Researchers from Japan’s Fukuoka University have confirmed that a Japanese Kampo medicine herbal formula reduces the duration of influenza.
The Kampo formula, called Maoto, has been used for centuries in the ancient Japanese medicine.
The medical scientists randomly gave 28 adults with influenza either the Maoto herbal medicine, or one of two neuraminidase inhibitor pharmaceutical drugs found to reduce influenza duration. They gave 10 patients the Maoto granules, eight patients were given the oseltamivir and 10 patients were given the zanamivir medication.
The researchers did viral analyses and checkups with the patients after one day, three days and five days into the treatment.
The Japanese herbal combination – taken in granule form – reduced the average flu duration from its typical four to five day duration down to an average of 29 hours.
Because the subjects had contracted influenza symptoms within 48 hours of the study, the maximum mean duration totaled about three days, with the average at about two days.
The two neuraminidase inhibitor drugs, known also for reducing influenza duration – but can accompany side effects including vomiting and nausea – had average durations of 43 and 27 hours respectively.
The Maoto Herbal Formula
The Japanese herbal complex called Maoto is composed of the following herbs:- Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum sp.)
- Apricot Kernel (Prunus armeniaca)
- Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
- Ephedra (Ephedra sinica)
These four herbs have been used independently and in various combinations in Japanese traditional medicine (also called Kampo), Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurveda from ancient India for many centuries. Recent scientific studies have shown that these herbs each provide anti-inflammatory effects. In combination, combination herbal medicines tend to work from a syndergistic mechanism.
Similar results as with medications
The researchers also tested inflammatory mediators called cytokines, which will increase during fevers. The Japanese researchers found that the cytokine levels were similar between the three treatments. The Kampo herbal complex reduced inflammatory mediators similarly to the pharmaceuticals.They found the various immunity factors - measured by cytokines such as interleukin and interferon - were also similar between the three groups.
Symptom scores between the three groups were also similar. The researchers concluded:
Comparing Adverse side effects
The Maoto herbal treatment caused no side effects and was characterized as "well tolerated."Meanwhile, it should be noted that side effects from the two medications can include some of the same symptoms as the flu. For example, according to the physician's desk reference, zanamivir can produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, blocked nose, coughing and other respiratory issues.
Meanwhile, Maoto has not been known to produce many if any adverse effects when dosed correctly. Those adverse effects attributed to Ephedra have been the result of incorrect formulation and dosing. Traditional ephedra herbal formulations typically involve boiling the herb. While this has not been proven to necessarily reduce its alkaloid content, this process has been used safely for centuries in both traditional Kampo and Chinese medicines.
REFERENCES:
Nabeshima S, Kashiwagi K, Ajisaka K, Masui S, Takeoka H, Ikematsu H, Kashiwagi S. A randomized, controlled trial comparing traditional herbal medicine and neuraminidase inhibitors in the treatment of seasonal influenza. J Infect Chemother. 2012 Feb 16.Hayashi K, Shimura K, Makino T, Mizukami H. Comparison of the contents of kampo decoctions containing ephedra herb when prepared simply or by re-boiling according to the traditional theory. J Nat Med. 2010 Jan;64(1):70-4. doi: 10.1007/s11418-009-0375-z.
Ephedra altissima photo by Leonora Enking