A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 18 studies with a total of 2521 subjects with influenza. The patients were aged from 7 months to 71 years. A total of 14 trials compared traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or TCM plus oseltamivir with oseltamivir alone. However, the TCM preparations varied, precluding any pooling of results. Only 3 trials indicated that compared with antiviral drugs, Chinese medicinal herbs may be effective in preventing influenza and alleviating influenza symptoms. 'Ganmao' capsules were found to be more effective than amantadine in decreasing influenza symptoms and speeding recovery (RR 5.17, 95% CI 3.82 to 6.99; 1 trial, n=738). There were no significant differences between 'E Shu You' and ribavirin in treating influenza (RR 2.17, 95% CI 0.87 to 5.43; 1 trial, n=61), nor in the occurrence of adverse reactions. Ten studies reported mild adverse reactions.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (inadequate allocation concealment and blinding), inconsistency (heterogeneity in patients, interventions and outcomes) and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).
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