Table 1. Characteristic of Included Studies

First Author (publication year); Country	Sample Size(T:C)	Age(mean age); Gender(M/F)	Severity	Duration of Condition (mean duration)	Intervention Group(T)	Control Group(C)	Treatment and Followup Duration	Outcome Measurement	Adverse Events
Fu Fen (2020); China	60(30:30)	T: 18-60(46.6±6.3); 17/13C: 15-56(46.4±6.1); 16/14	NS	T: 1w-5y(5.8±1.3y)C: 2w-6y((5.7±1.2y)	1. HM bath: 20-30min, qod;2. Acitretin: consistent with control intervention	Acitretin: 0.5㎎/(㎏·ｄ), 2-3 times during meal or after meal, reduce 10㎎ every 2 weeks, maintain 10㎎/d for more than 1 month during the 10-20㎎/ｄ period	8w, 7-32m	1. TER based on PASI(90-60-20)2. PSS score before and after treatment3. Days of pustule lost4. Days of hospitalization5. Results of laboratory inspection before and after treatment	relapse after stopping acitretin, dryness, transaminase and TG increase
Zhao Wei (2016); China	54(27:27)	T: 20-64(40.09±3.57); 15/12C: 22-65(41.52±3.02); 14/13	NS	T: 1y-19y(10.36±4.52y)C: 1y-17y(10.41±4.49y)	1. HM bath: 30m, qod, 10 times.2. NB-UVB(310-313㎚): 0.5J/㎠ as initial dose, increase by 0.1J/㎠ each time if no side effects, do not exceed maximum accumulated dose as 2.5 J/㎠	Acitretin: 20㎎, bid	T: 20d*(prospected based on treatment intervention)C: NS	TER based on PASI(90-60-25)	NS
Hao Wen-ping (2015); China	160(80:80)	T: 18-65(41.0±0.5); 41/39C: 16-63(39.0±0.5); 38/42	T: lesion covers 22.67% of bodyC: lesion covers 21.45% of body	NS	1. HM bath: 20m, qd;2. HM decoction: orally taken, daily boiled	Acitretin: 20㎎, bid	12w	1. TER based on PASI(90-60-20)2. PASI score before and after treatment	C: dryness, itchiness, rash, liver dysfunction, TG increase, low density lipoprotein, CHO increase
Yu Minglian (2014); China	136(68:68)	T: 21-62(41.62±4.81); 39/29C: 20-65(42.15±4.79); 40/28	NS	T: 3-16y(7.98±1.46y)C: 2-17y(7.93±1.51y)	1. HM bath: 30m;2. Acitretin: consistent with control intervention;3. Calcipotriol ointment: consistent with control intervention	1. Acitretin: 0.3-0.5㎎/(㎏·d), once in the morning and once in the evening;2. Calcipotriol ointment: once in the morning and once in the evening	6w	TER based on PASI(90-60-20)	T and C: dryness, blood lipid increase, liver dysfuntion
Geng Qingna (2013); China	80(40:40)	32-56(39.3); 58/22	NS	1w-5y(2.5y)	1. HM bath: 30m, qod;2. Acitretin: 20-40㎎/d(0.5㎎/㎏·d), 2-3 times during meal or after meal	Acitretin: consistent with treatment intervention	8w	TER based on lesion reduction(90-75-50) of 1w, 4w, 8w after treatment	T and C: dryness, itchieness, transaminase and blood lipid increase
Yu Minglian (2013); China	78(39:39)	17-68(36.45±8.52); 50/28	PASI score: 6-21(14.23±4.50)	5m-25y(7.66±2.41y)	1. HM bath: qod, 30d per each and 2-3 times(60-90d);2. NB-UVB(311-315㎚): After taking HM bath, 0.3-0.5J/㎠ as initial dose, increase by 0.1J/㎠ each time, decrease or stop increasing dose if side effects appear, maximum accumulated dose as 2.5J/㎠;3. IV: Glycyrrhizin injection 80㎖+5% glucose injection 250㎖, qd4. Acitretin: consistent with control intervention5. Baixuan xiatare tablet: consistent with control interventon	1. Acitretin: 20-40㎎/d as initial dose, 25-50㎎/d maintenance (0.9g for 1 time per patient condition), tid, 8-12w2. Baixuan xiatare tablet: 0.9g, tid, 10w	12w	1. TER based on PASI or lesion reduction(95-50)2. PASI score before and after treatment	T: skin symptomsC: skin pain, burning sensation, itchiness, dryness, ALT and AST increase, CHO increase
Cheng Lixue (2011); China	160(123:37)	T1: 19-65(36.4); 25/18T2: 14-68(35.0); 24/22T3: 20-70(37.1); 18/16C: 15-68(35.2); 21/16	lesion covers 10%-49% of body	T1: 2m-50y(NS)T2: 3m-38y(NS)T3: 6m-40y(NS)C: 3m-48y(NS)	1. HM bath: 20m, qod;2. Acitretin: 20-40㎎/d (0.5㎎/㎏·d), orally taken, 2-3 times with meals	Acitretin: orally taken	4w	TER based on PASI(90-60-20)	dryness, TBIL and DBIL increase, ALT and AST increase in both group;T: palpitation, accerleration in breathing
Luo Li (2010); China	84(44:40)	T: 23-65(35); 26/18C: 22-63(32); 25/15	NS	T: 4m-17y(NS)C: 36m-20y(NS)	1. HM bath: 30m2. NB-UVB(310-315㎚): immediately after HM bath, MED as 0.6J/㎠ based on Chinese skin type, initial dose as 70% of MED(approximately 0.4J/㎠), increase by 10%-20% depending on reaction, maintain qod until light erythema appears.3. Acitretin: 20㎎, qd	Acitretin: 20㎎, qd	8w	TER based on PASI(90-60-25)	T: dryness, minor pigmentation after radiationC: dryness
Wang Jie (2010); China	140(70:70)	18-80(NS); 72/68	overall of body	1-22y(NS)	1. HM bath: 1w after taking acitretin, 30m;2. NB-UVB: immediately after taking a bath, initial dose as 0.5J/㎠, increase by 10-20% each time, qod, do radiation 3 times a week, twice a week if rash improves, radiation stops if painful erythema appears, and resumed if it subsides with radiation reduced by 50%;3. Acitretin: 20㎎/d, qd	1. NB-UVB: consistent with treatment intervention;2. Acitretin: consistent with treatment intervention	21d	TER based on lesion reduction(90-70-30)	T and C: dryness, erythema
Zhao Xingmiao (2010); China	56(30:26)	16-66(37); 38/18	lesion covers <10% of body: 27≥10% of body: 29	1y-40y(NS)	1. HM bath: ≥20m1 time/w, 4w;2. Acitretin: consistent with control intervention3. Triamcinolone urea cream: consistent with control intervention	1. Acitretin:0.5-0.75㎎/㎏·d, qd;2. Triamcinolone urea cream(treamcinolone 0.02%+urea 10%): bid	4w, 2y	1. TER based on lesion reduction(cure-75-30)2. cure rate3. relapse case	T: dizziness, palpation, drynessC: dryness

NS: not stated, w: weeks, y: years, HM: herbal medicine, d: per day, m: months, TER: total effective rate, calculated as the percentage of "cured and remarkably effective" or "cured, remarkably effective, and effective" or "clinically cured, improvement" cases, PASI(90-60-20): "cured"-PASI score reduction of 90% to 100%; "remarkably cured"-PASI score reduction of 60% to 89%; "effective"-PASI score reduction of 20% to 59%; and "ineffective"-PASI score reduction of 0% to 20%; PASI(90-60-20), PASI(90-60-25) refer to effectiveness levels using different proportions of PASI score reduction, TG: trygliceride, NB-UVB: narrowband ultraviolet B, qd: once a day, CHO: cholesterol, lesion reduction(90-75-50), lesion reduction(90-75-30) refer to effectiveness levels using different proportions of psoriatic lesion reduction, IV: intravenous injection, PASI and lesion reduction(90-50): "clinically cured"-compelete elimination of psoriatic lesion or PASI score reduction of 95%; "improvement"-decrease of psoriatic lesion or PASI score reduction of more than 50%; "ineffective"-decrease of psoriatic lesion or PASI score recduction of less than 50%, ALT: alanine aminotransferase, AST: aspartate aminotransferase, qod: once in every two days, TBIL: total bilirubin, DBIL: direct bilirubin, MED: minimal erythema dosis, lesion reduction(cure-75-30): "cured"-elimination of psoriatic lesion with no more new lesion; "remarkably cured"-psoriatic lesion reduction of more than 75%; "effective"-psoriatic lesion reduction of 30% to 69%; ineffective-psoriatic lesion redcution of less than 30%