Stroke Trials Register (last searched August 2006). In addi-

Based mainly on experimental data which indicates im-provement to the cerebral microcirculation, Dan Shen, a herbal medicine, is widely used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in China. Whether the existing clinical evidence is good enough to support its routine use in stroke is not clear.1 Objectives Our objective was to assess the effects of Dan Shen agents in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The primary objective was to determine whether Dan Shen agents improve func-tional outcome without causing undue harm in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The secondary objectives were to assess the effect of Dan Shen agents on impairment and on quality of life