Herbal Medicine for Cough: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: The aim of this review was to systematically assess the literature on herbal medicine for cough as a symptom of upper respiratory tract infections and common cold. Methods: The Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Embase were searched through March 2012 for RCTs testing the effects of herbal medicine for cough. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Results: 34 RCTs (N = 7,083) on Pelargonium sidoides (11 RCTs), Echinacea (8 RCTs), Andrographis paniculata (6 RCTs), ivy/primrose/thyme (4 RCTs), essential oils (4 RCTs) and bakumondoto (1 RCT) were included. Controls were mainly placebo. Most studies had a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis revealed strong evidence for A. paniculata (SMD = -1.00, 95% CI = -1.85, -0.15; P<0.001) and ivy/primrose/thyme (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.23, 1.60; P<0.001) in treating cough; moderate evidence for P. sidiodes (RR = 4.60; 95% CI = 2.89,7.31; P<0.001), and limited evidence for Echinacea (SMD = -0.68; 95% CI = -1.32, -0.04; P = 0.04). Conclusion: This review found strong evidence for A. paniculata and ivy/primrose/thyme-based preparations and moderate evidence for P. sidoides being significantly superior to placebo in alleviating the frequency and severity of patients' cough symptoms. Additional research, including other herbal treatments, is needed in this area.

Overview of international naturopathic practice and patient characteristics: results from a cross-sectional study in 14 countries

“…Available evaluations of outcomes from naturopathic practices suggest naturopathic care may improve the outcomes of patients with cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, mental illness, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [38]. While there may be evidence supporting the application of specific treatments used by naturopathic practitioners in the management of some of these conditions [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48], further research is required to fully quantify the impact and effectiveness of naturopathic care on the clinical outcomes across the diverse health complaints clinicians appear to be treating. Additionally, while all of conditions identified in this recent review are among those reported in our study as the primary reason patients have visited with naturopathic practitioners, there are also numerous conditions for which naturopathic care has not been examined.…”

Genoprotective Effects of Essential Oil Compounds Against Oxidative and Methylated DNA Damage in Human Colon Cancer Cells

“…EOC are highly bioactive aromatic components of plants and exert a wide range of proposed biological activities including antioxidative, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties as well as antigenotoxicity and anticarcinogenicity (Ait-Ouazzou et al, 2011;Bardaweel, Tawaha, & Hudaib, 2014;Bidinotto et al, 2011;Dörsam, Wu, Efferth, Kaina, & Fahrer, 2015;Teixeira et al, 2011). EO and EOC have been utilized as antimicrobials in cosmetics and toiletries (Muyima, Zulu, Bhengu, & Popplewell, 2002), foods (Tongnuanchan & Benjakul, 2014), and animal feed (Wallace et al, 2010), and are also used in alternative and complementary therapy (Ali et al, 2015;Wagner et al, 2015). Furthermore, EO and EOC have been postulated as therapeutics against colonic diseases and bac-terial infection in the human intestine (Baker et al, 2012;Koch, 1998;Rahimi, Mozaffari, & Abdollahi, 2009).…”

Новые Терапевтические Возможности Фитопрепаратов При Лечении Острых Респираторных Инфекций У Детей

“…Спазмолитическая и секретолитическая активность травы тимьяна при лечении кашля у 7083 лиц в возрасте от 1 до 86 лет была подтверждена в метаанализе с оценкой симптома кашля по шкале TDSS, проведенном L. Wagner с соавт. [35], и имеет убедительный уровень доказательности согласно Кокрановскому обзору (OR = 1,4; 95% ДИ 1,23-1,6; p < 0,001).…”