Video
PAIR Seminar : Clinical Trials on Chinese Herbal Medicine, Methodology and Challenges
On 13 May 2026, Prof. LAO Lixing, President of Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, United States, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Clinical Trials on Chinese Herbal Medicine, Methodology and Challenges” at the PolyU campus. The seminar attracted an audience of over 40 scholars, researchers, practitioners and students onsite, and over 13,300 online viewers across various social media platforms.
The Pursuit of Evidence-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Prof. Lao opened the seminar by discussing the paradigm shift toward Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). While Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has been used for millennia, the complexity of multi-herb formulas presents unique hurdles for scientific validation. According to the EBM hierarchy, Randomised Controlled Trials represent the gold standard. Prof. Lao’s work focuses on applying FDA research guidelines to CHM, covering everything from the authentication of raw materials and extraction methods to quality control and quality assurance using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Case Studies: HLXL and TSD
The seminar delved into two primary case studies. The first focused on HLXL (Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Pre-clinical trials on rats demonstrated significant reductions in arthritic scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, a subsequent Phase II human clinical trial, while confirming the formula's safety, revealed that the 8-week treatment was not superior to the placebo in reducing pain. Prof. Lao noted this as a classic example of the “species gap” between animal and human responses.
The second case study examined Tumour-Shrinking Decoction (TSD) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. This double-blind, dose-controlled trial aimed to evaluate symptom relief and fibroid size reduction. While the study provided valuable data on safety and potential efficacy, it highlighted the challenges posed by “fixed” formulas compared with the “individualised” nature of TCM diagnosis.
Event date: 13/5/2026
Speaker: Prof. LAO Lixing
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
The Pursuit of Evidence-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Prof. Lao opened the seminar by discussing the paradigm shift toward Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). While Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has been used for millennia, the complexity of multi-herb formulas presents unique hurdles for scientific validation. According to the EBM hierarchy, Randomised Controlled Trials represent the gold standard. Prof. Lao’s work focuses on applying FDA research guidelines to CHM, covering everything from the authentication of raw materials and extraction methods to quality control and quality assurance using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Case Studies: HLXL and TSD
The seminar delved into two primary case studies. The first focused on HLXL (Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Pre-clinical trials on rats demonstrated significant reductions in arthritic scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, a subsequent Phase II human clinical trial, while confirming the formula's safety, revealed that the 8-week treatment was not superior to the placebo in reducing pain. Prof. Lao noted this as a classic example of the “species gap” between animal and human responses.
The second case study examined Tumour-Shrinking Decoction (TSD) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. This double-blind, dose-controlled trial aimed to evaluate symptom relief and fibroid size reduction. While the study provided valuable data on safety and potential efficacy, it highlighted the challenges posed by “fixed” formulas compared with the “individualised” nature of TCM diagnosis.
Event date: 13/5/2026
Speaker: Prof. LAO Lixing
Hosted by: PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
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