2021 Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical
Acupuncture, via nerve stimulation, can be a promising treatment strategy for controlling inflammation and improving organ function during sepsis by activating immune reflexes.
Chinese Medicine for Common Cold & Flu
The common cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat also known as an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Most people recover from a common cold within 1 to 2 weeks, although for some people certain symptoms may take longer to resolve.
Although some symptoms are similar, the flu is a viral infection caused by influenza viruses. Flu symptoms range from mild to severe and complications can require hospitalisation and worsen pre-existing health issues such as asthma. The flu can be deadly for the elderly and immunocompromised which is why prevention, early diagnosis and treatment is essential.
Cold and flu symptoms may also be caused by bacterial and lung infections which can be life-threatening. If in doubt, always seek advice from your family's trusted healthcare professional.
What does the research say?
The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of chinese medicine for common cold & flu.
2020 Frontiers in Pharmacology
Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in relieving symptoms, shortening treatment time and reducing the development of severe viral pneumonia.
2019 APMIS
Traditional Chinese medicine rapidly relieves the clinical symptoms caused by viral infection with a remarkable antifebrile effect.
2019 APMIS
Traditional Chinese medicine has a generalized antiviral effect indicating the regulation on the direct inhibition of virus, body immunity, and inflammatory response control.
2019 APMIS
Clinical efficacy can be improved by the combination of Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases.
2019 APMIS
Traditional Chinese medicine can restrain some infections induced by various drug-resistant bacteria.
2018 BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Ma Huang Tang may lower the duration of fever when it is used alone or in combination with neuraminidase inhibitors and may be a well-tolerated treatment.
2013 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Most Chinese medical herbs in the included studies showed similar effects to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza.
Seek personalised healthcare and advice
Although well-conducted clinical research can help members of the public to make better-informed decisions about their healthcare, we cannot claim that any particular treatment may be effective for any individual person.
When you consult with our Chinese medicine practitioners, you’ll receive personalised advice and treatment based on your symptoms and Chinese medicine diagnosis.
Research papers
Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on chinese medicine for common cold & flu.
It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.
2021, May 1
Acupuncture modulates immunity in sepsis: Toward a science-based protocol
Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience
Acupuncture, through activating various somatic-autonomic-immune reflexes and inducing local reflexes, shows promise as a non-invasive technique for controlling inflammation and improving organ functions in sepsis.
Pan WX, Fan AY, Chen S, Alemi SF. Full Article
2020, Oct 22
Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Management of Viral Pneumonia
Frontiers in Pharmacology
TCM has been widely used in basic and clinical researches of virus diseases especially viral pneumonia in human. Some Chinese medicine has shown certain therapeutic effect, but high-quality experimental design and randomized clinical controlled study are still needed. A wide variety of antiviral traditional Chinese herbal medicines also provides potential opportunity for further development in specific therapeutic agents to treat viral pneumonia around the world.
Xi S, Li Y, Yue L, Gong Y, Qian L, Liang T, Ye Y Full Article
2019, May 24
Prevention and treatment of infectious diseases by traditional Chinese medicine: a commentary
APMIS Scandinavian Societies for Medical Microbiology and Pathology
This study showcased that personalized herbal medicine with TCM has a high efficacy in treating infectious diseases with specific efficacy and advantages
Yuexia Ma, Ming Chen, Yali Guo, Jian Liu, Weitao Chen, Mengyue Guan, Yue Wang, Xuehui Zhao, Xu Wang, Haoyuan Li, Lingxin Meng, Yulong Wen, Yuguang Wang Full Article
2018, Mar 18
The use of maoto (Ma-Huang-Tang), a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, to alleviate flu symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
This review highlight the effectiveness of Ma Huang Tang in relieving flu symptoms.
Yoshino, T., Arita, R., Horiba, Y. et al Full Article
2013, Mar 28
Chinese medicinal herbs for influenza
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Cochrane
Most Chinese medical herbs in the included studies showed similar effects to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza. Few were shown to be superior to antiviral drugs. No obvious adverse events were reported in the included studies. However, current evidence remains weak due to methodological limitations of the trials. More high‐quality RCTs with larger numbers of participants and clear reporting are needed.
Jiang L, Deng L, Wu T. Full Article
It is by virtue of the twelve channels that human life exists, that disease arises, that human beings can be treated and illness cured. The twelve channels are where beginners start and masters end.