Effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Cough in Upper Respiratory Infections
Author Information
Author(s): WCW Wong, A Lee, AT Lam, KT Li, CYM Leung, PC Leung, ELY Wong, JL Tang
Primary Institution: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hypothesis
Is a Chinese herbal medicine preparation effective in treating cough caused by uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections?
Conclusion
The Chinese herbal medicine preparation was well-tolerated and showed some benefits in treating cough, but did not significantly outperform placebo overall.
Supporting Evidence
- 62 patients completed the trial with no adverse effects reported.
- Both treatment and control groups showed improvement in cough scores.
- Women taking TCM had fewer problems with sputum production.
- Older subjects reported significant improvement in hoarseness.
Takeaway
This study looked at a herbal medicine for cough and found it was safe to use, but it didn't work better than a sugar pill.
Methodology
A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 82 patients over 5 days.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the expectation of immediate relief from participants accustomed to Western treatments.
Limitations
The study had a high dropout rate and relied on self-reported measures, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mainly young working adults from Hong Kong, with a majority being female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.03 for sputum production in women; p = 0.05 for hoarseness in older subjects.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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