A meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of Spleen Strengthening and Mucus Clearing (SSPR) Chinese herbal therapy for mucus hypersecretion in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It included 16 studies with 1468 patients, published from January 1, 2010 to September 1, 2025, searched in databases such as CNKI, PubMed or Cochrane Library. In acute exacerbation of COPD, SSPR combined with Western therapy significantly improved efficacy rate (P < 0.0001), FVC (P = 0.02), absolute FEV1 (P < 0.00001), decreased MUC5AC (P = 0.001), TCM syndrome score (P < 0.00001), and IL-8 (P < 0.00001), without difference. in FEV1/FVC (P = 0.22). In stable COPD, it improved efficacy rate (P < 0.0001), FVC (P < 0.00001), FEV1 (P < 0.00001), FEV1/FVC (P = 0.001), TCM score (P = 0.0004), and IL-8 (P < 0.00001), with no difference in MUC5AC (P = 0.23). Three studies did not report adverse events, two did not show a difference in their incidence. The studies were of low methodological quality, further research with larger RCTs is needed; the protocol is registered at PROSPERO (CRD420251171076).