The research
What the clinical trial found
A plain-language summary of the ALS-CHEPLA trial: what was tested, what it found, and what it doesn’t tell us yet.
120
adults with ALS took part
20 weeks
of treatment and follow-up
16%
slower decline on ALSFRS-R: −4.44 vs −5.28 points
1.65 kg
less weight lost: −3.98 vs −5.63 kg
How the study worked
- Who: 120 adults with definite, probable, or laboratory-supported probable ALS.
- What: a Ji Wu Li herbal patch or an identical-looking placebo patch, added to their usual care.
- How long: 20 weeks.
- Where: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai.
- Design: randomized 1:1 and triple-blinded, so neither patients, doctors nor analysts knew who received which patch.
What it found
Over 20 weeks, scores on the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), which measures everyday abilities like speaking, swallowing, walking and breathing, fell by 4.44 points with Ji Wu Li and 5.28 points with the placebo. That difference was statistically significant (p = 0.005).
People using Ji Wu Li also lost less weight, which matters because weight loss is linked to faster progression in ALS.
Skin irritation where the patch sat was about as common in both groups (10 of 60 with Ji Wu Li, 9 of 60 with placebo).
What it doesn’t tell us yet
This was one 20-week study at a single hospital. The authors call Ji Wu Li a possibly promising and safe add-on therapy, particularly for people with bulbar involvement, and say a longer study across several centers is needed to confirm the results.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Ji Wu Li is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What’s inside
Ji Wu Li ingredients
Every Ji Wu Li herb was chosen to target the multiple processes involved in neurodegeneration in ALS.
- Ren Shen ginseng root
- Chi Fu Ling red poria
- Zhi Gan Cao honey-fried licorice root
- Bai Zhu white atractylodes
- Huang Qi astragalus root
- Rou Cong Rong cistanche
- Guan Hua
- Hong Jing Tian rhodiola
- Yin Yang Huo epimedium
- Dama Er Fen oil base
Cream base: water, glycerin, shea butter, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, cocoa, vitamin E and aloe leaf juice.
See which format fits you
Patches, cream and capsules, or the complete 30-day program.