Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 19
To assess the effectiveness/efficacy of herbal medicine for treating rhinosinusitis.
Systematic literature search of databases, reference lists of retrieved articles and contact with manufacturers of commercial products. We included RCTs testing any herbal medicine in rhinosinusitis, as sole or adjunctive treatment. Methodological quality of the RCTs was scored using the 5-point Jadad scale.
Ten RCTs, testing six different herbal products against placebo or ‘no additional treatment’ were included. Four RCTs tested Sinupret (Gentiana lutea, Primula veris, Rumex acetosa, Sambucus nigra and Verbena officinalis) as adjunctive treatment for acute (three RCTs) or chronic (one RCT) rhinosinusitis. The quality of these studies varied and results were mixed. Two in acute rhinosinusitis, including the largest and best quality study, and one in chronic rhinosinusitis, reported significant positive findings. Three RCTs tested bromelain (protease of Ananas comosus) in acute rhinosinusitis (two RCTs) or in a mixed sample of chronic and acute rhinosinusitis patients. All reported some positive findings. Metanalysis of the two RCTs in acute rhinosinusitis suggested that adjunctive use of bromelain significantly improves some symptoms. Single RCTs identified for four other herbal products and all reported some positive results.
Evidence that any herbal medicines are beneficial in the treatment of rhinosinusitis is limited, particularly in chronic rhinosinusitis. The quality of the data varies and results were sometimes mixed. Most data were published more than a decade ago. Research using precise, modern definitions of the condition is required to investigate these products further.
R Guo’s fellowship is supported by Bionorica AG, Germany.
