Common Cold

• Introduction
• Research
• TCM Clinical Trials

Introduction

The common cold generally involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. It may also have a sore throat, fever, cough, headache, or other symptoms. Over 200 different types of viruses can cause a cold. We call it the “common cold” for a good reason. You and your children will probably experience colds more than any other type of illness. Children average 3 to 8 colds per year and they continue getting them throughout childhood. It’s the most common reason that children miss school and parents are absent from work. Without treatment, a cold will usually last for 7-10 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (such as cough) for another week. This means that if your child has eight cold’s a year that last for ten days, they will suffer from cold symptoms 80 days per year!

For thousands of years, the Chinese have been seeking and practicing solutions to health ailments and have discovered ways to live longer, healthier lives. The formal documentation of these discoveries ultimately developed into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The various areas of TCM including herbal medicine, acupuncture and Chinese massage have all been proven effective at increasing the immune system in people who have cancer, HIV/AIDS, allergic and autoimmune conditions. TCM is also very effective in boosting the immune system of children who frequently “catch a cold” (see Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections under TCM Research).

Treatment

Antibiotics should NOT be used to treat a common cold. They will NOT help and may make the cold worse! Thick yellow or green nasal discharge is not a reason for antibiotics. To make matters worse, all antibiotics have side effects. All antibiotics harm beneficial bacteria, and can cause diarrhea, yeast infections, and bacterial super-infections. Even 'mild antibiotics' such as amoxicillin has been known to cause bone marrow toxicity, seizures, acute interstitial nephritis, neuromuscular sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, urticarial rashes, pseudomembranous colitis, thrombocytopenic purpura, anaphylactic shock, and even death. The greatest danger of using antibiotics to treat the common cold is the emergence of resistant bacteria. Over time, the bacteria in your community will develop resistance to the antibiotics most commonly used there. Therefore, if a time comes when your child really needs antibiotics, they will not be as effective.

Chinese Herbal Medicine is effective in relieving all symptoms of the common cold. According to modern pharmacology, many common herbs used in TCM have an anti-bacterial and anti-viral effect. This ancient medicine is able to reduce the duration of a common cold by at least half and can help you feel better in the meantime. Traditional Chinese Medicine’s philosophy is to treat the common cold as early as possible to limit the amount of days the child takes medicine and to prevent complications which include bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infection, sinusitis or aggravation of the asthma. However, if these complications are present Chinese herbal medicine has effective remedies to address them.

Prevention

The only way to prevent a cold is to strengthen your immune system. As mentioned earlier, children average 3 to 8 colds per year. It is certainly better to get three than eight and also with a strong immune system the colds won’t last as long and will not be as severe!

Here are three most important ways to support the immune system:

• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Tuina (Chinese Massage)
• Avoid unnecessary antibiotics

Success Stories

Marcus's Fever

We first brought our son to see Robert because we were concerned with the persistent, high and prolonged fever he was suffering from. Robert used Chinese herbal medicine, massage and a finger prick technique to decrease his fever. It was reassuring to have Robert monitoring his health and progress. Robert has a very nice manner and approach with children. He is very thorough with his assessment and follow-up.



Angelica's Cough

Over the last 3 years, I have taken Angelica to see Dr. Rob for any health problem she has had. She loves these doctor visits and Dr. Rob uses massage and herbs to keep her healthy. In the past Angelica, was given inhalers by her family doctor for a severe cough she had developed. We were concerned about giving our child steroids. We chose to use Chinese medicine instead and within two days she was back to normal without using the inhalers.

Sam's tonsils

Sam kept getting throat infections (Strep) and tonsillitis and our doctor told us if he got any more we would have to get his tonsils out. We chose to use TCM because we did not want to continue to give our son antibiotics and did not want him to have surgery if it was not necessary. Sam went to see Dr. Rob where he received herbal medicine and massage. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Robert Helmer and his services. My son did not have to have his tonsils removed and he has had only one throat infection since stopping treatment 5 years ago. He is warm and supportive with children and my children love Dr. Rob! We have learned so much about a healthy lifestyle from him.


Research

• Parent’s Over-treat Fevers in Children
• No Evidence the Flu Shot Works for Children Under-2

Parent’s Over-treat Fevers in Children

Concerned parents often misunderstand their child’s fever and interpret it as a sign that their child has a serious infection. In actuality, a fever is that body’s natural defense mechanism against illness and is often a benefit to a child. A survey sent to 2000 parents showed some startling results. Only 43% of parents knew that fevers below 100.4 degrees can actually help a child fight an illness, as opposed to 86% of doctors knowing this fact. The majority of parents responded that they would treat a fever below 100.4 even if their child was not acting ill. Only 11% of doctors responded this way.

No Evidence the Flu Shot Works for Children Under 2

Each year, influenza kills an average of 36,000 Americans and puts 114,000 in hospital. Every flu season, many of us parents have our child vaccinated for the flu without question. Here is something to think about. Researchers reviewed 25 studies that looked at the impact of vaccines in cutting the number of cases of influenza and its symptoms in children up to 16. "Immunization of very young children is not lent support by our findings," said Dr Tom Jefferson, of the Cochrane Vaccines Field in Rome, part of the international Cochrane Collaboration that evaluates medical research. "We recorded no convincing evidence that vaccines can reduce mortality, admissions, serious complications and community transmission of influenza," he added in a report in The Lancet medical journal.


TCM Clinical Trials

• Cough
• Fever
• Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections
• Tonsillitis

Cough

In issue #12, 2000 of Shanxi Journal of Chinese Medicine, Huang Chang-hui published an article describing the use of Chinese herbal formula to treat 132 cases of acute cough. The patients were divided into two groups: a treatment group [132 cases] and a comparison group [80 cases]. In both groups, the youngest child was four months old and the oldest child was 12 years old. The disease duration in both groups was from 1-7 days, with the average being 2.2 days. The treatment group used the base formula Qing Xuan Zhi Ke Tang (Clear, Diffuse & Stop Coughing Decoction).

OUTCOMES CRITERIA

Cured: The cough and other symptoms disappeared after using the formula for three days.

Obvious improvement: The cough and other symptoms disappeared after using the formula for six days or there was obvious improvement.

No improvement: After six days of using the medicinals, the cough and accompanying symptoms showed no improvement.

Treatment results: of the 132 cases in the treatment group, 110 cases were cured, 14 cases obviously improved, and eight cases got no improvement. Therefore, the total amelioration rate for this group was 93.9%. In the comparison group of 80 cases, 32 cases were cured, 32 cases were obviously improved, and 16 cases showed no improvement. Therefore the total amelioration rate for that group was only 80%. As demonstrated by these statistics, there was a substantial difference between the amelioration rate of both groups in favour of the treatment group.

Fever

The findings of a research study that treated 60 patients with acute fever appeared in the August 2004 issue of Fujian Journal of Chinese Medicine. All patients had had a fever for less than three days. Prior to developing a fever, every patient had either suffered from suppurative tonsillitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Most patients presented with the following main symptoms: fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough etc.. Based on the severity of the patient’s condition the doctor subdivided the patients into three groups: mild, moderate and severe. Mild pattern– fever 37-39 degrees C, accompanied by clear runny nose, no sweating nasal congestion, sneezing, headache, slight cough, slightly swollen tonsils etc.. Moderate pattern– fever is 39 degree C, accompanied by slight aversion to cold, headache, slight sweating, nasal congestion, runny nose that was turbid,, moderate cough, swollen tonsils, decreased appetite etc.. Severe pattern – fever more than 39 degrees C, devitalized essence spirit, poor appetite, aversion to cold, headache, cough and nasal symptoms were severe, husky voice, sore throat and the tonsils were swollen and large etc.. Of the 60 cases included in the study, it was determined that 18 cases were mild, 30 cases were moderate and 12 cases were severe. All patients were given the prepared medicine Xiao Er Jie Biao Ke Li (Pediatric Resolve the Exterior Pellets) that was manufactured in Kunming, China. The dosage was modified based on the age of the patient. The medicine was taken with warm water. This treatment was continued for three days. Within 24-48 hours the patient’s temperature had returned to normal and all other symptoms had disappeared in 38 cases. In addition, 15 cases had obvious improvement and 4 cases had some improvement.

Treatment Results

Severity	# of Cases	Cure	Obvious Improvement	Improvement	No Improvement
Mild	18	15 (83.3%)	3 (16.7%)
Moderate	30	18 (60%)	9 (30%)	2 (6.7%)	1 (3.3%)
Severe	12	5 (41.%)	3 (25%)	2 (16.7%)	2 (16.7%)
Total	60	38 (63.3%)	15 (25%)	4 (6.7%)	3 (5%)

Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections

Study 1

In issue #4, 2003 of Fu Jian Zhong Yi Yao (Fujian Chinese Medicine & Medicinals), Lin Dong-hong et al. of the Fujian College of Chinese Medicine Affiliated People’s Hospital in Fuzhou published an article titled, "The Preventive Treatment of 31 Cases of Recurrent Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infections with Kang Gan He Ji (Anti-infection Mixture)." Altogether, there were 87 children suffering from recurrent respiratory tract infections enrolled in this study. Thirty-one cases were assigned to the Chinese medical group, 27 were assigned to the Western medical group which received thymic peptide, and 29 were assigned to the Western medical group which received an unidentifiable medicine, wu ti lin si. These children ranged in age from eight months to 10 years. In the Chinese medicine group, twelve of the children had upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) more than 12 times per year and 19 cases had URTIs 7-12 times per year. Nine of these cases had lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) more than five times per year, and 22 had LRTIs 2-5 times per year. In the Chinese medicine group, patients were mostly administered Yin Qiao San Jia Jian (Lonicera & Forsythia Powder with Additions & Subtractions) during acute colds. However, if cough was the main symptom, then they mainly were administered Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang Jia Jian (Ephedra, Armeniaca, Gypsum & Licorice Decoction with Additions & Subtractions). These two formulas were then further modified based on the individuals clinical presentation.

During the remission phase, patients in the Chinese medicine group received the following basic formula of the author’s called Kang Gan He Ji (Anti-infection Mixture). This self-composed formula is actually a combination of two famous Chinese herbal formulas [Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder) and Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)] with modifications. Four weeks equaled one course of treatment, and three successive courses were given.

Members of both Western medical groups were treated with standard Western medicine during acute colds. During the remission phase, the thymic peptide group was administered 3mg orally of this medicine TID or 20mg via muscular injection two times per week for 12 weeks. Those who received wu ti lin si received 1.72Fg by injection once per week for eight weeks. All patients were re-examined once per month during treatment and then followed up for 3-6 months afterward.

Treatment outcomes: Marked effect meant that there was no occurrence of a respiratory tract infection for six months, nutritional status was good, and development was normal. Improvement meant that the number of RTIs were markedly decreased, their duration shortened, and their severity decreased. Based on these criteria, in the Chinese medical group, 24 cases experienced a marked effect, six improved, and one got no effect, for a total effectiveness rate of 96.8%. In the thymic peptide group, two got a marked effect, 12 improved, and 13 got no effect, for a total effectiveness rate of 51.9%. In the wu ti lin si group, seven cases got a marked effect, 11 improved, and 11 got no effect, for a total effectiveness rate of 62.1%.

Study 2

In issue #7, 2004 of the Zhejiang Journal of Chinese Medicine, Xu Pei-li and Bi Mei-fen published an article comparing the effectiveness of pinching the spine (i.e. a Chinese massage technique) versus using modern medicine to treat children with Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections [RRTI]. Since spinal pinching is such an easy maneuver for anyone to learn and do, and is often shown to parents whose children have a weak immune system. Altogether, there were 46 children between the ages of 11 months to 7 years old enrolled in this study. All the children suffered from recurrent respiratory tract infections. The 46 children were randomly divided into two equal groups. The 23 children in the treatment group were treated by the spinal pinching method of Chinese pediatric tuina or therapeutic massage. This was done every day, with seven days equaling one course of treatment. A seven-day rest was allotted between successive courses, and three such courses were administered.

The 23 children in the comparison group were administered 10ml in one dose per day of P-Zhuan Yi Yin Zi Kou Fu Ye (P-transfer Factor Orally Administered Liquid). This "Western" medicine increases the number of lymph cell and helper-T cells in the blood. Further, it increases the total quantity of T-cells while decreasing the number of suppressor T-cells. In addition, it significantly increases the number of NK-cells. Therefore, it is believed to improve antigen-dependent cellular immunity. One course with this medication lasted one month and three courses of this therapy were given.

Study outcomes: marked effect was defined as no recurrence of a respiratory tract infection for six months after suspension of therapy. Some effect was defined as no more than two respiratory tract infections in the six months after suspension of therapy. Additionally, the symptoms of such respiratory infections were milder than usual and lasted less time than previously. The following table shows the results based on these criteria.

Group	No.	Marked effect	Some effect	No effect	Effect rate
Comparison	23	6	14	3	87%
Treatment	23	6	5	0	100%

As the reader can see, the treatment group that received the daily tuina achieved a 100% total effectiveness rate. In addition, the majority of patients in this group were cured, not just improved. Serum IgA, IgG, IIgM, C3, and C4 levels were measured in the treatment group before and after treatment, and there was a significant increase in mean IgA levels. There were lesser, statistically insignificant mean increases in all the other immune markers.

Tonsillitis

Study 1

Findings from a 2003 study were published in the 7th issue of the Hunan Journal of Chinese Medicine. This clinical trial was developed to determine the effectiveness of using Chinese herbal medicine to treat acute tonsillitis of children. Altogether, there were 192 patients included in this study. These participants were randomly divided into two groups, a treatment group and a comparison group. All these patients were see as in-patients at the authors’ hospital or in the Emergency Department. The main signs and symptoms were varying degrees of fever, sore throat, cough, red tongue edges and tip or a dark red tongue, thin, yellow tongue fur, a hyperemic throat, and stage I-III bilateral tonsil enlargement with possible purulence. All members of the treatment group were administered Wu Gen Tang Jia Wei (Five Roots Decoction with Added Flavors). This base formula was modified according to the patient’s signs and symptoms. The dosage of these medicinals was determined by the age of the patient. Members of the comparison group received penicillin administered either via injection or intravenous drip.

Treatment results

Marked effect was defined as complete disappearance of all signs and symptoms after two days of the above treatment with the temperature returning to normal as well as white blood cell count. Some effect was defined as disappearance of signs and symptoms within two days, normalization of the temperature and white blood cells, but the tonsils had not returned to their normal size.

Based on these criteria, 86 out of 120 cases (71.67%) in the treatment group were judged to have experienced a marked effect, 30 cases (25.00%) experienced some effect, and four cases (3.33%) had no effect. Therefore, the total effectiveness rate in this group was 96.67%.

In the comparison group, 27 cases out of 72 (37.50%) had a marked effect, 35 cases (48.61%) had some effect, and 10 cases (13.89%) had no effect, for a total effectiveness rate of 86.11%. Although there was only a 10 percent difference in total effectiveness between these two protocols, the Chinese medical protocol achieved twice as many marked effects as the Western medical protocol.

Study 2

In February 2003, Dr. Guo Zhong-li wrote an article entitled “The Treatment of Pediatric Acute Tonsillitis with San Yang Qing Jie Tang (Three Yang Clearing and Resolving Decoction)”. There were sixty patients in this study all between the ages of 4-12 years old. All patients had swollen, red tonsils and the severity was 1st degree in 16 cases, 2nd degree in 35 cases and 3rd degree in 9 cases. The TCM pattern was classified as wind-heat or heat toxins based on the patient’s symptoms. Of the patients included in the study, 48 patients were classified as having a wind-heat pattern and 12 patients suffered from a heat toxin pattern. All patients had a fever between 37.5 and 40 degrees Celsius. The formula used for all patients was San Yang Qing Jie Tang Jia Jian (Three Yang Clearing and Resolving Decoction with Additions and Subtractions). Various medicinals were added to this formula based on the patient’s clinical presentation. Three to five days equaled one course of treatment.

Treatment Results: Cure (the fever abated, systemic symptoms disappeared and the tonsils were no longer swollen and red): 50 cases. Obvious Improvement (the fever abated, systemic symptoms basically disappeared and the tonsils were obviously less swollen and red): 4 cases. Improvement: (the fever was reduced, systemic symptoms and the redness and swelling of the tonsils was decreased): 2 cases. No Improvement: (the fever did not abate, systemic symptoms and the redness and swelling of the tonsils did not decreased): 4 cases.