Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of acute respiratory infections: a review of randomised and controlled clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
To review clinical trials of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) in the management of acute respiratory infections (ARIs).


METHODS
MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Library and three Chinese medical journals available in Australia.


METHODS
Studies in which a control group was used in comparing CHMs with a placebo or "Western medicine" (usually antibiotics) for treating ARIs were included.


RESULTS
27 of 46 studies identified in the search of the databases and the Chinese journals fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty-six of these were published in Chinese, and one in English. Twenty were randomised controlled trials and seven were "controlled clinical trials". Although most of the studies reported that CHMs are better than antibiotics for the treatment of ARIs, the quality of the studies was generally poor when evaluated for patient allocation, treatment description, outcome measurement and data analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the trial methodology of these studies was often inadequate or insufficiently documented, it is difficult to recommend the use of CHMs in ARIs. However, Shuang Huang Lian does appear to be useful for treating lower respiratory tract infections. More rigorous evaluation of CHMs is needed, as they are becoming popular treatments in many countries, including Australia.
Liu
C
C
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT. chaoying.liu@health.gov.au
Douglas
R M
RM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal