Chinese Herbs for Inflammation and Infections

January 27, 2019 Joe Brady

According to a study reported in the National Center for Biotechnology Information of the National Library of Medicine the heat clearing herbs of traditional Chinese medicine can be quite effective in the treatment of inflammation and infections. 

A growing number of high quality randomized controlled trials suggests that alternative therapies may improve the management of breast cancer symptoms and adverse effects from its treatment. The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) produced an evidence-based guideline on the use of integrative therapies for the management of symptoms such as anxiety and stress, mood disorders, fatigue, quality of life, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, pain, and sleep disturbance. Interventions of interest included mind and body practices, natural products, and lifestyle modifications.

A large number of studies have reported on the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of the traditional Chinese herbs. A literature survey was conducted using a systematic electronic search in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and in books. 

This review has listed 11 heat-clearing Chinese herbs (HCCHs) including:

 Bǎn Lán Gēn – Radix Isatidis (板藍根), 

Dà Qīn Yè – Isatidis Folium (大青葉), 

Huáng Qín- Scutellaria baicalensis (黃芩), 

Huáng Lián – Coptis chinensis (黃連), 

Jīn Yín Hūa – Flos Lonicerae (金銀花), 

Lián Qiào – Forsythia suspensa (連翹), 

 Zǐ Huā Dì Dīn – Viola yedoensis (紫花地丁), 

Bái Tóu Wēn – Pulsatilla Radix (白頭翁), 

Chuān Xīn Lián – Andrographis paniculata (穿心蓮), 

 Yú Xīng Cǎo – Houttuynia cordata (魚腥草),

 Bài Jiàn Cǎo – Patrinia Herba (敗醬草), 

Each of these have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and has described their effects through different mechanisms of action and multiple targets. Their ability to affect multiple target signaling pathways and their potential mechanisms of action contributing to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity may be related to their action of removing heat and counteracting toxicity. Further studies are needed on the collection of HCCHs to know the detailed mechanism of action of herbs in this group for the assessment of effective drug.

For More Information Read the Entire Article

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003708/