Herbal medicine for periodontal diseases.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a treasure-house which has shown miraculous clinical effects. It has aroused tremendous interests in elucidating its mechanisms both in China and abroad. This paper presents a review of published articles on the effects and mechanisms of herbal medicine on periodontal disease. Specifically, two modifications of an ancient compound prescription were serially studied, Guchiwan (Tooth-firming pills) and Guchigao (Tooth-firming extract). Some in vitro studies have shown suppressive effects of various herbal extracts on bone resorption by isolated osteoclasts. TCM should be intensively studied for their possible use in periodontics.