Efficacy Study of Herbal Formula CUF2 to Treat Childhood Asthma

Patients are recruited from 2 major governmental hospitals in Hong Kong (Prince of Wales Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital),aged between 7 to 15 years with mild to moderate asthma according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guideline, on regular inhaled steroid therapy and capable to perform a lung function test. However, those patients are excluded if they could not swallow capsules or had received parenteral or oral corticosteroids, nedocromil, cromolyn, theophylline or anticonvulsants in the past 4 weeks. Before study start, written informed consent will be obtained from each patient and one of their parents. The eligible patients will be randomly assigned to receive CUF2 or placebo capsules for 6 months. For the dosage, children aged above 12 years old, 3 capsules twice daily and under 12 years old, 2 capsules twice daily. During the 6 months period, below measurements will be taken: * The severity of asthma symptoms was assessed using a modified Disease Severity Score (DSS) * Lung Function Test by spirometry (SpiroPro Jaeger Toennies, Hoechberg, Germany) * Conventional Medication consumption, according to GINA/NIH guidelines. * Blood test, EDTA and clotted blood samples were taken at the baseline and end of the study for eosinophil counts, IgE level and cytokine assay.