The effects of combination of Zingiber officinale and Echinacea on alleviation of clinical symptoms and hospitalization rate of suspected COVID-19 outpatients: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives Herbal medicines, as a treatment method, have received a great deal of attention. The effects of two herbal medicines namely Zingiber officinale and Echinacea on alleviation of clinical symptoms and hospitalization rate of suspected COVID-19 outpatients were examined. Methods A clinical trial with 100 suspected COVID-19 outpatients as participants was conducted. The participants were allocated randomly to two groups of 50 members. The intervention group received concurrent Zingiber officinale (Tablet Vomigone 500 mg II tds) and Echinacea (Tablet Rucoldup I tds) for seven days in addition to the standard treatment. The control group only received the standard treatment (Hydroxychloroquine). After seven days, alleviation of clinical symptoms and hospitalization rate were examined. In addition, 14 days after treatment, the hospitalization was assessed again by telephone follow up. Results The two groups were identical in terms of basic characteristics. Improvement level as to coughing, dyspnea, and muscle pain was higher in the intervention group (p value <0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the other symptoms. In addition, the hospitalization rate in the intervention and control groups were 2 and 6% respectively, which are not significantly different (p value >0.05). Conclusions Taking into account the efficiency and trivial side-effects of Zingiber officinale and Echinacea, using them for alleviation and control of the clinical symptoms in COVID-19 outpatients is recommended.

Therapeutic potential of ginger against COVID-19: Is there enough evidence?

“… 49 The results from a clinical trial study from Iran indicate that a combination therapy by ginger and Echinacea in suspected COVID-19 outpatients attenuated some of their clinical symptoms (breath shortness, coughing and muscular pain) in comparison with those treated with a standard protocol using hydroxychloroquine, alone. 50 In addition, the hospitalization rate in the intervention group (2.0%) was lower than that in the control group (6.0%). 50 The results from a randomized-controlled study showed that the patients with ARDS who were fed an enteral diet enriched with ginger extract for 21 days exhibited greater oxygenation, lower serum concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, and spent shorter time on mechanical ventilation compared to control group.…”

“… 50 In addition, the hospitalization rate in the intervention group (2.0%) was lower than that in the control group (6.0%). 50 The results from a randomized-controlled study showed that the patients with ARDS who were fed an enteral diet enriched with ginger extract for 21 days exhibited greater oxygenation, lower serum concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, and spent shorter time on mechanical ventilation compared to control group. However, organ failure, barotrauma and mortality rate similarly occurred in ginger-treated patients and control group.…”

COVID-19 and herbal practice: A United Kingdom practitioner survey

“…One systematic review found a small amount of studies supporting the effectiveness of a number of TCM preparations (Lianhua Qingke granules, Shufeng Jiedu capsule, Jinhua Qinggan granules, Toujie Quwen granules and tailored herbal decoctions) as adjunctive treatments for Covid-19, with 32 ongoing trials identified [9] . Adjunctive treatment with Echinacea and Ginger tablets increased resolution of coughing, muscle pain and breathlessness, in one RCT of 100 outpatients [10] .…”

Use of dietary supplements and OTC products in the era of COVID-19

“…A clinical study in outpatients with suspected COVID-19 was conducted in which 50 patients received concurrent Zingiber officinale and echinacea for 7 days in addition to hydroxychloroquine and 50 patients received hydroxychloroquine without supplementation. 16 Improvements in coughing, dyspnea, and muscle pain were higher in the intervention group compared with the hydroxychloroquine alone group, but no other significant differences were observed with respect to other symptoms or hospitalization rates. 16…”