Repurposing of Yunnan Baiyao as an Alternative Therapy for Minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an herbal extract of Yunnan Baiyao formulated in toothpaste as an alternative therapy for minor RAS. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (from March 2010 to March 2011) was conducted on a cohort of 227 minor RAS patients. The toothpaste containing Yunnan Baiyao was used twice daily as part of the patient's routine oral hygiene for 5 days. An assessment of ulcerative size and pain was recorded on day 0 (baseline), day 3, and day 5. Any noted adverse reactions were recorded. All data were analyzed using the SAS software 8.0. As a result, the toothpaste containing Yunnan Baiyao began to present noticeable effectiveness on ulcer healing (ulcer size) by day 3 (27.5% versus 15.8%, P < 0.05), which further improved by day 5 when compared to the placebo (66.4% versus 50.0%, P = 0.01). A significant difference in alleviating pain was noted on day 5 for those who used the toothpaste containing Yunnan Baiyao (66.4% versus 51.8%, P < 0.05). No side effects were noted as a result of the Yunnan Baiyao. Therefore, Yunnan Baiyao may provide an alternative therapy for minor ulcers by promoting healing.