Safety and Results of Preliminary Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis with Acanthus vulgaris–Pepper Drug Formula at U-Thong Hospital: Historical Analysis of Data from 2012 to 2017

Abstract

This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the safety and preliminary therapeutic effect of Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper in Uthong hospital for atopic dermatitis by reviewing the medical records of atopic dermatitis patients diagnosed by modern physician who received 2 capsules of a 300 mg Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper drug before meals 3 times continuously at least 2 times from year 2012 - 2017 at Uthong hospital, Suphan Buri province. Of 236 atopic dermatitis patients, 78 received at least 2 treatments with mean age 51-60 years. 25.64% were males and 35.90% received a combination of modern medicine, 73.08% reported clinical improvement. There were 40 patients receiving only Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper alone; 28 patients improved. Other 38 patients received Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper with modern medication; 29 patients improved. 70% of patients treated with Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper alone reported improvement which was not different from patients treated with combination of Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper and modern medicine which 76.32% reported improvement (p = 0.5296). No adverse events occurred. In conclusion, there was no difference in symptom improvement between patients received the Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper drug alone and patients received combination of Acanthus vulgaris-Pepper and modern medication.