Pelargonium Effective for Acute Rhinosinusitis

Greetings folks, the following is an article distributed to practitioners from Mediherb and Dr Kerry Bone, one of the
Australia’s and possibly the worlds leading professors of
herbal medicine and manufacturers of the finest quality
herbal products. This is supposed to be information for
practitioners only but due to the constant smear campaigns
and misinformation distributed by some medical doctors and
pharmaceutical companies, mainly idiotic American based, I
am going to publish the articles sent to me so that you, the
discerning public, have more accurate and honest information
upon which to base your decision to use herbal therapies.

Mainstream pharmaceutical companies and some doctors
have their heads in the sand when it comes to herbal
medicine and the real threat it poses to their “Illness
Industry”. Much of the so called science behind
pharmaceuticals is questionable as are the side effects whilst
much of the science behind herbal medicine is very sound
indeed. Modern science is even proving more and more that
natural therapies, herbal medicine and energetic medicine is
the way forward. The ones who stand to lose the most profits
would have you believe otherwise!

Enjoy the articles!

Craig Hitchens. B.HSc.  NESCP. Dip. Massage. Dip. Reflexology.

Pelargonium Effective for Acute Rhinosinusitis

Rhinosinusitis refers to inflammation of the tissues of the nose and sinuses. Acute rhinosinusitis (AR) usually begins as a viral infection (the common cold) that causes mucosal swelling and subsequent obstruction of the sinuses. A secondary bacterial sinus infection typically follows. AR is one of the most common medical conditions treated  and is estimated to account for 16 million medical consultations a year in the US alone.1  The condition can last up to 4 weeks, especially if it is complicated by a pronounced bacterial infection. Hence, early resolution of AR before a bacterial infection can take a substantial hold would make a significant contribution to public health, given that the efficacy of antibiotics is limited or controversial for this condition.1,2

In this context it is interesting  to learn that Pelargonium sidoides was found to be effective for AR in a randomised,  double blind, placebo-controlled trial.1

Adult patients  with radiographically confirmed AR and a Sinus Severity Score (SSS) of at least 12 points were enrolled in the trial. The SSS is based on 6 symptoms and signs: headache;  maxillary pain; maxillary pain made worse on bending forward, percussion or pressure; nasal obstruction; purulent nasal secretion and purulent nasal discharge. The total maximum score is 24. All of the patients  in the trial had a purulent nasal secretion, so they were clearly exhibiting a key sign of bacterial AR.

Patients received either 60 drops 3 times a day of a 1:9 tincture of Pelargonium (n=51) or a matching placebo (n=52) and were followed for 21 days. The dose corresponds to 0.8 to 1.0 g/day of dried root (equivalent to 1.6 to 2.0 mL of a 1:2 extract). By day 7 there was a 5.5 point drop in the SSS in the Pelargonium group, compared to 2.5 for placebo. This difference was highly significant, with p < 0.00001. The percentage of patients  with complete remission

(SSS=0) by day 21 was 61% for the herb group compared to only 10% for placebo (p < 0.001). Evidence of radiographic cure on day 21 followed a similar trend. There was no clinically relevant change in any of the safety measures  used in the trial (laboratory tests (not defined), adverse symptoms and vital signs).

The authors concluded that the Pelargonium preparation (EPs 7630) was well tolerated  and superior in efficacy to placebo in the treatment of AR of presumably bacterial origin.

 Comment 

This study was first reported  as a conference abstract in 2006 and the additional data provided in the full paper add to the argument  that Pelargonium should be a front-line treatment in the management of AR. Although patients  treated  with antibiotics were excluded from the trial, Pelargonium is likely to be compatible with their use (should that be the intention of the patient).  The proven compatibility of Pelargonium with children is an additional advantage.

 By Kerry Bone.

REFERENCES

1     Bachert C, Schapowal A, Funk P et al. Rhinology 2009; 47(1): 51-

58

2     Williams JW, Aguilar C, Cornell J et al. Cochrane Database of

Systematic Reviews 2003; issue 2; Art. No.: CD000243