Efficacy and Safety of Complementary Therapy With Jing Si Herbal Tea in Patients With Mild-To-Moderate COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Since late 2019, there has been a global COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve medical capacity and decrease adverse health effects, preventing the progression of COVID-19 to severe status is essential. Jing-Si Herbal Tea (JSHT), a novel traditional Chinese medicine formula was developed to treat COVID-19. This study examined the clinical efficacy and safety of JSHT in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 260 patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The enrolled patients were divided into the JSHT (n = 117) and control (n = 143) groups. Both groups received standard management. The JSHT group was treated with JSHT as a complementary therapy.

Results: Compared with standard management alone, JSHT combined with standard management more effectively improved the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold value, C-reactive protein level, and Brixia score in the adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially in the male and older patients (those aged ≥60 years). The results revealed that the patients treated with JSHT combined with standard management had 51, 70, and 100% lower risks of intubation, Medisave Care Unit admission, and mortality compared with those receiving standard management only.

Conclusions: JSHT combined with standard management more effectively reduced the SARS-CoV-2 viral load and systemic inflammation and alleviated lung infiltrates in the patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, especially in the male and older patients (those aged ≥60 years). JSHT combined with standard management may prevent critical status and mortality in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. JSHT is a promising complementary therapy for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

Keywords: Jing Si Herbal Tea; complementary and alternative medicine; herbal medicine; mild-to-moderate COVID-19; phytomedicine; traditional Chinese medicine.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2022 Hsieh, Chao, Tsai, Li, Tzeng, Wu and Shih.

Figures

Figure 1

Study flow diagram.

Figure 2

Key parameters before (D1) and after (D8) the study. (A) SpO2; (B) FiO2; (C) NLR; (D) CT value; (E) CRP; (F) Brixia score. BMI, body mass index; CRP, c-reactive protein; CT value, Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction cycle threshold value; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; JSHT, Jing Si Herbal Tea; NLR, Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; SpO2, peripheral oxygen saturation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001.

Figure 3

Subgroup analysis of the effects of JSHT on differences in the CT value, CRP level, and Brixia score. CRP, c-reactive protein; CT value, Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction cycle threshold value. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.