| Purpose of researchObserving the application of acrid-warm formulae in the treatment of cold due of wind-cold,differences and characteristics between China(Guangdong)and Africa(Southeast Africa).The cold due to wind-cold and URI(upper respiratory tract infection)share a number of similar clinical symptoms.Many papers suggest that,to treat cold due to wind-cold,using acrid-warm perspirative formulae,such as Guizhi decoction and Ephedra Decoction,according to the differentiation of syndromes,is very effective.There are experts who think that using Guizhi decoction,Ephedra Decoction and other acrid-warm formulae independently to induce sweating cures the illness very well,and draws better results than using conventional medicine targeting the symptoms.To better prove the effectiveness of treating cold due to wind-cold by causing perspiration with acrid-warm formulae,the controlled clinical trial was arranged.Methods and contents of researchPatients in clinics or hospitals in China(Guangdong)and Africa(Southeast Africa)were selected between April and December,2018.The cases belong to an age range from 18 to 65 years old.A total of 234 cases of cold due to wind-cold were treated,among them 2 cases had allergy,8 cases didn’ t finish the observation,5 cases were flu,and 19 cases lacked complete data,therefore counting up to 200 eligible cases into the research.The eligible cases met the criteria for upper respiratory tract infection and the syndrome differentiation criteria for cold due to wind-cold categorized by TCM.The patients were divided into four arms:two experimental arms each containing 50 cases from China and 50 cases from Africa,using acrid-warm perspirative formulae(hereinafter referred to as the Chinese medicine arms),and two control arms each with 50 Chinese cases and 50 African cases,receiving paracetamol(hereinafter referred to as the conventional medicine arms).Factors including the symptom scores before and after treatments,time taken before returning to a normal body temperature,overall efficacy,etc.were compared.Results1.The differences of body temperature of Chinese and African patients 12h,24h,48h and 72h before and after treatment with conventional medicine and Chinese medicine have no statistical significance(P>0.05).2.The difference of the time needed for the temperature to recover to a normal level between the Chinese medicine arms and conventional medicine arms from China and Africa has no statistical significance(P>0.05).3.In the conventional medicine arm from China,the symptom scores within a traditional Chinese medicine context after treatment were better than those before treatment;In the conventional medicine arm from Africa,the symptom scores after treatment were also better than those before treatment;However,the differences before and after treatment between the two regions have no statistical significance(P>0.05).4.In the Chinese medicine arm from China,the symptom scores within a traditional Chinese medicine context after treatment were better than those before treatment;In the Chinese medicine arm from Africa,the symptom scores after treatment were also better than those before treatment;But there is no significant difference between the two regions before treatment(P>0.05).The symptom score for sweating after treatment from the African arm is better than that from the Chinese arm(P<0.05),the difference with statistical significance.5.The differences of body temperature 12h,24h and 48h before and after treatment between the Chinese medicine arm and the conventional medicine arm from China have no statistical significance(P>0.05);Comparing the body temperature 72 hours after treatment,the temperature level of the Chinese medicine arm is lower,with statistical significance(P<0.05).6.Comparing the time needed for the body temperature to recover of the two arms from China,the Chinese medicine arm recovered the temperature with a shorter time than the conventional medicine arm,with statistical significance(P<0.05).7.Comparing the symptom scores within a traditional Chinese medicine context before and after treatment of the two arms from China,the symptom scores after treatment improved apparently,the difference with statistical significance(P<0.05);Comparing the two arms from China,the differences of symptom scores of aversion to cold,coughing,expectoration,sore throat,sweating,nasal obstruction,rhinorrhea,sneezing,urine and feces,abdominal bloating,thirst,headache and aching body,anorexia,tongue and pulse after treatment have no statistical significance(P>0.05);Comparing the symptom scores,within a traditional Chinese medicine context,of fever,nausea and vomiting after treatment of the two arms from China,the symptoms scores of the Chinese medicine arm lowered better,the difference with statistical significance(P<0.05).8.The differences of body temperature 12h,24h and 48h before and after treatment between the Chinese medicine arm and the conventional medicine arm from Africa have no statistical significance(P>0.05);Comparing the body temperature 72 hours after treatment,the temperature level of the Chinese medicine arm is lower,with statistical significance(P<0.05).9.Comparing the time needed for the body temperature to recover of the two arms from Africa,there is no significant difference(P>0.05).10.Comparing the symptom scores within a traditional Chinese medicine context before and after treatment of the two arms from Africa,the symptom scores after treatment improved apparently,the difference with statistical significance(P<0.05);Comparing the two arms from Africa,the differences of symptom scores of aversion to cold,coughing,expectoration,sore throat,nasal obstruction,rhinorrhea,sneezing,urine and feces,abdominal bloating,thirst,headache and aching body,anorexia,tongue and pulse after treatment have no statistical significance(P>0.05);Comparing the symptom scores,within a traditional Chinese medicine context,of fever,sweating,nausea and vomiting after treatment of the two arms from Africa,the symptoms scores of the Chinese medicine arm lowered better,the difference with statistical significance(P<0.05).11.Comparing the two arms from China,there is no significant difference of the overall efficacy(P>0.05);Comparing the overall efficacy of the two arms from Africa,there is significant difference(P<0.05).Comparing the Chinese medicine arms and the conventional medicine arms from the two regions,there is no significant difference(P>0.05)of the overall efficacy.12.Within the studied cases from China(Guangdong)who had the syndrome of type Taiyang inharmony between nutrient qi and defensive qi,most of them had stronger defensive qi and weaker nutrient qi,counting 22 cases(44%).13.Within the studied cases from Africa(Southeast Africa)who had the syndrome of type Taiyang inharmony between nutrient qi and defensive qi,most of them had stronger defensive qi and stagnated nutrient qi,counting 20 cases(40%)·Conclusions1.Both Chinese medicine and conventional medicine are effective in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection for participated Chinese and African patients.2.The time needed for the body temperature to recover to a normal level for participated Chinese and African patients who took Chinese medicine was shorter than those who took conventional medicine;And the Chinese medicine arm from China used apparently less time than the conventional medicine arm for the body temperature to recover to a normal level.3.The symptom scores of Chinese and African patients,in either Chinese medicine arms or conventional medicine arms,all improved with the treatment;But the improvement of the Chinese medicine arms was apparently bigger than the conventional medicine arms,especially,the Chinese medicine arm from Africa had the best improvement.4.Among the participated patients from Africa,the Chinese medicine arm showed a better treatment result than the conventional medicine arm,which may be related to Africans ’ higher sensitivity towards Chinese medicine since they took it for the first time. |
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