Patient Experiences of Using Chinese Herbal Medicine for Psoriasis Vulgaris and Chronic Urticaria: A Qualitative Study

In 2019, a qualitative study was conducted to understand the motivations and experiences of patients using Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for psoriasis vulgaris and chronic urticaria. The study involved 20 participants from Guangzhou, China (16 participants), and Melbourne, Australia (4 participants). The main reasons for choosing CHM included a desire for an alternative to conventional medicine, beliefs about CHM, and previous experience with CHM. Some participants found that CHM met their expectations of being safer and preventing relapse. However, preparing CHM decoctions was found to be burdensome, and CHM granules were preferred for convenience. The study concluded that patient beliefs, previous experience, desire to prevent relapse, and safety concerns were significant motivators for choosing CHM. It was suggested that more clinical evidence is needed to help patients make informed decisions about CHM use.