Related Terms

• Forsythia, Kampo, lonicera, scute, TCM, traditional Chinese medicine.

Background

• Shuang huang lian is a formula comprised of three herbs: lonicera, scute and forsythia. It is traditionally known as an antiviral, and is most commonly used for the treatment of respiratory infections, including upper and lower respiratory tract infections and acute bronchiolitis.

• Chinese and Japanese herbs are used for treating a variety of ailments. There is currently little known about some of their side effects, mechanisms of actions or their interactions with other medications.

Theory/Evidence

• In a trial comparing antibiotics to shuang huang lian for the treatment of acute bronchiolitis, cough, wheezing, and chest crackles were reduced to a greater degree in the herbs-only treatment arm compared to the antibiotics-only treatment arm.

• Shuang huang lian has shown efficacy in treating lower respiratory tract infections present in AIDS patients.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

• Reports of side effects to shuang huang lian are lacking in available clinical trials.

Author Information

• This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

1. Kong XT, Fang HT, Jiang GQ, et al. Treatment of acute bronchiolitis with Chinese herbs.Arch Dis Child. 1993 Apr;68(4):468-71. View Abstract

2. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com