Coughs,
Colds & Flu Research
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Acupuncture
& Coughs, Colds & Flu
Scientists at the Beijing College of
Acupuncture & Orthopedics have demonstrated that acupuncture can be extremely
beneficial for patients suffering from acute respiratory infections. Fifty seven patients
suffering from the common cold, influenza, acute tonsillitis and acute bronchitis were
rapid needling with filiform needles at the acupuncture points Dazhui (Du 14), Fengchi (GB
13), and Quchi (LI 11). The results showed that in nineteen of the patients (33%) the
treatment was regarded as " markedly effective", in a further 27 patients the
treatment was regarded as "effective" (48%) and only eleven patients (19%)
failed to respond to the treatment . The total effective rate was therefore 80%.
A detailed analysis of the patients revealed that the
peripheral blood leucocyte and lymphocyte counts differed insignificantly after needling,
while the body temperature, rate of respiration, pulse, blood pressure and acupoint
temperature all dropped, with a simultaneous increase in the percentage of T-lymphocytes
showing an activated immune system. The immediate beneficial effects of the acupuncture
treatment were especially high in those patients who suffered from fevers due to exogenous
wind and cold.
Tan D. Treatment of fever due to exopathic wind-cold by
rapid acupuncture. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CHINA) Dec 1992, 12 (4)
p267-71,
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Homoeopathy
& Coughs, Colds & Flu
Back in 1981, a German research team investigated the benefits of the
homoeopathic remedy eupatorium perfoliatum D2 with aspirin in alleviating
the symptoms associated with the common cold and flu.
In a controlled clinical trial, fifty three outpatients suffering from
common cold /flu symptoms were randomly assigned to either treatment with
acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or Eupatorium perfoliatum D2 . The efficacy
of the medicines was assessed on day 1, 4 and 10 of the infection by
symptom check lists and physical examinations. Neither subjective
complaints nor body temperature or laboratory findings showed any
significant differences between the groups and the researchers stated that
the results indicated that both acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and
Eupatorium perfoliatum D2 were equally effective in alleviating cold and
flu symptoms.
Gassinger C.A.; Wuenstel G.; Netter P. A controlled clinical trial for
testing the efficacy of the homeopathic drug eupatorium perfoliatum D2 in
the treatment of common cold. Praxis Allg. Med.
Naturheilverfahren-Homoopathie, Mainz GERMANY, West Arzneim-Forsch, 1981,
31/4 (732-736)
Several years ago, French researchers conducted a controlled clinical
trial to assess the effectiveness of an homœopathic preparation in the treatment of
influenza-like syndromes and came up with an interesting result.
Two hundred and thirty seven (237) patients all received
the homœopathic medicine and two hundred and forty one (241) patients were used as
controls and given placebo tablets. The patients were asked to record their rectal
temperature twice a day, and monitor the presence or absence of five major symptoms
(headache, stiffness, lumbar and articular pain, shivers) along with cough, coryza and
fatigue. Recovery was defined as a rectal temperature less than 37.5 degrees C and
complete resolution of the five major symptoms.
The proportion of cases who recovered within forty eight
hours of treatment was far greater among the homœopathic group than among the placebo
group (17.1% against 10.3%). Whilst the researchers stated that they could not explain the
action of the homœopathic preparation, there was no doubt that it showed that it
offered therapeutic value, and called for more controlled, clinical studies.
Ferley JP; Zmirou D; D'Adhemar D; Balducci F. A controlled
evaluation of a homoeopathic preparation in the treatment of influenza-like syndromes.
Centre Alpin de Recherche Epidemiologique et de Prevention Sanitaire, Grenoble University
Hospital, France.
Br J Clin Pharmacol (ENGLAND) Mar 1989, 27 (3) p329-35
A
controlled clinical trial was conducted to at Grenoble University Hospital,
Grenoble France to assess the effectiveness of an homoeopathic preparation
in the treatment of influenza-like syndromes. 237 patients received the
homoeopathic preparation and a further 241 patients were assigned to receive
a placebo. The patients recorded their rectal temperature twice a day, and
the presence or absence of five cardinal symptoms - headache, stiffness,
lumbar and articular pain, shivers - along with cough, coryza (head cold and
nasal catarrh) and fatigue.
Recovery from the influenza was determined by the rectal temperature
falling below 37.5degreeC and complete resolution of the five cardinal
symptoms. The proportion of cases who recovered within 48 h of treatment was
considerably greater among the patients in the homoeopathic group (17.1%)
than among the placebo group (10.3%). The researchers themselves were so
impressed by the result that they called for further rigorously designed
clinical studies.
Ferley J.P.; Zimirou D.; D'Adhemar D.; Balducci F. A controlled
evaluation of a homoeopathic preparation in the treatment of
influenza-like syndromes. Centre Alpin de Recherche Epidemiologique et de
Prevention Sanitaire, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble France
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1989, 27/3 (329-335)
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