A Real-World Study on Ge Gen Tang in Combination with Herbal Medicines for Relieving Common Cold-Associated Symptoms

Table 10

List of reused single herbs and formula and their functions and pharmacological effects on cold symptoms in patients.

Main prescription	Combination prescription	Combination/origin	Function of combination prescription	Pharmacological effects of combination prescription
Ge Gen Tang	Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang	Ephedrae Herba, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, and Asari Radix et Rhizoma	Exterior-effusing and dissipate cold or warm the meridian and dissipate cold	Antiallergy: Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang reduces blood histamine content and recovers the nasal mucosa [12]
	Qiang Huo sheng Shi Tang	Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, Ligustici Rhizoma et Radix, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle, Viticis Fructus, and Chuanxiong Rhizoma	Promotes sweating, dispels wind, and dispels dampness	Gegen soup and Qianghuoshengshi soup combined with acupuncture treatment cured 44 patients, 8 patients, and 2 patients; the total efficiency was 96.30% [13]
	Qing Bi Tang	Puerariae Lobatae Radix, Ephedrae Herba, Platycodonis Radix, Magnoliae Flos, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, and Jujubae Fructus	Wind-cold-dispersing medicine; clears heat and relieves stuffy nose	After FESS surgery, Qingbi decoction (Qing Bi Tang) was used prescribed to patients with chronic sinusitis to ameliorate symptoms and signs, reduce agglutination time, and promote the regression of diseases [14]
	Jin Fey Tsao saan	Ephedrae Herba, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, Jujubae Fructus, Schizonepetae Herba, Peucedani Radix, Inulae Flos, and Pinelliae Rhizoma	Wind-cold-dispersing medicine; directs qi downward to resolve phlegm	The obvious effect of using Jinfeicao powder is cough alleviation after infection [21]Jinfeicao powder has significant effects on reliving cough and expelling phlegm [15]
	Jie Geng	The dried root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) and A. DC. (Campanulaceae)	Diffuses in the lungs and resolves phlegm, soothes the throat, and expels pus	PLD effectively inhibits the expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), caspase-3, and Bax in lung tissues, restores the expression of Bcl-2 in the lungs, and improves superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) [16]
	Kan Chiang	The dried rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (Wild.) Rosc. (Zingiberaceae)	Promotes sweating to release the exterior, warms the middle to check vomiting, and warms the lung to suppress cough	Ginger extract reduces the expression of IL-17 and IL-23 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice [17]
	Xin Gren	The dried mature seed of Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu Masim., Prunus sibirica L., Prunus mandshurica (maxim.) koehne, or Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae)	Downbear counterflow suppresses cough and calms panting, moistens the intestines to relax the bowels	Amygdalin is one of the active ingredients in Armeniacae Amarum semen with antirenal interstitial fibrosis as pharmacological effect [18]