Efficacy and Safety of Complementary Therapy With Jing Si Herbal Tea in Patients With Mild-To-Moderate COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study
Hsieh et al.,
Efficacy and Safety of Complementary Therapy With Jing Si Herbal Tea in Patients With Mild-To-Moderate..,
Frontiers in Nutrition, doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.832321
Prospective study of 260 hospitalized patients in Taiwan, 117 treated with herbal formula Jing Si Herbal Tea which includes antiandrogen glycyrrhiza glabra, showing improved recovery with treatment, with statistical significance for SpO2, Ct score, CRP, and Brixia score.
risk of death, 87.9% lower, RR 0.12, p = 0.13, treatment 0 of 117 (0.0%), control 4 of 143 (2.8%), NNT 36, relative risk is not 0 because of continuity correction due to zero events (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm).
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risk of mechanical ventilation, 51.1% lower, RR 0.49, p = 0.46, treatment 2 of 117 (1.7%), control 5 of 143 (3.5%), NNT 56.
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risk of ICU admission, 30.2% lower, RR 0.70, p = 0.76, treatment 4 of 117 (3.4%), control 7 of 143 (4.9%), NNT 68.
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risk of no recovery, 87.9% lower, RR 0.12, p = 0.13, treatment 0 of 117 (0.0%), control 4 of 143 (2.8%), NNT 36, relative risk is not 0 because of continuity correction due to zero events (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm).
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relative increase in Ct score, 36.1% better, RR 0.64, p < 0.001, treatment mean 8.14 (±4.9) n=117, control mean 5.2 (±6.99) n=143.
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Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious outcomes. Submit updates
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Hsieh et al., 14 Mar 2022, prospective, Taiwan, peer-reviewed, 7 authors, study period 1 May, 2021 - 31 August, 2021, this trial uses multiple treatments in the treatment arm (combined with multi-herbal formula) - results of individual treatments may vary.
Contact:
drbfci@yahoo.com.tw.
Abstract: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
published: 14 March 2022
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.832321
Efficacy and Safety of
Complementary Therapy With Jing Si
Herbal Tea in Patients With
Mild-To-Moderate COVID-19: A
Prospective Cohort Study
Po-Chun Hsieh 1 , You-Chen Chao 2,3 , Kuo-Wang Tsai 4 , Chung-Hsien Li 2 , I-Shiang Tzeng 4 ,
Yao-Kuang Wu 3,5* and Cheng Yen Shih 6
1
Department of Chinese Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan,
Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan,
3
School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, 4 Department of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu
Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan, 5 Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei
Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan, 6 Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation,
Hualien, Taiwan
2
Edited by:
Vijay Kumar Bhardwaj,
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource
Technology (CSIR), India
Reviewed by:
Daniela Calina,
University of Medicine and Pharmacy
of Craiova, Romania
Bhanu Sharma,
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource
Technology (CSIR), India
*Correspondence:
Yao-Kuang Wu
drbfci@yahoo.com.tw
Specialty section:
This article was submitted to
Clinical Nutrition,
a section of the journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Received: 09 December 2021
Accepted: 24 January 2022
Published: 14 March 2022
Citation:
Hsieh P-C, Chao Y-C, Tsai K-W,
Li C-H, Tzeng I-S, Wu Y-K and
Shih CY (2022) Efficacy and Safety of
Complementary Therapy With Jing Si
Herbal Tea in Patients With
Mild-To-Moderate COVID-19: A
Prospective Cohort Study.
Front. Nutr. 9:832321.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.832321
Frontiers in Nutrition | www.frontiersin.org
Background: Since late 2019, there has been a global COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve
medical capacity and decrease adverse health effects, preventing the progression of
COVID-19 to severe status is essential. Jing-Si Herbal Tea (JSHT), a novel traditional
Chinese medicine formula was developed to treat COVID-19. This study examined the
clinical efficacy and safety of JSHT in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
Methods:
In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 260 patients with
mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The enrolled patients were divided into the JSHT (n = 117)
and control (n = 143) groups. Both groups received standard management. The JSHT
group was treated with JSHT as a complementary therapy.
Results: Compared with standard management alone, JSHT combined with standard
management more effectively improved the reverse transcription–polymerase chain
reaction cycle threshold value, C-reactive protein level, and Brixia score in the adult
patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially in the male and older patients
(those aged ≥60 years). The results revealed that the patients treated with JSHT
combined with standard management had 51, 70, and 100% lower risks of intubation,
Medisave Care Unit admission, and mortality compared with those receiving standard
management only.
Conclusions: JSHT combined with standard management more effectively reduced
the SARS-CoV-2 viral load and systemic inflammation and alleviated lung infiltrates in
the patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially in the male and older patients
(those aged ≥60 years). JSHT combined with standard management may prevent critical
status and mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate..
Late treatment
is less effective
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