Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41132882›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2025

Clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine for Postherpetic neuralgia: an evidence map.

Yongyuan Luo, Tingyu Yang, Zhongxi Hong, Chen Huang, Xiya Xiong, Xianyu Zhou, Xuemei An

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yongyuan LuoDepartment of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Tingyu YangDepartment of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Zhongxi HongDepartment of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Chen HuangDepartment of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Xiya XiongDepartment of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Xianyu ZhouDepartment of Nursing, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Xuemei AnHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This evidence mapping review evaluated clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) to identify evidence distribution and gaps, thereby informing future studies. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, and Wanfang databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analysis (MAs) published up to December 2024. Data were extracted on publication trends, sample sizes, TCM pattern types, intervention types and duration, outcome indicators, and methodological quality. The evidences were analyzed and presented through a combination of text and graphical formats. Results: A total of 976 RCTs and 24 SRs/MAs were included. RCTs showed fluctuating growth, yet typically had small samples (51-100 cases). Conclusion: TCM shows potential benefits for PHN but faces challenges in study design and outcome standardization. Future research should prioritize multicenter, large-scale RCTs with rigorous methodologies and harmonized outcome assessments. Meanwhile, enhancing the quality of SRs/MAs and integrating evidence-based frameworks will help bridge clinical practice with evidence-based TCM for PHN.

Indexed as

evidence mapPHNPostherpetic neuralgiaTCMtraditional Chinese medicine

Identifiers

PMID41132882
PMCPMC12540113

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.