A traditional Japanese herbal medicine reduced recurrent middle-ear infections, respiratory cold episodes, and antibiotic use among young children prone to repeated infections.
Young children with recurrent acute middle-ear infections were recruited from ear, nose, and throat clinics in Japan. All children received standard guideline-based treatment for acute infections, while one group additionally received twice-daily oral traditional Japanese herbal medicine for three months. Researchers compared monthly middle-ear infection frequency, cold episodes, and overall antibiotic-treatment duration between groups.
Children receiving the herbal medicine experienced fewer recurrent middle-ear infections than those given standard treatment alone. They also had fewer cold episodes and required antibiotics for less time, suggesting that the herbal treatment may complement conventional care while reducing reliance on antibiotics.
