RCTs and systematic reviews on the effectiveness of TCM — every entry links to a verifiable PubMed record
Intervention: Ginger (Zingiberis officinale)
Systematic review and meta-analysis: ginger intake reduced the severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting compared with placebo.
Intervention: Ginger
Overview of systematic reviews: evidence generally supports the anti-nausea role of ginger, with variation in quality among studies.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Updated individual patient data analysis (more than 20,000 patients): Acupuncture relieves chronic pain more than sham acupuncture and usual care, and the difference is clinically significant.
Intervention: Manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials: manual acupuncture is effective in preventing episodic migraine compared with sham acupuncture and usual care.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Multicenter randomized clinical trial: long-term effect of acupuncture in preventing migraine after 24 weeks of follow-up.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Randomized clinical trial (2025): Acupuncture is effective for chronic low back pain in the elderly.
Intervention: Acupuncture and acupoints
Systematic review and meta-analysis: acupuncture at specific acupoints is superior to non-acupoint acupuncture in low back pain.
Intervention: Chinese herbal medicine
Systematic review and network meta-analysis: some Chinese herbal formulas improved sleep quality compared with placebo, with a need for higher-quality studies.
Intervention: American Ginseng
Randomized trial: American ginseng extract improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Systematic review and meta-analysis: Acupuncture improved allergic rhinitis symptoms and quality of life compared with usual care.
Intervention: Saffron (Crocus sativus)
Systematic review of clinical studies: Saffron is effective for mild to moderate depression with efficacy similar to antidepressants.
Intervention: Stimulation of point P6
Randomized trial: Stimulation of point P6 reduced nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic abdominal surgery.
Intervention: Stimulation of point P6
Systematic review: stimulation of point P6 prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting in oncology and surgery patients.
Intervention: Ginger
Systematic review and meta-analysis: Ginger is effective in relieving primary dysmenorrhea pain.
Intervention: Cinnamon/Fennel/Ginger
Systematic review: Herbs (cinnamon, fennel, and ginger) are effective for primary dysmenorrhea compared to placebo.
Intervention: Berberine
Systematic review: Berberine improved total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Intervention: Tai Chi
Comparative effectiveness study: Tai Chi was comparable or superior to aerobic exercise in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms.
Intervention: CBD-rich cannabis extract
Randomized trial (2024): CBD-rich cannabis extract improved sleep quality in some patients; mentioned for completeness, not for promotion.
Intervention: Saffron versus SSRIs
Systematic review (2025): Saffron is comparable to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in mild-to-moderate depression.
Intervention: Electroacupuncture
Randomized trial: electrical stimulation of acupoints reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Intervention: Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture
Randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine: real acupuncture relieved chronic sciatic pain caused by disc herniation more than sham acupuncture.
Intervention: Electroacupuncture
Triple-blind randomized sham-controlled trial: different frequencies of electroacupuncture improved chronic low back pain in older adults compared with sham.
Intervention: Electroacupuncture or auricular acupuncture
PEACE randomized trial: electroacupuncture or auricular acupuncture improved chronic musculoskeletal pain in cancer survivors compared with usual care.
Intervention: Intensive acupuncture versus sham acupuncture
Randomized controlled trial: intensive acupuncture (3 sessions per week) was superior to sham acupuncture in relieving knee osteoarthritis pain and improving function over 12 weeks.
Intervention: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)
Randomized clinical trial: transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation is approximately as effective as metoclopramide in preventing nausea and vomiting after moderate to severe surgery.
Intervention: Auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation
Randomized clinical trial: auricular vagus nerve stimulation at the auricular point improved sleep quality in patients with chronic insomnia compared with sham stimulation.
Intervention: Electroacupuncture
Randomized clinical trial: Electroacupuncture improved insomnia in patients with depression compared with sham acupuncture.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Randomized trial: Acupuncture improved symptoms and quality of life in persistent seasonal allergic rhinitis compared with sham acupuncture.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Randomized trial: acupuncture reduced pain in primary dysmenorrhea and decreased the need for analgesics compared with the control group.
Intervention: Auricular acupuncture
Randomized clinical trial: Auricular acupuncture showed efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms with good safety compared to sham intervention.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial: acupuncture reduced pain associated with endometriosis compared with sham over 8 weeks.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Multicenter randomized trial: acupuncture reduced systolic blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension compared with sham acupuncture.
Intervention: Acupuncture versus sham
Randomized trial published in JAMA: acupuncture did not increase live birth rates in women undergoing IVF compared with sham — an important negative result demonstrating commitment to scientific transparency.
Intervention: Individualized acupuncture versus sham acupuncture
Randomized controlled trial: individualized acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation improved chronic neck pain in the long term compared with sham acupuncture.
Intervention: Acupuncture
Multicenter randomized trial: Acupuncture improved cognitive function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment compared with usual care.
Intervention: Acupuncture with Chinese herbs
Randomized trial: The combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs improved mood disorder associated with menopause compared with the control group.
Intervention: Individualized and Standardized Chinese Herbal Medicine
A classic randomized trial published in JAMA: Chinese herbal medicine (individualized and standardized) for irritable bowel syndrome improved symptoms compared with placebo in the short term, with sustained benefit at 14 weeks in the individualized group.
Intervention: Chai Hu Shu Gan San formula
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial: Chai Hu Shu Gan San improved symptoms of functional dyspepsia and the number of beneficial intestinal bacteria compared with placebo.
Intervention: Jinlida
The FOCUS randomized trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine: Jinlida reduced the risk of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes in patients with multiple metabolic disorders.
Intervention: Topical natural Indigo Naturalis (Indigo Naturalis)
Multicenter randomized trial published in Gastroenterology: topical natural indigo achieved clinical and endoscopic remission in refractory ulcerative colitis compared with placebo.
Intervention: Chinese herbal medicine
Randomized placebo-controlled trial: Chinese herbal medicine reduced the number of acute exacerbations in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with placebo.
Intervention: Zao Ren An Shen capsules
A randomized double-blind trial published in the journal Sleep: Zao Ren An Shen capsules (Suan Zao Ren and sedative herbs) improved sleep quality in chronic insomnia compared with placebo.
Intervention: Chinese herbal medicine for prevention
A multicenter prospective randomized trial: Chinese herbal medicine reduced the incidence of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer.
Intervention: Therapeutic Tai Chi
A randomized trial of 670 older adults at risk of falls: therapeutic Tai Chi intervention twice weekly reduced the fall rate more than multi-modal exercise.
Intervention: Tai Chi
A randomized trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine: Tai Chi improved fibromyalgia symptoms and quality of life compared with education and stretching, and efficacy was also shown with fewer weekly sessions.
Intervention: Tai Chi versus physical therapy
Randomized controlled trial: Tai Chi was as effective as standard physical therapy in reducing knee osteoarthritis pain and improving function after 12 weeks.
Intervention: Tai Chi
A randomized trial published in NEJM: Tai Chi training twice weekly for six months improved postural stability and walking ability in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.
Intervention: Tai Chi versus aerobic exercise
Randomized clinical trial: Tai Chi reduced systolic blood pressure in prehypertensive patients to a greater extent than intensive aerobic exercise.
Intervention: Local moxibustion (moxa) at point BL67
Classic randomized trial published in JAMA: moxibustion at Zhiyin point (BL67) increased the rate of fetal version from breech to normal compared with usual care.
Intervention: Qigong (Baduanjin)
Randomized trial: Baduanjin exercises improved pulmonary function and quality of life after non-small cell lung cancer surgery.