Traditional Chinese herbal therapy resolves fever in influenza as quickly as oseltamivir, according to an Annals of Internal Medicine study.
Researchers studied some 400 adults and adolescents in 11 Chinese hospitals who had uncomplicated 2009 H1N1 influenza A. Patients, who remained in the hospital for quarantine purposes and not the severity of their illness, were randomized to one of four groups: maxingshigan-yinqiaosan, oseltamivir, maxingshigan-yinqiaosan plus oseltamivir, or no treatment. (Maxingshigan-yinqiaosan comprises 12 herbs, including ephedra, which is restricted in the U.S.)
The median time to fever resolution was significantly shorter with oseltamivir (20 hours), maxingshigan-yinqiaosan (16), and combination therapy (15) than with no treatment (26). Symptomatic improvement did not differ among the treatment groups. Two patients using maxingshigan-yinqiaosan had nausea and vomiting.
The authors conclude that the herbal treatment can be used as an alternative when oseltamivir is not available.
