) No significant difference | Slight diarrhea(A;2)Nausea, abdominal pain(B;5) |
| Patel(2021)18) | Amalaki extract | 24/24 | (A) OHM(n=12, 2times per day for 60d) | (B) Placebo(n=12, 2times per day for 60d) | (1) Skin hydration(2) Acne global severity score(3) DLQI(4) IgE(5) Total antioxidant capacity | (1),(2),(4),(5) Significant difference (A) but not in (B)(3) No significant | (A;0, B;0) |
| Ito(2018)19) | Keiagirengyoto | 64/58 | (A) OHM(n=33, 3times per day for 12w§) + antimicrobial agents(clindamycin gel or nadifloxacin cream) | (B) Antimicrobial agents(clindamycin gel or nadifloxacin cream)(n=31, 12w) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count | (1), (2) No significant | Exacervated rash(A;1)Dry skin, erythema, cold, xerotic eczema(B;4) |
| Liu(2020)(a)20) | TCM prescription | 60/60 | (A) OHM(n=30, 2times per day for 6w) + benzoyl peroxide gel | (B) Tanshinone capsules(n=30, 3times per day for 6w) benzoyl peroxide gel | (1) Effective rate(2) Recurrence rate | (1), (2) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Diarrhea(A;2, B;2), skin allergies(B;6) |
| Liu(2020)(b)21) | Jiedu Qudou | 90/90 | (A) OHM(n=45, 2times per day for 8w) + tretinoin cream | (B) Tretinoin cream(n=45, once a day) | (1) Effective rate(2) Recurrence rate | (1) , (2) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Nm∥ |
| Yang(2019)22) | Qingre Chushih Decoction | 85/85 | (A) OHM(n=65, 2times per day for 4w) | (B) Nothing(n=20) | (1) VISIA | (1) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Nm |
| Lu(2016)23) | Green tea Extract | 80/64 | (A) OHM(n=40, 3times per day for 4w) | (B) Placebo(n=40, 3times per day for 4w) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count(3) CADI(4) Lab | (1) Significant difference (A) better than (B)(2), (3) No significant(4) Only total cholesterol is significant difference in (A) | Mild constipation, abdominal discomfort(A;3)Thirsty, difficulty asleep(B;2) |
| Cui(2021)24) | Qinggan Qucuo Decoction | 60/60 | (A) OHM(n=30, 2times per day for 8w) + isotretinoin soft capsules(2times per days for 8w) | (B) Isotretinoin soft capsules(n=30, 2times per day for 8w) | (1) Score(number, shape, type of skin lesion)(2) Effective rate | (1), (2) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Dry mouth, cheilitis, diarrhea, rough skin(A;2, B;7) |
| Liu(2015)25) | Jiedu Xiaocuo Soup | 182/182 | (A) OHM(n=91, 2times per day for 4w) | (B) Vitamin capsule(n=91, 3times per day for 4w) | (1) Effective rate | (1) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Nausea(A;1, B;2)Dry mouth, tongue problem, drowsy(B;7) |
| Yuan(2009)26) | Xiaochuangyin | 80/80 | (A) OHM(n=58, 2times per day for 20d) | (B) Oral isotretinoin(n=22, 2times per day for 20d) | (1) Effective rate | (1) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Nm |
| Zhu(2004)27) | Xiaocuoyin | 80/80 | (A) OHM(n=40, 2times per day for 6w) | (B) Retinoate capsules(n=40, 3times per day for 6w) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count(3) Effective rate | (1), (2) Significant difference (A) and (B)(3) Significant differecne (A) better than (B) | Dry mouth, dry skin, lips desquamation(A;0, B;7) |
| Zhang(2013)28) | Qingfeiyin | 130/130 | (A) OHM(n=65, 2times per day for 2w) + clindamycin gel | (B) Clindamycin gel(n=65, 2times per day for 2w) | (1) Effective rate(2) Recurrence rate | (1), (2) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Increased stool frequency(A;3, B;0) |
| Patrida(2018)29) | Herb extract(gel) | 77/77 | (A) EHM(n=39, 2times per day for 12w) | (B) Benzoyl peroxide(n=38, 2times per day for 12w) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count(3) Adherence(4) Porphyrin(5) DLQI(6) Satisfaction | (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) No significant difference between (A) and (B) both significantly improved. | Glazing, cracking, erythema(A;5, B;14) |
| Neti(2021)30) | Herb extract (hydrogel) | 60/60 | (A) EHM(n=30, 2times per day for 28d) | (B) Clindamycin gel(n=30, 2times per day for 28d) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) ASI(3) Redness and melanin value | (1), (3) Significant difference (A) but not in (B)(2) No significant | (A;0, B;0) |
| Yousra(2014)31) | Herb extract(cream) | 50/50 | (A) EHM(n=25, 2times per day for 45d) | (B) Benzoyl peroxide(n=25, once per day for 45d) | (1) Cook’s acne grading system(2) Improvement scale(1 to 5) | (1), (2) No significant difference | Redness, swelling(A;0, B;17%) |
| Kulwipapat(2021)32) | Herb extract (water-soluble herbal acne patch) | 49/49 | (A) EHM(n=49, once per day from 8 PM to 6 AM for 11d) | (B) Hydrocolloid acne patch(n=49, once per day from 8 PM to 6 AM for 11d) | (1) Median time to resolution(2) Diameter, erythema score, lightness score(3) Physical satisfaction scale(1 to 5)(4) Inflammatory lesion count | (1), (2), (4) Significant difference (A) more than (B) | (A;0, B;0) |
| Samaneh(2020)33) | Herb extract (hydrogel) | 60/60 | (A) EHM(n=30, 2times per day for 60d) | (B) Placebo(n=30, 2times per day for 60d) | (1) IGA(2) Number of acne lesions (comedos, papules, pustules)(3) ADI | (1) , (2), (3) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | (A;0, B;0) |
| Yang(2021)34) | Herb extract (cleanser) | 60/60 | (A) EHM(n=30, 2times per day for 8w) | (B) Vehicle(n=30, 2times per day for 8w) | (1) Inflammatory lesion count(2) Non-inflammatory lesion count(3) IGA(4) IL-1, IL-8, TNF-α, keratin 16 | (1) , (2), (4) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) except TNF-α(3) No significant | Burning sensation, prickling, dryness(A;6, B;3) |
| Gao(2015)35) | Herbal medicine (fumigation) | 320/320 | (A) EHM(n=160, once per day for 2m) | (B) Tretinoin cream(n=160, 2times per day for 2m) | (1) Effective rate | (1) Significant difference (A) but not in (B) | Itching, scaling, redness(A;6, B;12) |
| Nie(2009)36) | Herbal medicine (liquid) | 199/199 | (A) EHM(n=101, twice per day for 4w) + tretinoin cream(once) | (B) Tretinoin cream(n=98, once per day for 4w) | (1) Effective rate(2) Acne, papules pimples, nodules | (1) Significant difference (A) but not in (B)(2) No statistical analysis | Redness, scaling(A;0, B;2) |
| Zeng(2012)37) | Herbal medicine (powder, facial mask) | 233/233 | (A) EHM(n=113, twice per week for 4w) | (B) Benzoyl peroxide gel(n=120, once per day for 4w | (1) Lesion count(2) Effective rate | (1), (2) Significant difference (A) more than (B) | (A;2, B;3) |
| Zhang(2020)38) | Herbal medicine (powder) | 220/204 | (A) EHM(n=110, once per day for 4w) | (B) Placebo(n=110, once per day for 4w) | (1) ASS(2) Effective rate(3) DLQI(4) VISIA scroe(5) Skin assessment | (1), (2) Significant difference (A) but not in (B)(3), (4), (5) Significant difference (A) more than (B) | Allergy(A;2, B;0) |
| Chang(2017)39) | Herb extract (ointment) | 186/186 | (A) EHM(n=27, once per day for 4w) | (B) EHM+fusidic acid+minocycline hydrochloride(n=56, apply once per day for 4w, intake 2times per day for 4w)(C) Fusidic acid(n=39)(D) Fusidic acid +minocycline hydrochloride(n=64) | (1) GAGS(2) Effective rate(3) VISIA | (1) Statistically difference all groups.(2) No statistical difference all groups.(3) No significant difference between (A), (B), (C) and (D) all groups were significantly improved. | (A;0, B;0) |
| Qin(2009)40) | Herbal medicine (liniment pour mask) | 256/256 | (A) EHM(n=138, twice per day for 8w) + isotretinoin | (B) Isotretinoin(n=118, twice per day for 8w) | (1) Effective rate | (1) Significant difference (A) more than (B) | Dry skin, scaling, erythema(A;5, B;4) |
| Shi(2003)41) | Herbal medicine (powder facial mask) | 101/101 | (A) EHM(n=55, once every other day for 4w) | (B) Chloramphenicoltincture ointment(n=46, twice per day for 4w) | (1) Effective rate | (1) Significant difference (A) more than (B) | Nm |
| Lalla(2001)42) | Herb extract (soft tablets, cream, gel) | 53/46 | (A) OHM + EHM(n=23, tab+gel, twice per day)(B) OHM + EHM(n=23, tab+cream, twice per day) | (C) OHM + placebo(n=5, tab+placebo, twice per day)(D) Placebo + Placebo(n=2, twice per day) | (1) Global assessment scale(Burke and Cunliffe) | (1) (A), (B) was statistically significantly better than (C), and (B) was better than (A). | Itching, increase in gastric motility(undisclosed by group) |
| Lv(2016)43) | Herbal medicine + herbal medicine mask | 146/146 | (A) OHM(n=73, twice per day) + EHM(twice per week for 6w) | (B) Vitamin capsules(n=73, twice per day) + pdt(twice per week for 6w) | (1) Effective rate(2) Serum Toll-like receptor-2, TNF-α, testosterone, estradiol levels | (1) Significant differecne (A) but not in (B)(2) Significant difference (A) more than (B) | Erythema, itching, pain, sacling, nausea(A;8, B;16) |
| Gui(2017)44) | Yinqiao powder + washing | 82/82 | (A) OHM + EHM(n=41, twice per day for 2w) | (B) Adapalene gel(n=41, twice per day for 2w) | (1) Effective rate | (1) (A) significantly higher than (B) | (A;0, B;0) |
| Zhang(2015)45) | Herbal medicine (internal + external) | 50/50 | (A) OHM + EHM(n=25, twice per day for 20d) | (B) Roxithromycin, retinolide+retinoide oint(n=25, twice per day for 20d) | (1) Effective rate | (1) Significant differecne (A) but not in (B) | Nm |
| Qu(2015)46) | Herbal medicine (internal + external) | 128/128 | (A) OHM(n=63, twice per day) + EHM(once per week for 6w) | (B) Roxithromycine + vitamin E cream(n=65, twice per day) | (1) Effecitve rate | (1) Significant differecne (A) but not in (B) | Gastrointestinal reaction(A;0, B;2) |
| Xin(2008)47) | Herbal medicine (internal + external) | 80/80 | (A) OHM(n=40, twice per day) + EHM(twice per day)*mild and moderate patients is 2 to 3w, and for severe patients, 6 to 8w. | (B) OHM(n=40, twice per day)*mild and moderate patients is 2 to 3w, and for severe patients, 6 to 8w. | (1) Effecitve rate | (1) Significant differecne (A) but not in (B) | (A;0, B;0) |
| Xuan(1995)48) | Xiaozuo Ling Herbal medicine (internal + external) | 163/162 | (A) OHM(n=123, twice per day) + EHM(3times per day for 28d) | (B) Tetracycline tablets + chloramphenicol alcohol(n=40, 3times per day for 28d) | (1) Effecitve rate | (1) Significant differecne (A) but not in (B) | (A;0, B;0) |