Research Insights
Insights are moderated by the Research Hub team and offer an at-a-glance overview of interesting research findings.
Acupuncture, via nerve stimulation, can be a promising treatment strategy for controlling inflammation and improving organ function during sepsis by activating immune reflexes.
Review Article Immunity Sepsis
The study used a neuromodulation approach, leveraging the technique of peripheral nerve stimulation through acupuncture. This was linked with known somatic-autonomous-immune reflexes with the aim to control inflammation and improve organ functions in sepsis cases. The local and systematic effects of this methodology were largely achieved through the activation of several reflexes. These included the somatic-sympathetic-splenic reflex, the somatic-sympathic-adrenal reflex, the somatic-vagal-splenic reflex, and the somatic-vagal-adrenal reflex. The activation of these particular reflexes is what sets acupuncture apart from other nerve stimulation techniques.
In terms of results, the method used for immunomodulation and inflammation control showed considerable promise for sepsis treatment. The acupuncture procedure achieved regulation by activating appropriate reflexes which in turn produced a systemic effect, thereby controlling inflammation and enhancing organ function. The research findings underscore acupuncture as an effective therapy, providing significant advantages for immunomodulation in acute inflammation such as sepsis, leading to a comprehensive, evidence-based therapy recommendation.
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Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in relieving symptoms, shortening treatment time and reducing the development of severe viral pneumonia.
Review Article Common Cold
In the treatment of viral pneumonia through syndrome differentiation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a variety of roles in inhibiting the proliferation, replication, adsorption and membrane penetration of the virus, promoting the expression of interferon in vivo, inhibiting inflammatory reaction, enhancing immunity, etc., which is one of the theoretical bases for the clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of viral pneumonia.
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine and compound medicinals are characterized by multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-pathway complex networks. Therefore, drug resistance is relatively rare in the clinical practice of TCM. Moreover, in the process of diagnosis and treatment of TCM, treatment based on differentiation of symptoms and signs, especially treatment based on classification of symptoms and signs, can best reflect the overall concept of TCM. TCM has precise therapeutic activity and less adverse reactions. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the competent therapeutic effects of TCM against viral pneumonia with a prominent safety profile.
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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.
Systematic Review Ma Huang Tang
Twelve relevant studies were identified, including two randomised controlled trials (RCTs, N = 60) and ten non-randomised studies (NRSs, N = 1110). We found that maoto plus NAIs was superior to NAIs alone in terms of the duration of fever in one RCT and four NRSs. The duration of symptoms or virus isolation did not differ between maoto and NAIs. No severe side effects or adverse reactions were reported related to maoto or NAIs.
Although we could not reach a definitive conclusion because of the small sample sizes and high risk of bias in the analysed studies, maoto may lower the duration of fever when it is used alone or in combination with NAIs and may be a well-tolerated treatment. More RCTs are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of maoto.
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Most Chinese medical herbs in the included studies showed similar effects to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza.
Systematic Review Common Cold
This updated review assessed the therapeutic effects and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs as an alternative and adjunctive therapy to other commonly used drugs for influenza. Eighteen studies involving 2521 participants were included in the review. 'Ganmao' capsules were found to be more effective than amantadine in decreasing influenza symptoms and aiding recovery in one study (in which adverse reactions were mentioned in the amantadine group although no data were reported). There were no significant differences between 'E Shu You' and ribavirin in treating influenza, nor in the occurrence of adverse reactions. The remaining 17 Chinese herbal trials showed a similar effect to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza. However, since these included studies were of poor quality, the evidence does not support or reject the use of any Chinese herbal preparations for influenza. High‐quality trials are required.
View Article
Clinical Trials
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Study Protocols
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Presentation Slides
Chinese Medicine Research Hub
Review Article
Acupuncture, via nerve stimulation, can be a promising treatment strategy for controlling inflammation and improving organ function during sepsis by activating immune reflexes.
2021 Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical Acupuncture modulates immunity in sepsis: Toward a science-based protocol
Pan WX, Fan AY, Chen S, Alemi SF.
Chinese Medicine Research Hub
Review Article
Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in relieving symptoms, shortening treatment time and reducing the development of severe viral pneumonia.
2020 Frontiers in Pharmacology Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Management of Viral Pneumonia
Xi S, Li Y, Yue L, Gong Y, Qian L, Liang T, Ye Y
Chinese Medicine Research Hub
Systematic Review
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.
2018 BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies The use of maoto (Ma-Huang-Tang), a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, to alleviate flu symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Yoshino, T., Arita, R., Horiba, Y. et al
Chinese Medicine Research Hub
Systematic Review
Most Chinese medical herbs in the included studies showed similar effects to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza.
2013 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Chinese medicinal herbs for influenza
Jiang L, Deng L, Wu T.
Executive Summary
Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Common Cold, Flu & Viral Infections" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.
Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Common Cold, Flu & Viral Infections" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.
Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Common Cold, Flu & Viral Infections" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.
A Review Article published in 2021 in the journal Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical found that Acupuncture, via nerve stimulation, can be a promising treatment strategy for controlling inflammation and improving organ function during sepsis by activating immune reflexes. The study used a neuromodulation approach, leveraging the technique of peripheral nerve stimulation through acupuncture. This was linked with known somatic-autonomous-immune reflexes with the aim to control inflammation and improve organ functions in sepsis cases. The local and systematic effects of this methodology were largely achieved through the activation of several reflexes. These included the somatic-sympathetic-splenic reflex, the somatic-sympathic-adrenal reflex, the somatic-vagal-splenic reflex, and the somatic-vagal-adrenal reflex. The activation of these particular reflexes is what sets acupuncture apart from other nerve stimulation techniques.
In terms of results, the method used for immunomodulation and inflammation control showed considerable promise for sepsis treatment. The acupuncture procedure achieved regulation by activating appropriate reflexes which in turn produced a systemic effect, thereby controlling inflammation and enhancing organ function. The research findings underscore acupuncture as an effective therapy, providing significant advantages for immunomodulation in acute inflammation such as sepsis, leading to a comprehensive, evidence-based therapy recommendation.
A Review Article published in 2020 in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology found that Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in relieving symptoms, shortening treatment time and reducing the development of severe viral pneumonia. In the treatment of viral pneumonia through syndrome differentiation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a variety of roles in inhibiting the proliferation, replication, adsorption and membrane penetration of the virus, promoting the expression of interferon in vivo, inhibiting inflammatory reaction, enhancing immunity, etc., which is one of the theoretical bases for the clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of viral pneumonia.
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine and compound medicinals are characterized by multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-pathway complex networks. Therefore, drug resistance is relatively rare in the clinical practice of TCM. Moreover, in the process of diagnosis and treatment of TCM, treatment based on differentiation of symptoms and signs, especially treatment based on classification of symptoms and signs, can best reflect the overall concept of TCM. TCM has precise therapeutic activity and less adverse reactions. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the competent therapeutic effects of TCM against viral pneumonia with a prominent safety profile.
A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that 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. Twelve relevant studies were identified, including two randomised controlled trials (RCTs, N = 60) and ten non-randomised studies (NRSs, N = 1110). We found that maoto plus NAIs was superior to NAIs alone in terms of the duration of fever in one RCT and four NRSs. The duration of symptoms or virus isolation did not differ between maoto and NAIs. No severe side effects or adverse reactions were reported related to maoto or NAIs.
Although we could not reach a definitive conclusion because of the small sample sizes and high risk of bias in the analysed studies, maoto may lower the duration of fever when it is used alone or in combination with NAIs and may be a well-tolerated treatment. More RCTs are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of maoto.
A Systematic Review published in 2013 in the journal Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that Most Chinese medical herbs in the included studies showed similar effects to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza. This updated review assessed the therapeutic effects and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs as an alternative and adjunctive therapy to other commonly used drugs for influenza. Eighteen studies involving 2521 participants were included in the review. 'Ganmao' capsules were found to be more effective than amantadine in decreasing influenza symptoms and aiding recovery in one study (in which adverse reactions were mentioned in the amantadine group although no data were reported). There were no significant differences between 'E Shu You' and ribavirin in treating influenza, nor in the occurrence of adverse reactions. The remaining 17 Chinese herbal trials showed a similar effect to antiviral drugs in preventing or treating influenza. However, since these included studies were of poor quality, the evidence does not support or reject the use of any Chinese herbal preparations for influenza. High‐quality trials are required.
Need help with this conclusion — 15 Sep 2021