A Double-Blind Study on Effectiveness of Hericium erinaceus Pers Therapy on Chronic Atrophic Gastritis: A Preliminary Report

Authors:
Cai-pu Xu, Wei-wen Liu, Feng-xian Liu, et al.

Journal:
Chinese Medical Journal, 1985

Study Design

Double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

Participants

50 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis.

Intervention

Patients were randomly assigned to receive either Hericium erinaceus extract or placebo. Treatment duration was 3 months.

Outcome Measures

• Histopathological changes of gastric mucosa
• Clinical symptoms (epigastric discomfort, nausea, vomiting, appetite, fatigue)

Summary

This early double-blind trial assessed the effects of Hericium erinaceus extract in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. After 3 months of treatment, the group receiving Hericium erinaceus showed significant improvement in both gastric mucosa histology and clinical symptoms compared to placebo. No adverse reactions were reported during the trial period. The authors suggest that Hericium erinaceus may support mucosal repair and symptom relief in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, though larger studies were recommended to confirm these preliminary findings.