Treatment of herpes zoster with Clinacanthus nutans (bi phaya yaw) extract.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of topical formulation of Clinacanthus nutans (Bi Phaya Yaw) extract was carried out in 51 patients with varicella-zoster virus infection. The study medication was applied five times daily for 7-14 days until the lesions were healed. The number of patients with lesion crusting within 3 days and with lesion healing within 7 days and 10 days were significantly greater in the C. nutans extract-treated group than the placebo group (p < 0.01). Pain scores were reduced more rapidly in the C. nutans extract-treated group than in the placebo group. There were no side effects of the study medication.