Mixture prepared with Chinese medicines in terms of releasing exterior cold and clearing interior heat: its efficacy and safety in patients with seasonal influenza-a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety in 105 patients with seasonal Influenza in Beijing, the mixture prepared with Chinese medicines follows the treatment regimen of releasing exterior cold and clearing interior heat. METHODS: Total 330 patients with seasonal influenza were enrolled and randomly and averagely divided into the Chinese herbal medicine, the western medicine and the Chinese patent medicine group. They were treated with Chinese medicine Oseltamivir Phosphate Capsules and the Scattering Wind and Resolving Toxins Capsules. The main efficacy indicators were the antifebrile onset time and recovery time of body temperature. The efficacy and safety of the mixture was scientifically evaluated. Comparisons of several variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Median antifebrile onset time of the Chinese herbal medicine group was significantly shorter than the western medicine group (P < 0.05) and the Chinese patent medicine group (P < 0.05). The median antifebrile recovery time of the Chinese herbal medicine group was significantly shorter than the Chinese patent medicine group (P < 0.05). The groups evaluated by TCM symptom pattern effect, both the Chinese herbal medicine group and Western Medicine group were better than the Chinese patent medicine group (P < 0.05). The disappearance rate of main symptoms and some minor symptom patterns of the Chinese herbal medicine group were higher than the other 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The mixture of releasing exterior cold and clearing interior heat could significantly shorten the fever time with safety.